Luli and the Language of Tea

Language is the road map of a culture. It tells you where its people come from and where they are going.” – Rita Mae Brown

Language Week at our school has been a wonderful journey of celebrating the beauty of multilingualism! Over the past few days, I have been reading “Words Between Us”by Angela Pham Krans and” Luli and the Language of Tea” by Andrea Wang to my students.

These heartwarming stories highlight the power of home languages in connecting generations, building friendships, and fostering belonging.

“Words Between Us”tells the story of a girl and her grandmother, who struggle to communicate due to a language barrier. Through letters, love, and determination, they find a way to connect beyond words.

“Luli and the Language” of Tea follows Luli, a young girl in an ESL classroom, who bridges language differences through the universal act of sharing tea. This book beautifully reminds us that even when we speak different languages, we can always find common ground.

Celebrating multilingualism in the classroom is more than just recognizing different languages—it’s about honoring our students’ identities, cultures, and personal stories. This week, I’ve seen my kids light up as they proudly shared words from their home languages. They felt seen, valued, and connected. Some even started teaching their classmates greetings in their native tongues!

Our home languages are more than words—they hold our traditions, our families’ histories, and our identities. One of the best ways to learn a language is by appreciating the cuisine of its home country. Food carries the essence of culture, history, and language. Whether it’s sharing a simple cup of tea, tasting traditional dishes, or learning the names of ingredients, food is a beautiful way to immerse ourselves in another culture and deepen our understanding of its language.