Back in 2016, the actor and filmmaker gave an interesting glimpse into her parenting style when she revealed that each of her children was learning a different language. Angelina Jolie has often spoken about raising her six children to be independent, curious and open to the world.
Jolie shared the details while guest-editing BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour. The 2016 revelation that continues to stand out Her comments were made nearly a decade ago, but her approach remains an interesting example of child-led learning. Each child chose a different language During the interview, Jolie revealed that her children had developed very different interests when it came to languages.
“All the kids are learning different languages,” Jolie said. “I suppose that just means you don’t know who your children are until they show you who they are and they are just becoming whoever they want to be,” she said. By giving her children the opportunity to choose what they wanted to learn, Jolie said she was able to see more of their individual personalities emerge. Her statement that children are “just becoming whoever they want to be” perhaps best summed up her approach: give them opportunities, listen to what excites them and allow their individual personalities to guide them.
Her revelation showed that instead of making all her children follow the same learning path, she allowed them to choose languages based on their individual interests. She went on to explain the choices made by each of them. “I asked them what languages they wanted to learn and Shi is learning Khmai, which is a Cambodian language, Pax is focusing on Vietnamese, Mad has taken to German and Russian, Z is speaking French, Vivienne really wanted to learn Arabic, and Knox is learning sign language. The choices were notably diverse. another was learning European languages, while Vivienne had chosen Arabic and Knox was interested in sign language While one child was interested in a Southeast Asian language. Jolie wanted them to discover their own interests What made the parenting decision particularly interesting was that Jolie did not appear to be imposing the same activity or language on all six children. Instead, she asked them what they wanted to learn and supported their individual choices. A parenting lesson in individuality Her comments offered a glimpse into a parenting philosophy that places importance on allowing children to develop their own identities. With six children growing up together, it could have been easy for them to be encouraged towards similar activities. Instead, Jolie’s comments suggested that their differences were something she embraced. Her approach also highlights an important lesson for parents: children within the same family may have completely different interests, even when they share the same upbringing. One child may be fascinated by languages, another by music or sport, while another may be drawn to something entirely unexpected. Rather than focusing only on academic achievement, she appeared to value curiosity and encouraged her children to explore subjects that genuinely interested them. Looking for trusted parenting advice? Follow TOI Parenting Circle on Instagram for expert guidance, relatable stories, and practical tips delivered every day.
Jolie Supports Children’s Individuality
Angelina Jolie emphasizes the importance of allowing her children to develop their own identities. She believes that parents do not have the ultimate control over who their children will become. Instead, Jolie encourages her children to explore their unique personalities, interests, and passions as they grow.