Mother Tongue: My Family's Globe-Trotting Quest to Dream in Mandarin, Laugh in Arabic, and Sing in Spanish

(Hardback)

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Description

In Mother Tongue, Christine Gilbert shows us what it's like to make a life in an unfamiliar world - and in an unfamiliar tongue. Gilbert was a young mother when she boldly uprooted her family to move around the world, studying Mandarin in China, Arabic in Lebanon, and Spanish in Mexico, with her toddler son and all-American husband along for the ride. Their story takes us from Beijing to Beirut, from Cyprus to Chiang Mai, and explores recent breakthroughs in bilingual brain mapping and the controversial debates happening in linguistics right now.

Reviews

An engaging travel narrative for both language lovers and general audiences.
Kirkus Reviews

Christine Gilbert takes us, her husband, and her toddler to China, Beirut, and Mexico on a quest to connect with locals and master their languages for as long as it takes. But her plans get hijacked by political and human events. Gilberts warmth and willpower are contagious, and I especially loved vicariously learning the challenges of Mandarin. Her journey moves us through determination, disappointments, and finally, into joy. Her talent is to make us care!
Rita Golden Gelman, author ofTales of a Female Nomad

Christine Gilberts intimate, honest narrative, rooted in science, illustrates the courage it takes to be global and raise global kids complete with humor, humility and humanity. I thoroughly enjoyedMother Tongueand encourage anyone whos considered living or traveling abroad with kids to read this book!
Homa S. Tavangar, author ofGrowing Up Global

Read this book while packing your suitcase. You'll be inspired by Christine's stories of adventure in foreign lands, and you'll be encouraged by how close her family became as they traded risk for reward wherever they went.
Chris Guillebeau, NYT bestselling author ofBorn for ThisandThe $100 Startup

"Inspiring... Gilbert balances a young family and her career to take us on an enviable journey around the world while also providing illuminating research on language acquisition for the young and old alike."
Jen Lin-Liu, author ofOn the Noodle Road

Author Bio

Christine Gilbertisawriter,photographer,anddocumentary filmmakerandisthecreatorofthepopularblogAlmostfearless.com.Gilbert'ssite hasbeenmentionedintheLos Angeles Times Web Buzz, the TravelChannel's World Hum, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Brave New Traveler, National Geographic Traveler,andmanymore publications.Her writingandphotographyhavebeenseenonLonely Planet, Rough Guides, andBBC Travel. OriginallyfromtheBostonarea,Gilbert nowlivesinBarcelona,Spain,withher husband,Drew,andtheirchildren,ColeandStella.