Episode 27: Supporting Multilingual Teens with Yoshito Darmon-Shimamori | Identity, Literacy and Belonging | Talking Their Language with Helen Bodell

Episode 27: Supporting Multilingual Teens with Yoshito Darmon-Shimamori | Identity, Literacy and Belonging | Talking Their Language with Helen BodellWelcome to Talking Their Language with Helen Bodell, the podcast for teachers, school leaders, EAL specialists, and educators who are passionate about supporting multilingual learners at every stage of their educational journey.In Episode 27, Helen Bodell is joined by Yoshito Darmon-Shimamori, French and Spanish teacher, multilingual parent, and author of In Search of the Lost Words, to explore how we can better support multilingual teenagers at home and in the classroom.While many conversations about EAL focus on younger learners, this episode shines a light on the experiences of multilingual adolescents and the importance of supporting their languages, identities, literacy skills, and sense of belonging.Helen and Yoshito discuss how maintaining and developing home languages can support young people’s confidence, cultural identity, communication skills, and connection to their communities. They explore the importance of becoming multi-literate, and how schools and families can encourage multilingual teens to value all the languages they speak.In this episode, you'll discover:Why supporting multilingual teenagers’ identities is so important.How home languages contribute to belonging and confidence.The importance of developing literacy skills in multiple languages.How families and schools can support multilingual learners beyond English development.Practical ways to encourage multilingual reading and writing.How teachers can recognise multilingualism as a strength.Meet Yoshito Darmon-ShimamoriYoshito Darmon-Shimamori is a French and Spanish teacher in a secondary school in England. He is half-French and half-Japanese and was raised bilingually and bi-culturally in France.As a multilingual parent raising his two sons to be multilingual, multicultural, and multi-literate, Yoshito has a deep personal and professional understanding of the challenges and opportunities that come with multilingualism.Growing up, Yoshito experienced the importance of language as a bridge between cultures. His own experiences of developing literacy in different languages inspired him to explore how children and young people can be supported to maintain their languages and feel proud of their identities.He is the author of In Search of the Lost Words and The Parents’ Guide to Raising Multi-literate Children. Through his work, including his multilingual parenting platform, Yoshito shares practical guidance with families and educators supporting multilingual children.Whether you are a secondary teacher, EAL Lead, school leader, parent, or educator supporting multilingual young people, this episode offers valuable insight into helping teenagers develop confidence, identity, and literacy across languages.Find out moreExplore Yoshito’s work and resources:https://www.library4multilinguals.com/about-the-library-4-multilingualsExplore more Twinkl EAL resourcesJoin Twinkl EAL:https://www.twinkl.co.uk/l/72uh3Browse the full Twinkl EAL resource collection:https://www.twinkl.co.uk/l/1gx63tIf you enjoyed this episode of Talking Their Language with Helen Bodell, subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it with colleagues. Each episode explores research, practical strategies, and inspiring experiences that help educators support multilingual learners and celebrate the languages that shape who they are.