Halime Duzen (migrant advocacy worker, mother of 2): It is very important for parents to keep their own language because parents themselves are very comfortable with their own language, and they can easily talk about their emotions, their feelings.

Naime (mother of 2): I am speaking at home more Turkish, because I think important, the first language.

Halime: I think it’s very important for young children to grow up and learn with their own language; to belong with their community when they go to their own soccer club or their own festivals.

Tagrid (mother of 4): If I wanna go one day to Lebanon, I like my kids to speak Arabic like the other people, not sit and watch and ‘Oh, I’m not understand Mum, sorry, take me home.’

Tajma (mother of 2): When they go to school they need to speak English very well, but with our own community and with communication with parents, they need especially our language.

Halime: It’s very important to let them learn their own mother tongue language. And also, of course it’s important to talk in English as well, reading books in English, reading books in their own language. No problem at all, children are very intelligent, very clever. Just look for resources – they learn a lot.

Naime: In future, he have to learn English, because in Australia: speak English. At home, everywhere, speak English.

Tagrid: I can help my kids with Arabic, but I cannot help them in English. So now I wanna go and do an English course, to help my kids, and help myself as well.

Halime: It’s very important for parents to learn English – mums to learn English or dads to learn English – so they can read with their children at home, and sing. I think it helps the children to integrate outside the home culture.

Naime: I’m trying, but just small words, speak English. More, speak Turkish.