Think Bilingual Austin's programs work with parents, children and adults who are trying to incorporate bilingualism and cultural diversity in their home and in the broader community. Our programs include parent workshops, parent and child based community activities, educational information and resources, linguistic and culturally diverse community-based festivals and trade shows, partnership programs with schools and other nonprofits, and multicultural curriculum development for parents, businesses and educators.
Our first programs began in 2016. Since then we have reached hundreds of families each year in the Austin area by providing support, information, guidance and resources to help promote bilingualism and multicultural understanding.
How do we do it?
Think Bilingual Austin provides a directory service for bilingual programs, events and online resources. Visit the Think Bilingual Austin Facebook page to keep up with related news and information.
Think Bilingual Austin promotes bilingualism and multiculturalism by addressing the needs of individuals and families in our local community.
Language is vitalto the way we connect, communicate and relate with others. While language is universal to all people, language itself differs not only in syntax but also in cultural context. It embodies the mindset and unspecified belief system of a given culture or community. By learning a second language, one learns not only the syntax but also the overarching cultural mindset rooted in the language.
While this acquisition of a second language facilitates a deeper understanding of the culture and of the particular ethnic group/s rooted in the acquired language; it also enriches and deepens the way one understands his/her own culture. Likewise, the learning of one’s heritage language can also tie an individual more richly to one’s cultural heritage, and in turn, provide a greater sense of pride and belonging. Being bilingual and bicultural thus enables one to more effectively bridge cultural barriers that may exist and encourage more productive engagement, understanding and empathy across cultures of diverse groups. As such, an individual who is more open to and understanding of other cultures tends to exhibit less fear and intolerance of other ethnic groups.
Bilingualism has also been shown to have a significant cognitive benefit by improving executive functioning and by slowing down the cognitive decline as one ages. Being bilingual also has shown to enhance communication skills, perception and creativity. Hence, Think Bilingual Austin’s mission to build and strengthen community and economy by facilitating bilingualism, bilingual education and multicultural exchange is an important step for both individual self-improvement and the continued development of a local thriving diverse community and economy.
