Our Chinese & English Journey
This collaborative podcast follows a group of parents raising bilingual children in an English-speaking environment, with the goal of helping their kids understand Chinese. Each episode shares practical tips, methods, and resources for learning Chinese at home. The hosts also offer support and encouragement to other parents on the same journey, emphasizing that they are not alone. Listeners can engage with the show via Instagram or email.
Episodes
S3 Ep. 10 Mini Episode: The Unexpected Things the Bilingual Journey Taught Us
Today, we’re diving into the unexpected. Sure, we knew raising bilingual kids would be about language—but it’s turned out to be so much more than that. In this episode, Bei shared some of the surprising moments, emotional challenges, and hidden joys that has shaped her family along the way. From deeper family connections to identity shifts and worldview changes, we’re opening up about what biling
S3 Ep. 9 The Struggle of Learning Chinese in Taiwan Feat. Lucy
In this episode, we take a deep dive into what it’s really like raising a bilingual child in Taiwan. Our guest, Lucy, opens up about the challenges of language placement, the emotional toll on kids, and what finally helped her daughter feel more confident in learning Chinese. Whether you’re exploring a move to Taiwan or just curious about different bilingual education paths, Lucy’s story offers ho
S3 Ep. 8 Mini Episode: Boys vs. Girls Learning Chinese
When it comes to learning Chinese, no two kids are the same—even in the same household. In this episode, Grace shares her personal experience raising bilingual twins—a boy and a girl—and how their Chinese learning journeys turned out to be vastly different. Grace walks us through the ups and downs, from early literacy milestones to hitting walls and finding alternative paths. This isn’t about rei
S3 Ep. 7 Beyond Chinese Bridge Books Feat. 安媽
In this episode, we’re excited to welcome 安媽, the blogger behind 好山好水慢慢走, a long-running blog that has chronicled her family's bilingual journey since 2010. Her posts have inspired many parents navigating the challenges of raising bilingual children, especially those aiming for advanced Chinese literacy. We dive into a topic many parents wonder about: What comes after bridge books? 安媽 shares her
S3 Ep. 6 Mini Episode: How to find Chinese online classes?
In this mini episode, our podcast producer Grace shares her personal experience navigating the world of online Chinese classes for her kids. From toddler-age Zoom sessions to one-on-one tutoring, she walks through what worked, what didn’t, and how her approach evolved as her children grew. You’ll hear practical tips on:Where to look for online teachers and programsHow to evaluate group vs. indivi
S3 Ep. 5 Second-Generation Dad Speaking Chinese Feat. Andrew
Speaking Chinese to children when it’s not a parent's first or frequently used language comes with its challenges. Even for native speakers, maintaining a consistent Chinese-speaking environment requires intentional effort. In this episode, we explore this topic with Andrew, a Taiwanese American dad who follows a one-parent-one-language (OPOL) approach at home. Whether a parent is a native
S3 Ep. 4 Mini Episode: How to Get Kids to Start Reading Chapter Books
In this mini episode, we’re diving into a big milestone for bilingual families—getting kids to read Chinese chapter books! How do you know when your child is ready? Where should you start? And how long does it take before they feel confident reading on their own? We’ll break down the process of introducing chapter books, share tips on choosing the right ones, and explore resources that can make th
S3 Ep. 3 How Does a Bilingual Teacher Teach Non-Heritage Students Feat. Pamela Rose
Today, we’re joined by Pamela Rose, an educator focused on helping overseas students learn Mandarin in English-dominant environments. Her research explores balancing language learning with cultural understanding. We’ll discuss her bilingual journey, teaching approach, and practical advice for families aiming for English-Chinese bilingualism. Pamela will also share insights from her research, chal
S3 Ep. 2 Mini Episode: Opportunity Cost of Learning Chinese
We’re introducing something new this season—mini episodes! These bite-sized, 15-minute episodes will dive into key topics bilingual families care about. Raising bilingual kids takes time, energy, and money. It comes with challenges, sacrifices, and major opportunity costs. But what does that really look like in daily life? And is it all worth it? In this episode, we’re pulling back the curtain on
S3 Ep. 1 Learning Chinese in College: The Chinese Flagship Program
When is the best time to learn Chinese? While early childhood is often emphasized, what if someone discovers their passion for Mandarin later in life—like in college? In this episode, we explore the Chinese Flagship Program, a U.S. college initiative designed to help students achieve professional-level fluency through intensive coursework and immersive study abroad experiences. Our guest, Rachel,
S2 Ep. 8 Taking Charge of Chinese: The Passion, Pitfalls, and Payoff
In this episode, listen as Grace and Bei discussed why they took charge of their Chinese kids learning journey. It's not an easy path—in fact, they would caution against it because it can be exhausting, costly, and sometimes less successful than hoped. However, if you're genuinely passionate and have the time and energy, it can be a rewarding experience. Follow us on our bilingual journey: Bei's
S2 Ep. 7 Navigating Education in Taiwan: A Family's Journey from Public School to Homeschooling ft. Peggy
In this episode, we're thrilled to have a special guest, Peggy, also known as 早媽. Peggy has been a resourceful figure in various Facebook groups and on her YouTube channel, sharing valuable insights and resources. With over a decade of experience teaching Chinese in middle and weekend schools in the US, Peggy brings a wealth of knowledge to our discussion. During the pandemic, Peggy made the signi
S2 Ep. 6 From Application to Experience: Navigating Taiwan's Short-Term In-School Program
In this episode, we dive into the details of the Short-Term In-School Program, also known as OCAC. This program is designed for overseas Taiwanese parents visiting Taiwan with their children aged 6-15. The goal is to help these children gain a deeper appreciation for their heritage and make new friends by attending local schools and learning about Taiwan's culture, customs, and society. What We
S2 Ep. 5 Rediscovering Weekend Chinese School: Fun, Language, and Culture with Taliyah
Tune in to this episode where we discuss the fascinating world of Weekend Chinese Schools! While these schools often receive a bad rap, our guest, Taliyah, offers a refreshing perspective by sharing her positive experiences. She recounts how weekend Chinese school was not only enjoyable but also laid a strong foundation for her reading and writing skills in Chinese. Moreover, Taliyah highlights th
S2 Ep. 4 Setting Home for Bilingual Journey
Join us for our 4th episode where we dive into the essential strategies for setting up a bilingual home environment. As parents navigating the journey of raising bilingual children, Grace and Bei share their insights on fostering language success within the family. In this episode, we explore the diverse methods we employ to immerse our children in Chinese language and culture. From carefully sel
S2 Ep. 3 Exploring Mandarin Immersion with Elizabeth Weise: A Journey of Knowledge and Insight
In this episode, we're joined by Elizabeth Weise, a highly respected figure in Mandarin Immersion education. With over 25 years of experience as an award-winning climate change and energy transition reporter for USA Today, Elizabeth brings a wealth of knowledge to our discussion. As a founding member of the Mandarin Immersion Parents Council, her dedication to promoting excellence in Mandarin Imme
S2 Ep. 2 Taiwan Summer Camps: Planning and Experience Insights
Join podcast creators Grace and Bei as they share their experiences navigating summer camps in Taiwan for their kids. This episode covers everything from planning and selecting the right camp to unexpected essentials and costs. Additionally, they candidly share personal anecdotes and reflections, shedding light on the lasting effects these experiences can have on children, offering insights and re
S2 Ep. 1 Paving the bilingual path feat. Montessori+Chinese Mom Guavarama
Season 2 starts with the incredible Guavarama! Tune in as Guavarama shares insights on balancing Chinese and English, the importance of reading aloud in language learning, targeted learning, and the significance of forming enjoyable Chinese habits before the teenage years. Furthermore, she highlights the crucial role of parents in understanding priorities to bridge the language gap effectively and
Ep. 10 Growing up in a CLE (Chinese Language Ecosystem) feat. Christine Tu
In our final episode of the first season, we invite Christine Tu, the daughter of famous blogger, Oliver Tu, who writes the well known RAISING BILINGUAL AND BILITERATE CHILDREN IN CHINESE AND ENGLISH blog that inspires a lot of families around the world. Christine is a rising senior in high school who showcases her fluent Chinese and English speaking in this episode. Christine takes us through her
Ep. 9 2nd generation Chinese learning journey feat. Taiwanese American dad, Bobby
In this episode, we have a 2nd generation Taiwanese American dad, Bobby, whose first language was English and later wanted to learn Chinese. Bobby shares details about his own Chinese learning. His journey started from weekend Chinese school to living in Taiwan working as a translator. He shares why he thinks Chinese is more than just a tool and how he thinks raising his kids bilingual will
Ep. 8 Our 6 year Bilingual Journey feat. Working Moms Grace & Bei
As working moms, podcast creator Grace & Bei have to juggle between work and their kids' daily activities. In this episode, they share their kids' bilingual journeys and discusses how they made their choice of bilingual pre-schools as well as how they supplement Chinese learning outside of school. Both of them also talk about the struggles and mistakes they've made along the way. Follow us o
Ep. 7 Mandarin Immersion School feat. Mandarin Teacher/Mom Wen Chi
Our producer, Grace has been following our guest, Wen Chi's family's bilingual journey, particularly inspired by her move to a school district with multiple Mandarin immersion programs. Prior to moving to the States, Wen Chi was an English teacher at an after-school program in Taiwan. When she moved to the States, she became a Mandarin teacher at a Private School in California before starting her
Ep. 6 Cultivating Chinese interest through traveling with family feat. Ruby from Edkids Home
In this bilingual journey we know language and travel go hand in hand. As many families know traveling with kids is not an easy task, however, the experiences and memories are lifelong, particularly travels to countries of our heritage. Today, we have Ruby joining us today from Canada. Ruby is the creator of Edkids Home, creating fun & engaging activities for kids. We
Ep. 5 Summer Camps in Taiwan feat. Bilingual Mom, Bei
In this bilingual education journey, most parents would agree the best way to learn Chinese is when one is immersed in a Chinese environment. Taking kids to Asia has been one of the most talked about topics among parents like us. After 3 years of pandemic, most Asian countries are open for foreigners which makes a lot of parents interested in taking their bilingual kids to visit Asia, hoping they
Ep. 4 Sagebook Basic Chinese 500 Readers feat. Jean from Mandarin Homeschool
Most parents who want to teach their kids Chinese will need some kind of curriculum to follow. Sagebook is one of the most talked about book sets among parents who live outside Asia. In today's episode, we invite Jean from Mandarin Home School to talk about how she uses Sagebook with her 3 children. Jean talks about how she follows the order of listening, speaking, reading and writing (聽說讀寫) to te
Ep. 3 Lunar New Year Celebrations feat. Bilingual Homeschool Mom, Lucy
Lunar New Year is one of the biggest holidays for Asian families. There are a variety of traditions to follow and Lunar New Year celebrations can be a fun way to incorporate culture and activities to make learning Chinese more memorable to children. In today's episode, we have homeschool mom, Lucy, talks about how she celebrates Lunar New Year with her kids the past few years. She goes through the
Ep. 2 Positive Bilingual Parenting feat. Sunny from Spot of Sunshine
Navigating the long and tricky process of teaching your kids Chinese is one of the biggest challenges we face as bilingual parents. In this episode, a bilingual mom and blogger, Sunny Horstmann, shares that she has had to re-learn Chinese to teach her child. In addition, during her 5-year journey, she has discovered that knowing how many chinese characters is not the most important
Ep. 1 Why do we start this podcast? feat. Grace & Christine
Two bilingual moms, Grace and Christine, met through a Facebook group called Raising Bilingual Children in Chinese & English. In this episode, both moms talk about why they wanted to start this podcast and why the podcast is named Our Chinese & English Journey. They talk about their bilingual journey and what their struggles have been and continue to be. They cover the topics they're inter
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