Dr. Veronica Benavides on Bilingualism and Heritage Language Preservation

The Importance of Heritage Languages

• 💡 Most heritage languages are lost within the second or third generation, impacting a sense of belonging and enoughness.
• 🎯 Bilingual Generation was founded with the hope of passing on bilingualism to the next generation, making it more accessible than ever.

Dr. Benavides' Personal Journey

• 🧠 Dr. Veronica Benavides, founder of Bilingual Generation in Houston, Texas, shares her upbringing where Spanish was discouraged by her parents to aid academic and professional life.
• 💔 She experienced a significant loss when she couldn't communicate with her Spanish-speaking grandmother until she learned the language later in life, sparking a desire to preserve heritage languages.
• 🌍 Moving to Denmark highlighted the multilingualism in other parts of the world, reinforcing her commitment to reclaiming and passing on Spanish.

Founding Bilingual Generation

• 🚀 After earning her doctorate from Harvard and reclaiming Spanish, Dr. Benavides struggled to pass the language to her own child, which led to the percolation of ideas for Bilingual Generation.
• 🤝 The organization emphasizes the need for community, both in-person and virtually, to support heritage language transmission.
• 🌟 Returning to Aldine, Texas, where she was once told not to speak Spanish, Dr. Benavides now sees diversity as a strength, a core component of Bilingual Generation's mission.

The Billy App and Future Vision

• 📱 Bilingual Generation is developing an app called the Billy app, designed to help pass on heritage languages, with input from the community and incorporating Spanish texts, stories, and even Ketwa.
• ✨ Dr. Benavides' legacy in Houston is to build upon the city's diversity and richness, creating a space where all children feel seen and are multilingual.
• ✅ It's an honor for her to be part of this journey in a place she calls home.