Malik & Emiko

From: 🇵🇰 Pakistan + 🇯🇵 Japan

Ages: 38 & 32

Languages Spoken: Urdu, Japanese, English

Current Location: London, UK

Child: Aiko, age 2

Story: A trilingual toddler raised in Urdu (Dad), Japanese (Mum), and English (nursery). They mix lullabies from all three cultures at bedtime.

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Can you describe your family’s language background?
Malik grew up speaking Urdu and English in Pakistan, while Emiko was raised in Japan speaking Japanese and some English in school. We both work in international fields, so English became our shared language, but we knew we wanted to pass on our native languages to our daughter.

Which languages are you using, how and where, and how did you decide on that mix?
We use Urdu with Dad, Japanese with Mum, and English comes in from nursery, playdates, and friends. It was a conscious choice—each language represents a part of who we are and who Aiko is.

Why is teaching those languages important for you?
It’s how we stay connected to our roots. Language isn’t just about communication—it carries emotion, culture, history. We want Aiko to feel proud of both sides of her heritage and confident in any environment.

When did you first decide to raise your child bilingually?
Pretty much from day one. We talked about it during pregnancy and agreed that we’d speak our native languages to her right from the start.

Did you follow a specific strategy (e.g. OPOL, ML@H), or did it evolve naturally?
We’ve followed OPOL (One Parent, One Language) fairly consistently. Malik only speaks Urdu to Aiko, Emiko speaks Japanese, and English is just part of life in London.

What were your biggest concerns at the beginning — and how did those play out over time?
Our main worry was whether she’d get confused with three languages. But the research reassured us, and honestly, she’s absorbing them like a sponge. The only challenge is keeping all three balanced.

What helped you stay consistent in using both languages? What’s your routine?
We built language into everyday routines—bedtime, mealtimes, nappy changes. Lullabies are multilingual in our home. We also FaceTime family regularly, which keeps the motivation strong.

Has your approach changed as your child got older?
Slightly. We’re now introducing books and short cartoons in all three languages. We’re more mindful of rotating exposure so one doesn’t dominate too much.

How do you handle resistance or when your child favours one language?
At two, it’s mostly repetition and mood. If she refuses to respond in a certain language, we don’t force it. We just keep speaking it and trust the input will sink in.

Have you experienced any moments of breakthrough or pride in their language development?
Yes! One night she sang parts of a Japanese lullaby and then asked for water in Urdu. We just looked at each other like, “It’s working!”

What role has extended family, or your community played in supporting (or challenging) your goals?
Family is hugely supportive. Emiko’s mum sends Japanese books and recorded audio stories, and Malik’s sisters call in Urdu. Our community in London is very multicultural, so it feels normal.

Got a funny or unexpected story from your bilingual journey? We’d love to hear it.
She once mixed all three languages to tell us she wanted a banana, then shouted “hai!” when we handed it to her—classic toddler trilingualism!

Have you ever felt pressure (internal or external) about your bilingual goals?
Definitely. Sometimes there’s pressure to “focus on English” so she doesn’t fall behind in school later. But we believe she’ll be stronger for having the foundation in all three.

Do you feel like your child connects emotionally or culturally to both languages?
Yes. She has different facial expressions when switching between Japanese and Urdu. And she’s already recognising which songs or foods “belong” to which side of the family.

What’s been the most unexpected challenge?
Finding quality children’s materials in Urdu has been tougher than we thought. Japanese resources are easier to access. We’ve had to get creative.

What has surprised you most in a positive way?
How early she understands who to speak which language with. Even her teachers noticed that she “codes” people by language—it’s intuitive for her.

What technology or other resources do you use to support language learning?
YouTube Kids (curated carefully), digital storybooks, and language-specific playlists on Spotify. We also use translation buttons in some bilingual books to reinforce audio with visual.

Have schooling or childcare settings helped or hindered the process?
Helped! Her nursery is supportive of multilingual families. They let her bring books from home, and one teacher even learned a few words in Japanese to welcome her.

If you could do one thing differently, what would it be?
We’d start documenting more—recording video or audio of her speaking each language. These early stages fly by and it’s easy to forget the progress.

What advice would you give to other parents just starting out?
Stay consistent, but don’t panic if it’s not perfect. Language learning is a marathon, not a sprint. Make it joyful and part of your family’s rhythm—not a chore.

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