Parental Experiences and Decision-Making in Mixed Russian-Italian Families: Fostering Simultaneous Bilingualism while Safeguarding Cultural Heritage

Bilingual education is increasingly important in a globalized, multicultural society, particularly for children from migrant backgrounds or mixed families. In mixed Russian-Italian families, fostering bilingualism involves complex parental decisions, cultural influences, and educational strategies. This study explores the experiences of parents in these families, focusing on their decision-making processes and the challenges and successes in cultivating bilingual proficiency in children learning Russian and Italian from birth. The research, involving 61 native Russian mothers in Italy, used a mixed-methods approach with an online questionnaire in Russian to gather qualitative and quantitative data. The study employed voluntary response and snowball sampling to capture diverse perspectives. Most families used the "One Parent, One Language" (OPOL) approach to support bilingualism and preserve cultural identity, while others adopted a mixed approach. The study identified challenges for immigrant mothers in maintaining Russian, including the dominance of Italian, a lack of Russian-speaking peers, and societal pressure. Strategies to address these included using Russian at home, correcting language mixing, and increasing exposure through media, literature, and travel. Despite difficulties, most parents were satisfied with their approach, and over half observed their children overcame initial language development challenges. Overall, the findings emphasise flexible language strategies, strong family involvement, and a supportive environment to help children develop proficiency in both languages while preserving cultural heritage.