Sara & Mateo

From: 🇨🇴 Colombia + 🇺🇸 USA

Ages: 33 & 35

Languages Spoken: Spanish, English

Current Location: Atlanta, USA

Child: Isabella, age 4

Story: They use English in public and Spanish at home. Storytime alternates nightly, and Isabella switches depending on her mood!

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Can you describe your family’s language background?
Sara is originally from Bogotá, Colombia and grew up speaking Spanish at home and learning English at school. I’m (Mateo) is from the U.S. and a native English speaker. I learned some Spanish in college but really improved after marrying Sara and living in a bilingual household.

Which languages are you using, how and where, and how did you decide on that mix?
We speak Spanish at home and English outside, by design. It’s a simple way to balance both languages. Sara speaks mostly Spanish with Isabella, and Mateo does a bit of both depending on context. Storytime is split—one night English, the next night Spanish.

Why is teaching those languages important for you?
For Sara, Spanish is her heritage—family, identity, music, food. For Mateo, bilingualism is about giving Isabella an advantage in life and deeper connections to her Colombian family. We want her to feel confident in both worlds.

When did you first decide to raise your child bilingually?
We agreed on it while Sara was pregnant. It wasn’t even a debate—we knew we wanted Isabella to grow up speaking both languages from the start.

Did you follow a specific strategy (e.g. OPOL, ML@H), or did it evolve naturally?
It’s mostly Minority Language at Home (ML@H). Since English surrounds us, we knew we needed to create a strong Spanish foundation at home. It’s not strict, but intentional.

What were your biggest concerns at the beginning — and how did those play out over time?
Our biggest fear was that Isabella would reject Spanish once she started preschool. But it turns out she loves having her “secret language” at home and proudly shows it off when family visits.

What helped you stay consistent in using both languages? What’s your routine?
We keep things predictable. Spanish is the language of meals, playtime, and cuddles. English happens naturally outside—at school, playdates, doctor visits. Storytime helps bridge both. Mateo reads English books, Sara reads Spanish ones.

Has your approach changed as your child got older?
Yes. As Isabella became more verbal, we started doing “language days.” On Saturdays we do everything in Spanish—even Mateo tries his best—and Sundays we relax with English. It keeps things fun and balanced.

How do you handle resistance or when your child favours one language?
We go with the flow but gently redirect. If she answers in English, we repeat the sentence in Spanish and ask her to try. No pressure, just steady encouragement.

Have you experienced any moments of breakthrough or pride in their language development?
Many! But one that stands out—Isabella once translated a sentence from English to Spanish for Sara’s mum on a video call without being prompted. We were floored.

What role has extended family, or your community played in supporting (or challenging) your goals?
Sara’s family is all-in—they only speak Spanish with her. Mateo’s parents are supportive, though they don’t speak Spanish themselves. They’re learning a few words through Isabella, which is sweet.

Got a funny or unexpected story from your bilingual journey? We’d love to hear it.
Isabella once said “Estoy ready” when we were heading out. It’s Spanglish, sure, but she said it with confidence. We all laughed, and now it’s kind of our family catchphrase.

Have you ever felt pressure (internal or external) about your bilingual goals?
Yes. Especially when others say things like “She’s in the U.S.—she just needs English.” But we stay firm. Spanish is part of who she is, and we won’t let that slip away.

Do you feel like your child connects emotionally or culturally to both languages?
Absolutely. She gets excited for Colombian holidays, sings both Spanish and English songs, and switches languages naturally depending on who she’s with.

What’s been the most unexpected challenge?
Finding enough time to immerse her in Spanish when most of the day—school, friends, outings—is in English. We’ve had to be more proactive than we expected.

What has surprised you most in a positive way?
How proud Isabella is of speaking Spanish. She often corrects our pronunciation (especially Mateo’s!) and loves teaching words to her friends.

What technology or other resources do you use to support language learning?
We use the “Canticos” app, YouTube for Spanish nursery rhymes, and digital library books from Colombia. Also, video calls with abuelos every weekend make a big difference.

Have schooling or childcare settings helped or hindered the process?
Mostly neutral. They don’t discourage bilingualism, but they don’t support it either. So we’ve had to create a strong home environment to counterbalance the English-heavy outside world.

If you could do one thing differently, what would it be?
Start recording Sara’s bedtime stories. They’re little treasures, and it would be amazing to save them for the future.

What advice would you give to other parents just starting out?
Start early, keep it fun, and don’t panic if progress feels slow. Kids absorb more than you realise. It’s not about perfection—it’s about making the language part of everyday life.

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