In a recent podcast in our “Language is Your Superpower” series, Johanna López credits her students for her historical 2018 landslide win to become a member of the Orange County Public School Board (OCPS) in Central Florida. Not only did she obtain a seat with 40,000+ votes (previous elections were won by a margin of […]
Continue readingChampioning Equitable Education within Your Community
The article, “Immigration and Language Diversity in the United States,” delineates how the history of linguistic diversity in the U.S. has ebbed and flowed throughout time. Long before English settlers arrived, there were many distinct languages spoken in Native American communities in North America. In the 18th and 19th centuries, there were an estimated 10 […]
Continue readingHarnessing the Power of Cultural and Linguistic Connection
It’s your first encounter with someone you just met from a different culture and background that speaks a language other than English. How are you able to communicate with them? In the past, many Americans’ initial approach would be to ask “Do you speak English?” However, as society becomes more and more diverse and the […]
Continue readingMeet a Language Superhero: Gabby Clark
The 2019 survey commissioned by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) titled “Making Languages Our Business,” reveals that the demand for employees with foreign language skills is rapidly growing, and nine out of ten employers rely on employees with language skills other than English (p. 3). As the report states: “A […]
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