When it comes to raising bilingual children, many are familiar with methods like “minority language at home,” time and place strategies, language immersion, and the well-known OPOL approach: “One Parent (One Person), One Language.” But what if it’s not a parent leading the way, but a grandparent?
Raising Bilingual Children: OGOL One Grandma, One Language
Today, I’m excited to share a beautiful example of what I’ve coined OGOL: One Grandma, One Language.
Yes, you read that right! A grandparent. I’m honored to introduce my sister, Gladys. She’s an English teacher, entrepreneur, mother, and proud grandmother of two. From her home in Puerto Rico, Gladys raised her grandson, John Caleb, to speak both English and Spanish.
This is their inspiring bilingual journey.
Gladys is an English teacher and proud grandmother who made a life-changing decision when John was born: she would be the person who spoke English to him consistently in a predominantly Spanish-speaking environment. From day one, she used books, games, songs, and toys to immerse him in English. In those early years, she even translated everything spoken to him in Spanish into English to help him with code-switching. Her commitment was intentional and deeply rooted in love.
Of course, raising a bilingual child in a Spanish-speaking environment comes with challenges. For Gladys, the biggest one was time. She didn’t have as many weekday hours with John as she would’ve liked. But the time they did have was meaningful and consistent. She kept him engaged with fun activities and even used “buddies” to make learning playful and memorable.
One of the most touching moments Gladys shared with me was when John, still a young child, confidently spoke English to strangers at the mall. Another proud memory? When she brought him to her classroom one day, and John—then a first grader—stood in front of her high school students and taught them the alphabet and numbers in English. His confidence and pronunciation impressed everyone in the room.
Family support played a big role, too. Gladys’s daughter Katherine (John’s mom) and son-in-law backed her efforts by continuing the English exposure at home. While John hears mostly Spanish at school, he’s consistently supported in both languages at home. Today, he switches between English and Spanish with ease.
John’s love for English is clear. He even helps his English teacher and classmates at school and has recently taken an interest in learning Italian.
When I asked Gladys what advice she’d give to other grandparents, her answer was simple but powerful: teach with love and commitment. That’s exactly what she did, and it shows in the way John expresses himself with joy, confidence, and pride.
Gladys and John’s story is a beautiful reminder that language learning doesn’t only happen through formal lessons or apps. It happens through relationships, intention, and love. OGOL might not be as well-known as OPOL but in this case, it’s just as effective, if not more.
Watch the full interview here:
Gladys and John’s story is a powerful reminder that the responsibility, and the joy of raising bilingual children doesn’t fall solely on parents. Grandparents, with their wisdom, patience, and unconditional love, can play a transformative role in nurturing language and cultural identity. The OGOL approach—One Grandma, One Language—isn’t just a cute acronym; it’s a testament to the impact one committed adult can have on a child’s linguistic journey.
Whether you’re a parent, grandparent, or caregiver, remember this: bilingualism can be passed down not just through curriculum or apps, but through connection, consistency, and love. OGOL may not be in the textbooks yet, but it’s already making a difference in raising a bilingual child.
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