Languages Are Like Flowers: Growing Multilingualism with Curiosity and Care

Have you ever thought of languages like flowers?

Some grow quickly, others slowly. Some need shade, others bloom in full sun. A few wither if ignored. Each one has its rhythm, its own climate, its own season.

Just like plants in a garden, languages need care, patience, and attention. They need the right conditions to flourish: rich input, emotional connection, consistent exposure, and above all, respect.

This metaphor isn’t just poetic, it’s the way I see multilingualism.

After more than ten years of working with multilingual families and educators, after living in several European countries, and after traveling the world with my book, I’ve seen that multilingualism doesn’t grow on its own. It needs to be nurtured.

A Life Rooted in Languages

I was born in Italy, and languages have always fascinated me. Even as a child, I would memorize English song lyrics without knowing what they meant. In high school, I’d transcribe entire verses phonetically just for fun, instead of studying math.😅 That was back when we couldn’t just look up lyrics online.

Over the years, I turned that fascination into a life path. I lived in different European countries, each offering a new perspective on language, identity, and belonging.

My last long-term base before going fully international was Austria, where I worked as a trainer, university lecturer and researcher in the fields of language education, multilingualism and language learning difficulties. It was there that I started to feel the urge to tell stories, not just about theories or data, but about the everyday realities of people who live between languages.

Today, I work internationally, traveling and collaborating with families, schools, and professionals in different parts of the world. My mission remains the same: to protect and celebrate the diversity of linguistic experiences, just like a gardener tending a plot full of different flowers.

Why This Space Exists

The name The Multilingual Garden came to me years ago in Austria, inspired by the peaceful mountains and the richness of nature around me. At first, it was just a blog and Facebook page. Today, it’s the name of my business and the essence of what I do.

In this garden, languages are not stepped on. They are watched, listened to, and nurtured.

Why flowers? Because:

• They bloom in different climates and seasons, just like languages grow under different circumstances.

• They have unique scents and colors, just as languages have unique sounds, expressions, and grammars.

• They don’t compete. They grow side by side, in harmony. If only languages were always treated the same way.

Too often, languages are judged, ranked, or excluded. Some are called “useless,” others “powerful.” But in The Multilingual Garden, every language has value. Whether spoken by millions or by one family, it deserves respect.

The Seeds of Multilingualism

Sometimes, people ask me: “When did your passion for multilingualism begin?”

I don’t have a single answer. Maybe it was when I first heard a relative speak Italian with a curious German accent. Maybe earlier, with those songs I didn’t understand but sang anyway.

Or maybe it’s something you’re born with: a love for unfamiliar sounds, a drive to decode, understand, and connect.

The truth is, multilingualism is deeply personal. It’s not just about knowing words, it’s about living between cultures, navigating emotions, and building bridges.

That’s why I wanted this space to be more than just theory. I wanted it to reflect real lives.

Bilingualism, But Make It Real

We often hear terms like:

• Early bilingualism

• Late bilingualism

• Passive bilingualism

• Selective or sequential bilingualism

All of these are useful for research, yes. But they don’t always reflect what families actually experience.

I prefer to call it real bilingualism or multilingualism in real life.

That moment when your child refuses to speak your language. The joy of hearing them switch languages seamlessly on the playground. The confusion of school systems that see multilingualism as a problem, not a resource…

I created this space to give voice to all those experiences. To families, couples, children, educators, grandparents, professionals, passionate learners, whether they live abroad or in their country of birth. Whether they use two languages or five. Whether they feel confident or full of questions.

This is a space for sharing and learning. For storytelling and science. For reflection and action.

A Note on Judgment and Belonging

Unfortunately, there are still many myths and prejudices about multilingualism:

• That it delays language development.

• That it’s only worth it for “big” languages.

• That children get confused.

These beliefs hurt families. They make parents doubt themselves. They lead educators to give misguided advice. And most of all, they risk cutting children off from part of their identity.

In The Multilingual Garden, we replace judgment with curiosity. We look at what’s growing, what needs water, and what simply needs time.

If You’re Here, You Belong

Whether you’re raising a multilingual child, working in a multilingual school, navigating your professional life in different languages or simply wondering if your own language story matters, this space is for you.

You are not alone.

The multilingual journey is full of beauty, confusion, laughter, and difficult decisions. But you don’t have to walk it without support.

Thank you for being here!

📖 A Book for You

Over the past ten years, I’ve gathered countless stories, case studies, and tools through my work with families and educators. I’ve turned those years of experience into a book:

"Watch Your Language, Mom! A Guide to Multilingualism"

This book is full of real-life examples, practical tips, and reflections to help you:

• Understand the stages of multilingual development

• Deal with language refusal or silence

• Communicate with teachers and family members

• Build your own strategy with confidence

It’s available on Amazon in both paperback and ebook formats.

If you want a companion on your multilingual journey, this book is for you.

Thank you for visiting The Multilingual Garden.

May the seeds you plant today bloom into beautiful, meaningful connections tomorrow. 🌸