Fluency Forward

Caroline Praveen shares how moving from India to the United States as a child reshaped her confidence, sense of self, and connection to her mother tongue as she learned English. She describes the long, uneven path from feeling like an outsider to becoming fluent, and the unexpected cost of that fluency: struggling to speak her native language and feeling a shift in identity.

Joanne and Caroline explore what language barriers really mean in day-to-day life for immigrant and refugee families, including the pressure on children to translate for adults, the added challenge of digital literacy, and the isolation that comes from being cut off from familiar community and culture. Caroline also explains why empathy and patience matter so much when speaking with people who are developing English, and how well-meaning overcompensation can become patronising.

The conversation broadens into inclusion, mindset change, and the realities of bias and stereotyping, including the idea of “good immigrants” and how different forms of racism show up. Caroline reflects on working with children who have fled war, the role of local support organisations, and the resilience she sees in families as they rebuild their lives. The episode closes with a call to individual responsibility: small, consistent actions can shift the “ratio” toward a more inclusive society.