Hi, My name is Shannon!

My passion for foreign languages started early. After winning a scholarship to study in Germany at 15, I spent a whirlwind few months immersed in a culture entirely ‘other’. The experience dramatically changed my perspective, sparking a love for exploring other cultures.

 A decade on, married with two kiddos around my ankles, our family relocated to New York City, where our days were spent in a melting pot of language and culture. I quickly noticed how much of an impact living in such a diverse city was having on my little ones, with curiosity, empathy and creativity being cultivated by the day. I also saw how navigating different cultures was equipping them for the globally connected world they were already beginning to shape.

Upon returning to Sydney, however, continuing this cultural education proved difficult in a city where neighbourhoods are a lot more spread out and isolated. After discovering there were no fun, interactive early childhood language programs for my own children to take part in, I set out to create them lesson by lesson. Utilising a background in communications, and in partnership with early childhood experts, ‘The Cultured Kid’ was born. Our language program was quickly adopted by daycare centres across the city, and I started to see how possible it was that every child would have the chance to revel in the joy of exploring foreign cultures, no matter where they live.