Every Language Learner

Every Language Learner Hi, I’m Marijke � Multilingualism Specialist and Founder of Every Language Learner

Something is coming… 👀Next week, I’ll be sending out the latest Every Language Learner newsletter.I’ll be sharing:how I ...
28/08/2026

Something is coming… 👀

Next week, I’ll be sending out the latest Every Language Learner newsletter.

I’ll be sharing:

how I can support schools with multilingualism and EAL
a few practical ideas for the new school year
a useful resource for supporting multilingual learners
and a special project I’ve been quietly working on…

Want to hear more?

Sign up to the newsletter before next week: [LINK]

I promise, you’ll want to be on the list for this one.

https://everylanguagelearner.co.uk/contact/ell-newsletter/

24/08/2026

A little Every Language Learner update 👋

With a new school year just around the corner, it felt like the right time to take a fresh look at Every Language Learner.

I’ve been making some changes to my website to better reflect what I do and, more importantly, why I do it.

Because this work is about more than learning English.

It’s about access. Confidence. Opportunity. Identity. And belonging.

If you haven’t visited the website for a while, have a look around. I’d love to know what you think!

New school year. Fresh start. Same mission. 💛

He wouldn’t speak Dutch to me. Then he met Frank.My son understands Dutch.He understands pretty much everything I say.Bu...
12/08/2026

He wouldn’t speak Dutch to me. Then he met Frank.

My son understands Dutch.
He understands pretty much everything I say.

But speaking it? That’s another story.

Even when we go to Belgium, he tends to stick to English, with the occasional Dutch word or phrase.

Then, a few weeks ago, we stayed at a friend’s house to look after their dog, Frank.

I explained to my son that Frank doesn’t understand English.

He looked around.

Looked at Frank.

And quietly started speaking to him… in Dutch.

It was such a small moment, but it made me rethink how we’re approaching our minority language at home.

Because OPOL can provide lots of valuable input — but input isn’t always enough.

Children also need people to speak the language with. Reasons to use it. Communities where it feels natural.

So I’m going to stop thinking only about how much Dutch my son hears and start thinking much more about how many opportunities he has to use it.

I’ve written more about this — and what I’m planning to change — in this week’s newsletter.

💌 Read it via the link in my bio.

And I’d love to know: have you ever seen your child suddenly use their minority language when they had a real reason to?

BilingualParenting LanguageLearning HomeLanguage EAL EveryLanguageLearner

A small but meaningful milestone today: I submitted my very first conference abstract.After more than 20 years working i...
03/08/2026

A small but meaningful milestone today: I submitted my very first conference abstract.

After more than 20 years working in multilingual education, supporting multilingual learners, teaching adult ESOL, and working alongside educators and families l, I have finally taken the step of sharing my practice with a wider audience.

My proposed workshop for the ECIS MLIE Conference 2027 explores something I care deeply about:

Belonging Beyond the Classroom: Partnering with Multilingual Families

I believe multilingual learners are more likely to thrive when their families are not just communicated with, but genuinely welcomed as partners in the school community.

The workshop draws on my experience, research-informed practice, and a parent ESOL initiative delivered in partnership with Bracknell Forest Council, where language learning became a pathway to increased confidence, connection, and belonging.

Now the waiting begins! 🤞

Whatever happens next, I’m grateful for the opportunity to share this important conversation about multilingual inclusion and language equity.

✨ My favourite review so far… ✨He read it. ❤️The little boy who inspired Arthur's First Sinterklaas sat down with the pr...
17/07/2026

✨ My favourite review so far… ✨

He read it. ❤️

The little boy who inspired Arthur's First Sinterklaas sat down with the proof copy and read the story from beginning to end.

This book started with a simple thought: I wish there was an English picture book that explained Sinterklaas. As someone who loves languages and believes in the power of translanguaging, I wanted children to discover this wonderful Belgian tradition while naturally picking up Dutch words along the way.

I never imagined I'd write a children's book. It definitely pushed me outside my comfort zone, but seeing my son reading it today made it all worthwhile.

There's still a little work to do before it's officially published, but we're getting so close...

I can't wait to share Arthur's First Sinterklaas with other families, especially those discovering Belgium, Dutch, and Sinterklaas for the very first time.

Coming soon... ❤️

✨ My favourite review so far… ✨He read it. ❤️The little boy who inspired Arthur's First Sinterklaas sat down with the pr...
17/07/2026

✨ My favourite review so far… ✨

He read it. ❤️

The little boy who inspired Arthur's First Sinterklaas sat down with the proof copy and read the story from beginning to end.

This book started with a simple thought: I wish there was an English picture book that explained Sinterklaas. As someone who loves languages and believes in the power of translanguaging, I wanted children to discover this wonderful Belgian tradition while naturally picking up Dutch words along the way.

I never imagined I'd write a children's book. It definitely pushed me outside my comfort zone, but seeing my son reading it today made it all worthwhile.

There's still a little work to do before it's officially published, but we're getting so close...

I can't wait to share Arthur's First Sinterklaas with other families, especially those discovering Belgium, Dutch, and Sinterklaas for the very first time.

Coming soon... ❤️

EveryLanguageLearner Belgium Sinterklaas LanguageLearning BilingualKids EAL AuthorJourney

As we finish the school year, have you started planning for September? Here are some key questions to ask yourself.
09/07/2026

As we finish the school year, have you started planning for September? Here are some key questions to ask yourself.

📣 School leaders, EAL coordinators, and EAL leads...Before you switch off for summer, there are a few important conversa...
16/06/2026

📣 School leaders, EAL coordinators, and EAL leads...

Before you switch off for summer, there are a few important conversations worth having.

Too often, planning for multilingual learners starts in September. But the strongest support is built before the new school year begins.

In this carousel, I'm sharing 5 conversations that can help schools create more inclusive, effective support for multilingual learners:

🌍 Do we need a language policy?

📚 Is our EAL provision still fit for purpose?

🤝 How well are we engaging multilingual families?

💡 How confident are staff in supporting multilingual learners?

🎒 What would an inclusive start to the school year look like?

These aren't just EAL questions—they're whole-school questions.

The decisions we make now can have a huge impact on belonging, achievement, and inclusion next year.

Full blog post in bio.

Which of these conversations is most relevant in your school right now?

👇 Let me know in the comments.

Save this post to revisit during your September planning.

SchoolLeadership Inclusion LanguageMatters Multilingualism TeacherLife SchoolImprovement EveryLanguageLearner

📚 Planning for September? Start the conversation now.As the school year comes to a close, it's the perfect time to refle...
16/06/2026

📚 Planning for September? Start the conversation now.

As the school year comes to a close, it's the perfect time to reflect on how we support multilingual learners and think about what we want next year to look like.

In this carousel, I've shared five important conversations that every EAL lead, EAL coordinator, and school leader should be having before the summer break:

✅ Do we need a language policy?

✅ Is our EAL provision still fit for purpose?

✅ How well are we engaging multilingual families?

✅ How confident are staff in supporting multilingual learners?

✅ What would an inclusive start to the school year look like?

The most effective support for multilingual learners isn't built in September—it's planned before the new school year begins.

I'd love to know: Which of these conversations is your school having right now, and which one needs more attention?

👇 Share your thoughts in the comments.



https://everylanguagelearner.co.uk/2026/06/16/five-conversations-every-school-should-be-having-now-to-support-multilingual-learners-next-year/

As Every Language Learner reaches its first birthday, I've been reflecting on the conversations I've had over the past y...
04/06/2026

As Every Language Learner reaches its first birthday, I've been reflecting on the conversations I've had over the past year.

With educators.
With multilingual families.
With language learners.

Although every context is different, the same themes often emerge.

These five lessons continue to shape how I think about multilingualism, inclusion and belonging.

I'd love to know:

Which lesson resonates most with you?

💛 P.S. I've extended my anniversary giveaway until Friday. If you'd like to explore any of these themes in your own setting, details can be found in my pinned post.

Address

Bracknell

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Every Language Learner posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The School

Send a message to Every Language Learner:

Shortcuts

Featured

Share

Category