Episode 53: The Role of Families and Communities in International Schools with Maria Dsouza | Supporting Multilingual Learners Through Connection and Collaboration | Talking Their Language with Helen Bodell

Welcome to Talking Their Language with Helen Bodell, the podcast for educators, families, and school communities who are passionate about multilingualism, inclusion, and supporting children who use more than one language.

In Episode 53, Helen Bodell is joined by Maria Dsouza to explore the important role that families and communities play in international schools and multilingual learning environments.

International schools bring together children and families from a wide range of linguistic, cultural, and educational backgrounds. In this episode, Helen and Maria discuss how schools can build meaningful partnerships with families, create a strong sense of belonging, and ensure that multilingual learners and their communities feel valued and included.

Together, they explore how effective communication, cultural understanding, and collaboration between home and school can support children’s academic progress, wellbeing, and identity.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• Why family engagement is essential in international and multilingual schools.
• How schools can create stronger partnerships with diverse communities.
• The connection between language, culture, identity, and belonging.
• Practical ways educators can welcome and support multilingual families.
• How international schools can celebrate linguistic and cultural diversity.
• Why communities are a powerful resource in supporting multilingual learners.

Families bring a wealth of knowledge, languages, experiences, and cultural perspectives into schools. When educators recognise these strengths and work collaboratively with families, they create learning environments where every child can thrive.

Whether you work in an international school, support multilingual learners, lead inclusion, or are interested in global education, this episode offers valuable reflection and practical ideas for strengthening family-school connections.

Meet Maria Dsouza

In this episode, Maria Dsouza shares her insights and experiences around the importance of family engagement, community connections, and creating inclusive spaces for multilingual learners within international school settings.

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