Language Strategies for Trilingual Families: Parents' Perspectives (Parents' and Teachers' Guides): 17

Through their interviews with trilingual families in the UK and Germany, the authors present a complex and multifaceted reality of the various beliefs and language practices of trilingual families. This unique book shows that there is no single pathway to becoming trilingual and that trilingualism is a dynamic process that constantly adapts to evolving circumstances.

This book is an exceptional read for trilingual families everywhere! It begins with an overview of trilingualism as well as research on trilingualism but then goes much deeper, examining the differences between bilingualism and trilingualism as well as the special challenges that trilingual families everywhere face. The authors emphasize that not all trilingual families share the same challenges and from there delve into the main focus of the book: providing readers with specific guidance based on their own unique language backgrounds. The authors do this exceedingly well, outlining three categories for which they provide detailed and thorough roadmaps. This book is an enjoyable read, packed with down-to-earth tips, interviews with successful trilingual families and research to back up the benefits of trilingualism. Every trilingual family should have this book on hand.

It is an invaluable manual for trilingual parents; it could help them to choose strategies and methods for maintaining trilingualism in their children. The tips that are offered to the parents are practical and helpful.

Andreas Braun is Research Fellow at the Centre for Research in Primary and Community Care, University of Hertfordshire. He earned his doctorate in 2007 and is a member of the International Association of Multilingualism. During his research career, he has published journal articles and book chapters focusing on language practices of trilingual families with children, incomplete acquisition of heritage languages, education and multiculturalism.

Tony Cline is Co-Director of the CPD Doctorate in Educational Psychology, University College London. His research interests include the education of bilingual children, selective mutism, literacy learning difficulties of bilingual pupils, the education of minority ethnic children in mainly white schools and child language brokering at school.