Anna & Bethany
From: 🇺🇸 USA
Ages: 34 & 36
Languages Spoken: English, American Sign Language (ASL)
Current Location: Seattle, USA
Child: Max, age 5 (deaf)
Story: They raise Max in a bilingual ASL + English home. Bethany signs full-time, Anna reads aloud. Both attend Deaf culture events and share videos online.
¿Puedes describir los antecedentes lingüísticos de tu familia?
Bethany grew up with a deaf sibling and has been fluent in ASL since childhood. Anna is hearing and a native English speaker—she learned ASL during college and became fluent after Max was born. We’re both committed to a bilingual household.
¿Qué idiomas utilizáis, cómo y dónde y cómo decidisteis esa mezcla?
We use ASL as Max’s primary language for everyday communication, especially since it’s his first language. English is used in print—books, signs, captions. Bethany signs full-time, and Anna reads aloud while signing to reinforce both languages simultaneously.
¿Por qué es importante para usted enseñar esos idiomas?
It’s about access and identity. ASL is Max’s natural language—it gives him full communication from the start. English opens doors in the hearing world. We want him to feel confident in both.
¿Cuándo decidió por primera vez criar a su hijo de forma bilingüe?
Right after diagnosis. There was no hesitation. We didn’t see it as a limitation—just a different path. Bilingualism felt empowering from the start.
¿Seguiste una estrategia específica (por ejemplo, OPOL, ML@H) o evolucionó naturalmente?
It’s closest to a bilingual/bimodal strategy. Bethany signs 100% of the time. Anna signs and speaks/reads English out loud. We also caption everything and use visual supports around the house.
¿Cuáles fueron sus mayores preocupaciones al principio y cómo se desarrollaron con el tiempo?
We were worried about finding resources and community—not the language itself, but access to other deaf kids and inclusive schooling. Thankfully, Seattle has been amazing in that regard.
¿Qué te ayudó a mantener la constancia en el uso de ambos idiomas? ¿Cuál es tu rutina?
We made language visual everywhere—labels, flashcards, storyboards. Storytime happens every night with signed and spoken books. We also FaceTime with deaf friends and family who sign, which keeps ASL vibrant and dynamic.
¿Ha cambiado su enfoque a medida que su hijo crece?
We’ve added more fingerspelling and early reading activities now that Max is recognising English letters. His ASL is fluent, so we’re layering in English print at his pace.
¿Cómo maneja usted la resistencia o cuando su hijo prefiere un idioma?
Max never resists ASL—it’s his comfort zone. But he sometimes gets bored with reading English. We make it fun with signed songs, visual storyboards, and rewards for writing signs or drawing story elements.
¿Ha experimentado algún momento de avance o de orgullo en su desarrollo del lenguaje?
So many! One was when Max interpreted a children’s poem in ASL at a Deaf family gathering—it was emotional and expressive. Everyone was stunned. He owned the stage.
¿Qué papel ha desempeñado su familia extendida o su comunidad al apoyar (o desafiar) sus metas?
It’s been a mix. Bethany’s family signs, so that’s been smooth. Anna’s family is learning. Some relatives needed convincing that ASL wasn’t “limiting,” but seeing Max thrive changed their tune.
¿Tienes una anécdota divertida o inesperada de tu experiencia bilingüe? Nos encantaría escucharla.
Once, Max signed a very expressive “NO!” to a dog who kept sniffing his snack. The dog obviously didn’t get it, but Max looked so serious—it cracked everyone up.
¿Alguna vez has sentido presión (interna o externa) por tus objetivos bilingües?
Absolutely. There’s pressure to focus more on English “for school,” but we’ve always pushed back. ASL isn’t a barrier—it’s a bridge to literacy, not a replacement.
¿Sientes que tu hijo se conecta emocional o culturalmente con ambos idiomas?
Yes. ASL is his emotional heart. But he also loves English books and prints his name with pride. He’s developing his own sense of identity—and both languages are part of that.
¿Cuál ha sido el desafío más inesperado?
Explaining to hearing kids at playgrounds why Max doesn’t respond vocally. Some are curious, some ignore him. It’s taught us to be better advocates—for Max and for the Deaf community.
¿Qué es lo que más te ha sorprendido de forma positiva?
How fast he picks up on nuance in ASL—facial expressions, timing, rhythm. He uses ASL with such artistry already. It’s like watching a young poet at work.
¿Qué tecnología u otros recursos utiliza para apoyar el aprendizaje de idiomas?
We use signed story apps, video dictionaries, and YouTube channels with deaf creators. Captioned content is a must. We also use a visual doorbell, alarm clock, and flash signalers around the house.
¿Los entornos escolares o de cuidado infantil han ayudado o dificultado el proceso?
Helped, thankfully. He attends a mainstream school with a bilingual program and a deaf educator. We fought hard to get proper support, and it’s paying off.
Si pudieras hacer una cosa diferente ¿qué sería?
Worry less at the start. We overthought so many things. Max showed us that he didn’t need perfect plans—he needed consistent love and access to language.
¿Qué consejo le darías a otros padres que están empezando?
Get involved in the Deaf community. Let your child see others who sign. Don’t be scared of ASL—it’s not a backup, it’s a full language. Learn it together, celebrate it, and don’t let anyone tell you it’s not enough.