Raising Multilingual Kids Abroad with Dr. Adeline Hurmaci
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How do you raise children in a multicultural, multilingual household? In today’s episode, I sit down with Dr. Adeline Hurmaci, a coach for multilingual parenting, who shares her experience of raising a family in a new country while staying connected to her cultural roots. We explore the joys and challenges of fostering a multilingual household and how parents can help their children develop strong language skills in every language they speak.
In our conversation, Adeline discusses redefining what ‘home' means, the transformative benefits of living abroad, and her journey from academia to entrepreneurship in multilingual education. She offers insights on raising multilingual children, maintaining cultural ties, and navigating feelings of nostalgia as an expat. Join us for a heartfelt conversation filled with actionable tips on blending cultures at home, preserving family traditions, and embracing the power of language to create meaningful connections.
Perspectives on Home
Adeline has been living in Germany for 15 years, and it’s now truly her home. Originally from France, she’s noticed that whenever she visits her parents or friends back in France, returning to Germany feels like coming home. She believes this is because she’s built her own life, with family, friends, and roots there.
Living abroad offers new perspectives on life, and for Adeline, home is where you can be your true self. While she still feels a strong connection to her parents' house and her past, her sense of "home" has shifted to where she has grown, and that’s now in Germany.
Home, for her, is where you grow and feel like yourself.
Looking Back 10 Years
If we rewind 10 years, who was Adeline back then, and what did her transformation look like?
In 2011, Adeline moved to Berlin to begin her PhD, a city she always felt drawn to for its cosmopolitan vibe, freedom, and interesting history. A year later, she completed her PhD and welcomed her first child.
Living in Germany offered her a unique perspective—one she cherished as a parent. She took a year off to focus on her child, something she appreciates about living abroad, where parents can take a break without guilt or societal pressure.
After her break, she worked as a researcher in sociology, conducting interviews with parents and applying her love for qualitative studies. Although she enjoyed the work, she realized that the instability of project-based research wasn’t for her. She also knew that a traditional academic path, like becoming a professor, was not her calling. So, she began to explore other ways forward, eventually setting her sights on a different future beyond academia.
Embracing Multilingual Education
When Adeline’s first child was born, she and her husband embarked on multilingual education—French, German, and Turkish. With Adeline bringing French and her husband, who grew up bilingual, introducing German and Turkish, they hoped to raise their child in all three languages.
But by the time their son was two and a half, he was only speaking German. Despite understanding Turkish and French, he refused to speak them, which was disheartening for Adeline and her husband.
For them, passing on these languages wasn’t just about words—it was about identity, culture, and family connection.
Determined to overcome this, Adeline dove deep into multilingual education. Although she had a background in languages through her studies, she hadn’t specialized in multilingual child development until then.
Through research and persistence, Adeline developed a new approach. They adjusted their methods, and soon, their son began speaking Turkish and French again. She realized many families faced the same struggles, which sparked a new mission.
That’s how she founded her business, aiming to help parents successfully pass down multiple languages to their children. Her passion grew from a personal challenge into a broader mission: every child, and every language, matters.
Multilingual Skills
How did Adeline feel when her child finally started speaking both of their native languages?
For her, it was an amazing feeling—proof that it was possible. After a lot of frustration and uncertainty, they didn’t want to push their son but instead, found a way for him to embrace the languages on his own.
At just two and a half, he couldn’t fully understand the importance of speaking multiple languages, but Adeline knew the key was creating an environment where he wanted to speak them. That realization became the base of her method: making language learning natural, enjoyable, and meaningful for children.
The Birth of a Business
Adeline’s method for guiding parents on multilingual education starts with getting clarity on their goals. Every family is different—some parents simply want their child to understand the language, while others hope for fluency in speaking, reading, and writing. So, she begins by helping parents define their expectations.
Next, they examine the child’s language environment. How often do they engage with the language? What can be done to strengthen that connection? This is where strategy comes in. Many parents assume that simply speaking a language is enough, but Adeline learned firsthand that the dominant language (in their case, German) can take over unless you make the others significant and relevant to the child.
Her method focuses on three key dimensions: significance, confidence, and skills. To make a language meaningful, she encourages creating special moments and rituals that make the child want to engage. It's not just about teaching them to speak—it’s about making it fun, building their confidence, and giving them the skills to feel capable in the language.
Over time, these elements build a strong foundation, making it easier for the child to maintain the language into adulthood. Adeline believes that learning a language opens new perspectives, not just on words but on life. Studies show that multilingual children are often more open and tolerant, with a deeper appreciation for diversity.
For Adeline, though, teaching a language is more than just a functional skill—it’s about passing down culture, identity, and a love for language. If it doesn’t come from the heart, it won’t last. That’s why her approach is all about nurturing a genuine connection to the language from the very start.
Navigating Entrepreneurial Challenges
Adeline’s transition from researcher to entrepreneur wasn’t easy—it was filled with a lot of downs and some ups. Coming from a human sciences background, she had no experience in marketing or running an online business, and she didn’t enjoy dealing with numbers. But she had a strong conviction that this was her mission.
Despite the challenges, she embraced the process, knowing it would take time. Adeline learned that building a business is a continuous journey of growth, development, and constant refinement. She experienced moments of feeling stuck and even sought help from a coach in 2021 to get clarity on marketing and building a system that worked for her.
The biggest lesson? Persistence. In the early days, there were plenty of no’s, which was tough to accept. But over time, as she developed her concepts, learned what people really needed, and became more confident in her selling skills, things started to click. Having the support of her husband and the luxury of not rushing her progress gave her the space to learn and grow at her own pace.
For Adeline, the key has always been to believe in her mission and stay confident—even when faced with rejection.
Having a Strong Why
When asked about what keeps her going, Adeline emphasizes the power of having a strong "why."
She believes that without a deep sense of purpose, the inevitable challenges of entrepreneurship will lead you to give up. For her, this "why" is clear—every child deserves to grow up with strong language skills in a harmonious environment. It’s what fuels her passion and determination.
At first, she struggled to focus because she had so many ideas and projects she wanted to pursue. With time, and by joining my mastermind group for support, she learned the importance of focusing on one thing at a time until it works. Now, she’s more focused but still driven by her vision for the future.
Dealing with Rejection
How did Adeline handle rejection and the "no’s" along her entrepreneurial journey? She breaks it down into three key dimensions:
Strong Belief – First and foremost, she maintained a strong conviction that she would achieve her goals. It’s important to believe in what you want and stay focused on getting it.
Analyze, Don’t Dwell – Instead of feeling discouraged when things didn’t work, Adeline shifted her mindset to see rejection as an opportunity to learn and grow. Every "no" became a chance to ask questions, analyze what went wrong, and refine her approach based on feedback from clients.
Keep Learning – She emphasizes the importance of continuously improving skills, whether it’s learning how to sell, building confidence, or communicating more effectively with potential clients.
By focusing on these three dimensions, Adeline navigated the challenges of rejection and transformed them into valuable learning experiences.
Self-Discovery and Motherhood in Entrepreneurship
How has Adeline’s personal journey of self-discovery evolved as an entrepreneur and a mother?
For her, the mindset shift has been one of the most significant aspects of her entrepreneurial journey. It’s been a conscious effort to change old beliefs, such as thinking that money is bad or that she doesn’t deserve financial success. Over time, she’s learned to embrace the idea that money is a tool—not just to help herself, but to also support others. This mindset shift has been key in her personal and professional growth.
Motherhood has also shifted her perspective on life. Adeline jokes about how, before becoming a mother, she had certain principles—only to realize once she had her child that those principles often had to change.
Navigating motherhood within a multicultural family, with three different cultural perspectives, was initially challenging. In the first year, she faced many differing opinions from her parents, her husband’s family, and friends in Germany on things like when a child should start kindergarten or sleep alone.
What she learned from these experiences is to trust her intuition. Listening to different perspectives is valuable, but ultimately, you must do what feels right for you and your family. By the time her second child arrived, things became much clearer and easier because she had already found her way.
Trusting Your Intuition
Has Adeline always trusted her intuition, or is it something she’s developed over time?
Adeline says she’s consciously working on listening more to her intuition, especially in business. Decision-making can be tough for her, and that’s when she reminds herself to trust her gut. While it’s not always easy, reflecting on her life, she realizes she’s followed her intuition all along.
It started early, in primary school, when a German teacher introduced the language to her class. Despite her family’s concerns, Adeline felt a strong pull to study it. She knew it was the right choice for her, and later, at 16, she followed her intuition again by spending three months in Germany. Eventually, she pursued German studies, even when people questioned what she would do with it, apart from teaching. She didn’t know exactly where it would lead, but she trusted her instincts.
Following your intuition can be scary, as the brain tries to rationalize decisions. But Adeline encourages taking the risk. Even in the worst-case scenario, you can always figure things out. Whether you lose a bit of time or money, trusting your intuition often leads to growth and new opportunities.
The Challenges of Living Abroad
Adeline has a family and lives in another country, which brings its own set of challenges, especially when it comes to being away from her parents. We reflect on her experience, where she mentions that she does feel a sense of loneliness at times, particularly as a parent living abroad.
Growing up, her grandparents played a significant role in her life. Although they weren’t there every week, they made regular visits, and Adeline cherishes those memories of family Sundays filled with warmth and connection. She often thinks about how she can’t provide her children with the same experience of close family gatherings, especially on Sundays.
When her children fall sick, the absence of nearby family becomes even more apparent. Her mother-in-law lives in Germany, but it’s a four-hour drive away, so they can’t call on her for support. Adeline and her husband find themselves having to coordinate who will take care of the children, which can be quite challenging at times.
While she misses the simplicity of being able to invite her mother over for coffee, she has also come to appreciate the special moments they share when they do get together. Their visits last for a week or two, during which they create meaningful memories and spend quality time together. Despite the distance, Adeline notes that her children are strongly bonded to their grandparents.
Adeline recognizes that living abroad has its ups and downs. While there are challenges, they are also creating their own unique traditions and building a family life on their own terms.
Creating New Traditions
Adeline points out the importance of traditions within multilingual education and environments. While it's vital to pass down traditions from the past, as they connect children to their heritage and identity, it’s equally important for families to establish new traditions. These new customs help children associate languages with meaningful experiences.
For example, Adeline and her child have a baking tradition that they've enjoyed since he was two years old. Whenever they bake together, he automatically speaks French to her, making the use of the language feel natural and effortless. This ritual not only reinforces their bond but also creates a special association between the activity and the language. Through such traditions, Adeline ensures that her child connects languages to specific moments, giving those languages a deeper importance in their lives.
Multilingual Relationship
In our conversation about love, Adeline shares how she met her husband and what it’s like to have a multilingual relationship.
Adeline and her husband didn't face a language barrier when they first met, as she was studying in Germany and had already developed a good command of German. This meant they never had to rely on English or struggle to understand each other.
However, even after all these years, Adeline sometimes notices nuances in meaning that lead to misunderstandings. While she knows the words, her husband may be implying something specific that she misinterprets.
They first crossed paths as students in Paderborn, which is a partner city of Le Mans, where Adeline grew up. Initially, after a year in Germany, she was supposed to return to France, but she loved her time there and wanted to stay for her husband. She spoke to her professor about continuing her studies in Germany while ensuring her coursework would be recognized back in France. Her professor agreed, allowing her to stay an additional year, but insisted that she return to finish her master's degree in France afterward.
By the end of her second year, her husband had completed his studies and decided to accompany her to France for a year. They both agreed that it would only be for one year before returning to Germany.
During this time, he learned a lot of French, which has been beneficial for their family life now that they have children, as he can communicate well and understand the language.
The Path to a Fulfilling Life
If you're looking to create a life you truly love, Adeline shares some valuable advice.
For her, the most important principles she emphasizes are to follow your intuition, believe in yourself, and keep going. She encourages viewing mistakes not as setbacks but as opportunities for growth and learning—these are the three essential conditions for success.
Sometimes, reaching your dreams requires taking risks.
To hear the full conversation with Dr. Adeline Hurmaci about raising multilingual kids abroad, tune in on your favorite podcast platform.
Connect with Dr. Adeline Hurmaci:
Website: Bilinguale Erziehung - Expertenrat und Praxis-Tipps
Email: ahurmaci@herzenssprachen.de
Instagram: @herzenssprachen_multilingual
LinkedIn: Dr. Adeline Hurmaci
YouTube Channel: Mehrsprachige Erziehung by Dr. Adeline Hurmaci
Connect with Me:
Check out mine and Shannon’s upcoming Abundance in Love Retreat and Program: REGISTRATION For Retreat
Date Your Finances website: Lucie HAUTREUX
On Instagram:
Instagram (@lucielifeexperiences)Watch on YouTube:
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