Last week’s post got me thinking—how one little word can mean so many things depending on how you look at it! It’s probably why English is such a quirky yet essential language to master, and why IGCSE English is such a big milestone. Speaking of, did anyone else study Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s The Danger of a Single Story? As an expat mum, her words really hit home. She reminds us that “to create a single story, show a people as one thing, over and over, and that is what they become.” With our lives so intertwined with different cultures, it’s easy to see how things can get lost in translation when we don’t explore the richness of language. And let’s be honest, English can be pretty wild sometimes!
Having spent so long in this part of the world, I’ve learned that not everything translates the way you expect. Like the time I eagerly told my amazing Emirati colleagues they could be my “guinea pigs” for a new project… the confused looks still crack me up to this day! Idioms can be hilarious but for kids? They’re a whole new ball game! Think about trying to explain “raining cats and dogs” or “storm in a teacup” to a 5-year-old. They’ll probably take it literally—picture tiny dogs falling from the sky! I’d love to hear your favorite idioms that left someone totally baffled. Come on, we’ve all been there, right?
Then there’s the classic language confusion we expats know too well—those moments when our third-culture kids say things like “It’s round the backside” or “the water’s not coming.” Cue the bemused stares from relatives back home! It’s all part of this fun, unpredictable journey of raising little ones across cultures.
Language is so important to everything our kids do, and I can’t stress enough how key it is to keep their curiosity alive through reading. Whether it’s Thomas the Tank Engine, Mr. Men (who remembers Little Miss Sunshine?), to Helen Farmer’s charming book about what mums really do while the kids are at school—anything that sparks their interest is pure gold. Making reading fun is the real key, and it’s the cornerstone of academic success. The earlier we start, the better!
Speaking of academics, if you’ve got a child doing IGCSE English, you probably already know that coursework is 40% of the final exam. Yep, they can redo it, but let’s aim to give it their best shot on the first draft, right? A little friendly pressure never hurts, especially with the school year flying by for Year 10 and Year 11.
And if your child struggles with reading, don’t panic! Sometimes it’s just a simple case of missing letter sounds. A quick trick—try printing out the alphabet backward (yes, from z to a!) and have them sound it out not the name the sound. No singing the ABCs, though! You’ll be surprised what this reveals.
I’m also curious—what are your all-time favorite books for kids and teens? I’m still obsessed with Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy (yes, even now!), Where the Wild Things Are (though the movie, hmm, wasn’t my fave), and of course, We’re Going on a Bear Hunt—such a classic. Sadly, Enid Blyton books like Famous Five and Mallory Towers may not be as relatable today, but they’re still our childhood staples, right? As a teen, I was all about Little Women, Anne of Green Gables, and the one and only Jane Austen’s Emma. And who else loved My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell? Honestly, my life feels a bit like that book sometimes—chaotic and full of love for all things wild and wonderful!
Times have definitely changed, but one thing hasn’t—a child who reads opens up new worlds. Reading gives them a broader perspective on life, allows them to relax, and sparks their imagination. When I was younger, TV only came on in the evenings (imagine that!), and on a rainy day, a book was the only source of entertainment.
Anyway, enough of my bookish reflections. I’d love to hear yours! What are the books that shaped your childhood or your child’s imagination? Drop them in the comments below. Reading matters, it really does, from the first time a little one follows along with pictures to the day they start predicting plot twists. Watching a child fall in love with books is a gift—it just takes time and patience (and yes, collecting books can be an expensive hobby!). But also remember this advice is given in love – of my three children one only reads when there is absolutely no other alternative entertainment; the second is literally allergic to books and the third I have to surgically remove books from at 3am in the morning. Every child is different and that’s what makes them all so frustrating …erm wrong word … beautiful!
Until next week x