BCT Talks
The BCT invites speakers who are experts in their field to present and discuss a wide range of family-related subjects in a series of information talks for adults.
From allergies in children and self-defence to financial planning and business start-ups, these talks cover a variety of issues in a one-off session or in a series of workshops over several weeks.
All BCT Talks are held either online or at our Clubhouse, in Ixelles. They are free for BCT members. Non-members are welcome for a participation fee of 10€.
MEET. LEARN. CONNECT.
Your opinion counts – let us know what you would like to see covered in our BCT Talks.
Recent and upcoming BCT Talks
Upcoming Talks:
BCT Talks Series:
Multilingualism in Parenting
BCT Talk: “Bi/Multilingual Families: Getting Started with Family Language Planning”
Wednesday, 18 May, 7pm via Zoom
For everyone but particularly for families who are pregnant and would like to make sense of how to best approach multilingualism in their family
Are you a bi/multilingual family or a family choosing bi/multilingualism for your children? Would you like to know how to best plan for success?
For some families, bi/multilingualism is a simple and straightforward affair. For many other families it is complex, involving two or more languages and variables such as school choice, family mobility and literacy issues. For these families, the process of Family Language Planning not only gives them research-based advice to follow, but provides them with the knowledge and tools to adjust their Family Language Plans as circumstances change.
In this session we will look at the basics of Family Language Planning, including key factors for success. You will leave with a clear understanding of how to best plan for bi/multilingualism for your children, and where to go for supportive resources.
Meet the team behind onraisingbilingualchildren.com:
Eowyn Chrisfield
Eowyn is an Applied Linguist with specialisations in bilingualism and education with over 20 years of experience. Her latest book “Bilingual Families: A Practical Language Planning Guide” is an accumulation of all her work with caregivers. Eowyn currently runs her consultancy alongside her position as Senior Lecturer in English Language and TESOL at Oxford Brookes University.
Maria Potvin
Maria has a degree in English Linguistics and a postgraduate certificate in Teaching Multilingual Learners. As a CELTA-qualified English language trainer she has also gained practical experience with foreign language learners. She is passionate about languages and devoted to supporting families in navigating their language journey.
Daphne Vlachojannis
Daphne is a New York-qualified human rights lawyer with multifaceted international experience spanning a 15-year career. Passionate about languages and inspired by her own background in raising three multilingual children, she is dedicated to helping families create an environment that fosters multilingual development.
REGISTRATION: required! Email talks@bctbelgium.org with your BCT membership number and expiration date or let us know, if you would like to attend the event as a non-member.
Not a member yet but would like to join us for an annual membership fee of 55€ in the first year and even less later? We welcome new families at any time: https://bctbelgium.org/get-involved/membership/join-us/
Participation fee: FREE for BCT members (non-members may attend for a fee of 10 euros)
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BCT Talk: “Multilingual language acquisition: What is multilingualism? The myths, Practical advice”
Wednesday, 22 June, 7pm via Zoom
For everyone but particularly for those parents who have been faced with conflicting advice about how to best help their multilingual children
This talk will give you an introduction to multilingualism – what is it, what says the research? How can you help your child with the languages? It will focus on the myths – when do you actually need to worry?
There will be room for your own questions.
The Swede Dr. Monica Bravo Granström is the Managing Director of the Akademie für wissenschaftliche Weiterbildung (Continuing Education) at the University of Education Weingarten in Southern Germany. As a language activist, she works in several ways for multilingualism, e.g. as: researcher (PhD), lecturer on multilingualism, author of the handbook “I love svenska” (I love Swedish, 2013) for Swedish parents raising their children abroad, and Senior Advisor SMUL (Svenska som modersmål utomlands”)… She is also mother of two multilingual children (Swedish, German, Spanish, English).
REGISTRATION: required! Email talks@bctbelgium.org with your BCT membership number and expiration date or let us know, if you would like to attend the event as a non-member.
Not a member yet but would like to join us for an annual membership fee of 55€ in the first year and even less later? We welcome new families at any time: https://bctbelgium.org/get-involved/membership/join-us/
Participation fee: FREE for BCT members (non-members may attend for a fee of 10 euros)
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FREE ONLINE TALK : Estate planning with young children end May, 6 pm - online Being an expat can be challenging. Living abroad may bring all kinds of situations which are not easy to face. In this talk you will be given a concise explanation of what happens when a young parent dies, from blocked bank accounts, guardianship, inheritance rules and inheritance tax. Estate planning is not only about limiting inheritance tax, but mostly about making sure that your loved ones are taken care of, financially and otherwise. This talk will help you understand how to prepare yourself and using some simple techniques to do so. The talk will be given jointly by Marc Quaghebeur and Amanda Newell. Marc is a Belgian tax lawyer with Cabinet DAVID (www.david-law.be) specialising in international tax issues and cross border estate planning (www.taxation.be/events). He is a member of the Brussels Bar and the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners. Amanda is a Financial Adviser at The Fry Group (www.thefrygroup.co.* * *
About the BCT:
The Brussels Childbirth Trust is a volunteer-run, not-for-profit organisation that supports parents and families here in Belgium. We are the leading source of pregnancy and parenting information in English. We are a social and support community, helping you and your family to get out and about and meet other English-speaking families for playdates, learning and fun! We have over 700 member families from more than 70 countries around the world. They speak many different languages, but are united by English.
Past BCT Talks (selection):
- Mealtime Dramas (2022)
- Babywearing Basics (2021)
- DIY cleaning products (2021)
- How to invest in your retirement (2021)
- Elimination Communication (2021)
- Navigating Family Travel (2021)
- Potty training tips (2021)
- Job skills - Personal Branding (2021)
- Baby-led Weaning (2021)
- Parenting with less stress and anxiety (2020)
- The benefits of playing with my baby (2020)
- Deep sleep dive - improving family sleep (2020)
- Baby-wearing (2020)
- Network your way to a job (2020)