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 […]
Continue readingDiversity of Hispanic Leadership
The values and cultural preferences of individuals who identify as Hispanic are unique and distinct. So does the concept of leadership—what it should look like, sound like, and how it should be represented by Hispanic leaders in their communities. The diversity that exists within the Latino population means that leaders must use certain skillsets and […]
Continue reading“My accent is my asset”
There is often a misconception about people who speak English as their second language. If they have strong accents, they are often perceived as having a reduced ability to communicate or their level of intelligence is questioned. Let’s consider instead that if a person speaks with an accent or does not fully command English, that […]
Continue readingIt’s not as simple as Spanish + English = Spanglish
What is Spanglish? According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, Spanglish (Span·glish | \ ˈspaŋ-glish) is various combinations of Spanish and English, which is primarily “Spanish marked by numerous borrowings from English.” Often used by multilingual Spanish speakers, it “comes after learning one’s native language,” by those that are integrated into both Spanish and English-speaking communities but may not involve […]
Continue readingThree Ways to Upskill Your Multilingual Capabilities
Is it really as easy as 1, 2, 3? Ok, it may not be “easy,” but it is doable! To upskill your multilingual capabilities, you need a superpower mindset. According to Marvel Comics writer and artist Jonathan Hickman, “Newfound power leads to new perspective.” So, whether you are looking to advance in your career, enhance […]
Continue readingLeverage Your Linguistic and Cultural Competencies
If you can communicate in more than one language and navigate more than one culture, your multilingual skills can be leveraged to serve our increasingly diverse society. When you think of all the various aspects of life—work, school, home, socializing, volunteering—there are many contextual opportunities to leverage your language abilities and your cross-cultural competencies to […]
Continue readingMeet a Language Superhero: Renaud Fenster
At LTI, we often talk about the benefits of being multilingual, and we truly believe that multilingualism gives you a special power: a power to communicate in another language, a power to better understand other cultures, a power to give yourself a competitive advantage, and even a power to save lives. Every year, thousands of […]
Continue reading