This month’s Language Superhero is Miya Alcivar. Miya is an office manager and bookkeeper, and she’s pursuing the opportunity to become an interpreter thanks to her language skills. She can fluently speak English, Spanish, and French, and is learning Korean. “Being an immigrant myself, I think the ability to connect with people in a language […]
Continue readingThe Impact of Language Proficiency on the Provision of Healthcare
When a person seeks medical attention, they rely on the competency of the healthcare professionals they interact with to help diagnose, treat, relieve symptoms, and eradicate illness. It’s daunting and frightening enough to visit an emergency room for urgent and critical medical problems. The levels of stress and fear are heightened even more for patients […]
Continue readingRaising the Bar: Building Confidence in Teaching World Languages
The demand for skills in languages other than English among employers in the United States continues to grow. As stated in a 2019 survey commissioned by the ACTFL, about six in ten employers in different fields, including education services, expect the demand for language skills to increase in the next five years. According to the […]
Continue readingMeet a Language Superhero: Madeline Martinez
Madeline Martinez, a bilingual writer and marketer, grew up in Puerto Rico and moved to mainland United States twenty years ago. She is our October Language Superhero. In the story she shared with her, she talks about her experience learning English and starting a career as a writer and interpreter. She also shares her experience […]
Continue readingWhen It Comes to Education, Language Matters
As established in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of the United Nations, “parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children” and every child has the right to education. But what happens when students and their parents are immigrants who do not command enough English […]
Continue readingCertifying your Language Skills through Remote Testing—Anywhere, Anytime
When it comes to learning a language, there is always room for growth. Are you continuously developing your linguistic skills to stay up to date in this globalized and diverse economy? Do you want to mitigate the linguistic barriers with current customers in your organization by helping them in their preferred language? Are you considering […]
Continue readingMeet a Language Superhero: Jeff Page
In this month’s “Language Proficiency Is Your Superpower” feature, we spotlight Jeff Page, a bilingual professional, a K12 paraprofessional, English-Spanish interpreter, and a tennis coach. Jeff recognizes the power of multilingualism and dedicates himself to supporting multilingual students and their parents in his school district. Jeff also also produces an audiobook narration podcast called “English […]
Continue readingDo Not Leave Your Success to Chance
Are you frustrated with your job search? Wondering how to be competitive in today’s globalized economy? Increasing your chances of getting hired? If you command more than one language, you might want to consider getting assessed and certified for your language proficiency before you continue your search. In today’s multicultural marketplace, there are growing needs […]
Continue readingThe Power of Language in the Financial Industry to Help Mitigate the Wealth Gap
As a bilingual or multilingual professional in the financial sector, you can make a difference in lessening the wealth gap in the United States. Communities for whom a language barrier limits their access to financial literacy and socio-economic mobility need support in learning how to navigate their financial matters. By guiding non-English speaking persons in […]
Continue readingWhy Institute a Language Pay Differential for State and Local Government Agencies
According to the most recent data from the U.S. Census, 22% of the U.S. population speaks a language other than English at home, and nearly 9% of the population speaks English less than “very well.” For individuals with limited English proficiency, language is a major barrier in accessing basic benefits and services and exercising important rights. […]
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