Multilingual Montessori 62. Language Acquisition vs. Language Learning
Feb 5, 2026
They chat about volunteering at the Winter Olympics and what press work and language use look like on-site. They react to a controversial NYT Social Q about relatives who do not speak English and unpack English privilege. They tackle a parent's worry when a child refuses a heritage language and contrast natural acquisition with formal learning.
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Volunteering At The Winter Olympics
- Gabrielle applied to volunteer at the Winter Olympics because she speaks Italian and has dual citizenship.
- She was assigned to press operations for speed skating and hopes to use and expand her Italian vocabulary.
Learning Irish After German
- Jenna finished the Duolingo German course and started learning Irish for an upcoming trip to Ireland.
- She uses simple recognition (like greeting cards) and practices pronunciation with her daughter.
English Privilege Exposed By Social Q
- The New York Times Social Q letter exposed English-centric assumptions and xenophobia in expecting all visitors to speak English.
- Gabrielle and Jenna note Americans' English privilege and the shock such views cause in multilingual communities.