Zanele & Michael

• From: 🇿🇦 South Africa + 🇺🇸 USA
• Ages: 33 & 35
• Languages Spoken: isiZulu, English
• Current Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
• Child: Neo, age 6

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Can you describe your family’s language background?
I (Zanele) grew up speaking isiZulu as my first language in South Africa. Michael, my husband, is African American and speaks English as his native language. We are both fluent in English.

Which languages are you using, how and where, and how did you decide on that mix?
We use isiZulu at home, mainly when we are indoors with Neo. English is used outdoors, at school, when reading bedtime stories, and during outings. We chose this time-and-place strategy because it helped create natural boundaries for each language.

Why is teaching those languages important for you?
IsiZulu connects Neo to his South African roots, culture, and extended family. English is important both globally and locally, and it’s key for his education and future opportunities.

When did you first decide to raise your child bilingually?
We decided before Neo was born. We always knew we wanted him to be deeply connected to both sides of his heritage.

Did you follow a specific strategy (e.g. OPOL, ML@H), or did it evolve naturally?
We planned from the beginning to use a time-and-place strategy — one language at home (Zulu) and the other outside (English).

What were your biggest concerns at the beginning — and how did those play out over time?
We worried that Neo might mix the two languages or prefer one over the other, but those fears eased as we saw him switching between them naturally depending on context.

What helped you stay consistent in using both languages? What’s your routine?
Having clear routines really helped. Home is a Zulu environment — music, conversations, games — and English is associated with books, movies, outings, and friends. Sticking to this division kept things smooth.

Has your approach changed as your child got older?
A little. As Neo’s English exposure increased through school, we became even more intentional about enriching his Zulu vocabulary at home with more complex conversations, traditional stories, and music.

How do you handle resistance or when your child favours one language?
If he slips into English at home, we simply reply in isiZulu and encourage him to continue in Zulu. We avoid correcting harshly — we just model it naturally.

Have you experienced any moments of breakthrough or pride in their language development?
Yes — when Neo visited family in KwaZulu-Natal and was able to chat with his great-grandparents in pure isiZulu! Everyone was so proud.

What role has extended family, or your community played in supporting (or challenging) your goals?
Our South African family has been amazing. They reinforce isiZulu naturally. Michael’s family in the US also encourages bilingualism by showing interest and even learning a few Zulu words.

Got a funny or unexpected story from your bilingual journey? We’d love to hear it.
One time Neo tried to explain a Zulu folktale to his American cousins — but halfway through, he ran out of English translations and just mimed the whole thing. It ended in giggles all around!

Have you ever felt pressure (internal or external) about your bilingual goals?
Yes, especially internally. Sometimes we wonder if we’re doing enough, particularly with balancing screen time and English media. But overall, we stay confident in our long-term goals.

Do you feel like your child connects emotionally or culturally to both languages?
Definitely. Neo feels a deep pride when he speaks isiZulu with elders, and he easily fits in with English-speaking friends too. He’s starting to understand that language carries culture.

What’s been the most unexpected challenge?
The lack of high-quality Zulu educational content for his age group. Finding engaging books, TV shows, and apps has been more difficult than we expected.

What has surprised you most in a positive way?
How quickly Neo can adapt his language depending on who he’s speaking to. He reads social situations better than many adults!

What technology or other resources do you use to support language learning?
We use a mix of Zulu kids’ songs on YouTube, bilingual storybooks, local storytelling apps, and video calls with family members in Zulu.

Have schooling or childcare settings helped or hindered the process?
They’ve helped with English development for sure. For isiZulu, we’ve supplemented outside of school with weekend visits to family and extra home activities.

If you could do one thing differently, what would it be?
We would have started recording more of Neo’s Zulu milestones — conversations, stories, songs — to create a language memory bank for him.

What advice would you give to other parents just starting out?
Set clear, realistic routines early on. Don’t panic if one language temporarily dominates — keep exposing them naturally and consistently, and trust the process. Celebrate the small wins!