When Only One Parent Speaks Persian: What Research Says About Language Retention
When only one parent speaks Persian, language retention is possible. Learn what research says about OPOL, receptive bilingualism, and practical strategies for Iranian-American mixed-language families.
Talking with Our Children About War, Political Unrest, and Uncertainty Related to Iran
A Resource for Iranian-American Families *This article is informed by Dr. Shirin Vossoughi's Facebook post titled: Reflections for diasporic Iranian families and educators about how to support our children during this time. For many Iranian-American families, moments of political tension involving Iran do not feel distant. They arrive through breaking news alerts, worried phone calls with relatives, hushed adult conversations, and the invisible weight that settles over a hou
9 Proven Strategies for Maintaining Persian in Mixed-Language Homes
In mixed-heritage families, maintaining a heritage language rarely happens by accident. When only one parent speaks Persian, or when English dominates school, friendships, and media, children receive far less exposure than in fully Persian-speaking households. Research across heritage language communities (Spanish, Mandarin, Korean, Arabic, and others) consistently shows the same pattern: without intentional structure, the community language quickly becomes dominant, and the
Raising Bicultural Kids: How Heritage Language Shapes Identity
A heritage language is the language connected to a child’s family background or ancestry, but not the dominant language of the society where they grow up. Children of Iranian immigrants may hear Persian at home while living their daily lives in the langauge of the host country. Over time, the community language becomes dominant, and heritage language skills may plateau or fade without intentional support. Research on heritage bilinguals shows that language proficiency and cu
