What happens when children hear different languages, meet people from different cultures, and discover that the world is bigger than they thought? In this special Luna La Mariposa adventure, Luna flies a little farther than usual and meets new butterfly friends from around the world. Each butterfly greets her in a different language, helping Luna discover that even when words sound different, kindness, curiosity, and friendship can bring us together.

In this episode, children will hear greetings in Spanish, English, Chinese, Italian, French, and Japanese while exploring the importance of empathy, cultural awareness, and connection.

First, you'll hear the story in English with a sprinkle of Spanish and greetings from around the world. Then you'll enjoy the story again in Spanish with a few greetings from other languages woven throughout.

This episode is a gentle reminder that learning another language is about much more than vocabulary. It helps children learn to listen, connect, and understand others with openness and curiosity.

What You'll Learn

Children will be introduced to:

• Greetings from around the world
• Basic Spanish vocabulary
• Cultural awareness and global citizenship
• Listening and comprehension skills
• Empathy and connection through language

Greetings featured in the story:

• Hello (English)
• Hola (Spanish)
• Ni hao (Chinese)
• Ciao (Italian)
• Bonjour (French)
• Konnichiwa (Japanese)

Free Printable Activity Pack

To accompany today's story, I've created a free printable activity pack inspired by Luna and her butterfly friends.

Activities include:

• Coloring butterflies
• Greetings from around the world
• Matching activities
• Spanish color vocabulary
• Simple reading and writing practice

Download your free activity pack:

www.jencova.com/free-resources

New to the Podcast? Welcome! ¡Bienvenido! Here are a few other adventures you may enjoy:

• Luna La Mariposa Stories & Activities: Fun bilingual stories that help children learn Spanish through adventures, repetition, and printable activities.
• Bilingual Book Read-Alouds: Stories that celebrate language, culture, family, and imagination. (One of my personal favorites is El Ratoncito Pérez y la Tooth Fairy. A bilingual story that brings together two beloved childhood traditions from different cultures).

Parent and Family Conversations

Practical ideas, reflections, and encouragement for raising bilingual children and creating a home where language can grow naturally.

Family Challenge

This week, try one small thing together:

• Learn a new way to say hello.
• Listen to music from another country.
• Read a bilingual book.
• Talk about a place in the world you would love to visit someday.

Little moments like these help children realize that the world is big, beautiful, and full of people we can learn from.

Connect with Me

Website: www.jencova.com
Free Resources: www.jencova.com/free-resources

Thank you for listening to the Spanish for Children and Families podcast. ¡Gracias!

¡Hasta la próxima!

In this episode, I sit down with Chris, director and founder of Ticolingo, a premier Spanish immersion school in Costa Rica, for a heartfelt conversation about language, culture, and what immersive learning can truly look like for teens and families.

This is not a sponsored episode. I invited Chris on the podcast because I have lived this experience as a parent, and what Ticolingo offers aligns deeply with my values around meaningful language learning, cultural connection, and confidence-building.

In This Episode, We Explore:

• What changes when children learn Spanish through real experiences, not just lessons.
• How culture and human connection help language feel natural and usable.
• Why immersion can be transformational.
• What parents often worry about, and what actually matters most in immersive programs.

Inside Ticolingo’s Teen Immersion Program

Chris shares the heart of Ticolingo’s Teen Immersion Program in Costa Rica and what sets it apart from traditional language camps or study abroad experiences.

Students:

• Live with carefully matched local host families.
• Walk to school daily with others in their neighborhood.
• Learn in small-group Spanish classes.
• Use Spanish in real-life settings through activities like scavenger hunts, cooking, volunteering, and language exchange with local teens.
• Experience Costa Rica through cultural excursions and nature-based adventures.
• Disconnect from constant phone use and reconnect with people, place, and purpose.

Parents receive daily photo updates and consistent communication throughout this amazing experience.

A Parent’s Perspective

I also share our family’s experience. Including the very real fears that come with sending a teen abroad, and the meaningful before-and-after transformation I saw in my son.

If you have ever wondered:

• Is it too late?
• What if my child never connected with Spanish before?
• Is immersion safe?
• Is Costa Rica safe?

This conversation was recorded with you in mind.

This episode goes beyond language learning.

It is also about:

• Raising globally curious, culturally aware teens.
• Supporting teens as they step into independence with confidence.
• Showing children that the world is bigger and more welcoming than they might imagine.
• Giving families permission to explore new paths, even if past approaches did not work.

Resources & Links

• Tico Lingo Website: https://www.ticolingo.com/
• Teen Immersion Program: https://www.ticolingo.com/teen-spanish-summer-camp/
• IG: @tico_lingo
• Chris Reidy: chris@ticolingo.com

If you are a parent with questions, my email is included. I am always happy to share from a parent-to-parent perspective. Jenny Corredor Varela: info@jencova.com

This episode is Part 2 of a heartfelt tribute to grandparents and the beautiful role they play in raising bilingual children.

In Part 1 (Episode 14), I shared personal stories, reflections, and the lasting legacy my dad created in our family. And today… we bring that love to life.

In this special episode, my dad and my youngest son read a bilingual book that’s close to our hearts:
“Todos Estamos Conectados / We Are All Connected” by Gabi Garcia.

This story gently reminds us that no matter how different we may seem, we are all deeply connected to one another, to nature, and to the world around us. It’s a message of empathy, belonging, and shared humanity.

Having my dad and my son read this story together was more than just recording an episode. It was a moment of joy, connection, and laughter.
A keepsake that we’ll treasure forever.

Un millón de gracias, Papi, por ser mi cómplice en esta idea.
Gracias por tu voz, tu tiempo, y tu amor.
Tu legado vive en nosotros.

📚 Book Info:

Todos Estamos Conectados / We Are All Connected
Written by: Gabi Garcia
Illustrated by: Natalia Jiménez Osorio
[🔗 Link to book – https://www.amazon.com/Connected-Estamos-Conectados-Bilingual-English/dp/1949633586]

🎧 Why This Episode Matters:

• It continues our celebration of family, language, and legacy
• It shows how grandparents can be part of your child’s bilingual journey — even from afar
• It’s a beautiful reminder that stories bring generations together

💛 Want to Try This at Home?

Record a loved one reading a story to your child.
It doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to come from the heart.
Those little recordings? They become treasures. ❤️

Even if someone rolls their eyes at first or says, “I don’t want to do it,” (trust me, I’ve been there!), once they get caught up in the moment. The laughter, the fun, the connection. They’ll love it.

Because it’s not about being perfect; it’s about being present.

✨ New Here?

If you missed Part 1, listen to [Episode 14 – What Grandparents Teach Us About Language, Love, and Legacy].

Before You Go… Stay Tuned After the Reading!

We’ve included a few bloopers and outtakes at the end. Full of mistakes, giggles, and behind-the-scenes laughter. Because sometimes the best family memories are born in the imperfect moments. When things go off-script, we mess up the lines and just laugh together.

Perfectly imperfect and full of heart.

Coming Soon: Transforma

If you’re a parent or an adult starting the journey of learning Spanish yourself… I’ll soon be opening the doors to Transforma, my signature program for adults learning Spanish with clarity, heart, and support.

✨ I’m inviting only 10 founding members for this special first round.
It’s designed for real beginners. No pressure, no perfection. If you’d like early access to the priority list, send me an email at info@jencova.com.

¡Hasta la próxima! I can’t wait until we meet again!