Mohammed & Layla
From: 🇪🇬 Egypt
Ages: 39 & 37
Languages Spoken: Arabic, English
Current Location: Toronto, Canada
Children: Youssef (age 6), Mariam (age 2)
Story: Immigrant couple keeping Arabic alive at home while navigating a fully English-speaking environment. They use Arabic at home and during religious activities, and English at school and playgroups.
Can you describe your family’s language background?
We were both raised in Cairo speaking Egyptian Arabic, with English taught in school from a young age. We moved to Canada ten years ago, where English became our default language for work and outside the home. But Arabic is still our heart language.
Which languages are you using, how and where, and how did you decide on that mix?
Arabic at home — all the time. English is used at school, at playgroups, and in wider social settings. We decided early on that if we didn’t prioritise Arabic, it would be lost quickly. So our house is an Arabic-speaking bubble.
Why is teaching those languages important for you?
Arabic connects our children to their roots — their grandparents, their religion, their identity. English is necessary for life in Canada, but Arabic is where our culture lives. We don’t want them to grow up feeling disconnected.
When did you first decide to raise your children bilingually?
Before Youssef was born. We agreed that home would be a language sanctuary — no matter what language surrounded us outside.
Did you follow a specific strategy (e.g. OPOL, ML@H), or did it evolve naturally?
We follow a pretty strict ML@H (Minority Language at Home). Everyone speaks Arabic at home — even Mariam’s cartoons are in Arabic. English enters naturally through daily life in Toronto.
What were your biggest concerns at the beginning — and how did those play out over time?
We worried that if we pushed Arabic too much, Youssef might fall behind in English. But kids absorb so fast. He was fluent in English within a few months of starting preschool, and Arabic is still strong.
What helped you stay consistent in using both languages? What’s your routine?
Arabic is for everything: food, bedtime stories, discipline, prayer, songs. We do Qur’an reading together in Arabic, which strengthens vocabulary. We also choose Arabic cartoons, music, and kids’ shows to keep it fun.
Has your approach changed as your child got older?
With Youssef now in school, we’ve added Arabic reading practice and some writing lessons. With Mariam, it’s still mostly songs and spoken interaction. We adjust depending on the child’s age and needs.
How do you handle resistance or when your child favours one language?
When Youssef leans into English, we gently bring him back. If he answers in English, we respond in Arabic and rephrase it for him to copy. No scolding — just repetition and encouragement.
Have you experienced any moments of breakthrough or pride in their language development?
Yes — when Youssef told a bedtime story in Arabic to his baby sister using full sentences and dramatic expression. It was beautiful, and completely unprompted.
What role has extended family, or your community played in supporting (or challenging) your goals?
Our families in Egypt speak only Arabic with the children over video calls. We also attend a local mosque and Arabic language school every weekend. That community has been a lifeline.
Got a funny or unexpected story from your bilingual journey? We’d love to hear it.
Youssef once told a teacher that “In Arabic, we don’t say please — we say min faḍlak, which is politer than please!” He said it so proudly we just had to laugh.
Have you ever felt pressure (internal or external) about your bilingual goals?
Definitely. There’s a quiet pressure in immigrant communities — the fear your kids will lose their “mother tongue.” And sometimes we question if we’re being too strict with Arabic, but long-term, it’s worth it.
Do you feel like your child connects emotionally or culturally to both languages?
Yes. Arabic is for cuddles, comfort, and prayer. English is for school and the outside world. He understands the different “worlds” each language represents and moves between them with ease.
What’s been the most unexpected challenge?
Finding modern, age-appropriate Arabic books that aren’t too religious or too dry. Most are either classic folktales or textbook-style. We’re still searching for better resources.
What has surprised you most in a positive way?
How much the children enjoy the Arabic side. When it’s part of music, food, and stories, it doesn’t feel like a chore — it becomes something they love.
What technology or other resources do you use to support language learning?
We use YouTube Kids (with filters), the Quran Companion app, Arabic audiobooks, and calligraphy tracing workbooks. We also record our own voice notes telling stories for the kids to listen to at bedtime.
Have schooling or childcare settings helped or hindered the process?
English-dominant schooling hasn’t hurt their Arabic, but it means we have to do extra work at home. Luckily, some teachers are very supportive and even ask about Arabic greetings or cultural tips.
If you could do one thing differently, what would it be?
We wish we had introduced Arabic reading earlier with Youssef. Now we’re playing catch-up while he’s already reading English fluently. But we’re getting there.
What advice would you give to other parents just starting out?
Make your language part of your daily life, not just a “lesson.” Speak, sing, laugh, pray, and tell stories in your language. And trust that your kids will get it — even if it takes time.