America the Bilingual

Among the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in North Carolina, there are fewer than 200 first-language speakers of Cherokee . In Episode 30 of America the Bilingual, you’ll hear from people, both Cherokee and non-Cherokee, who are finding ways to embed the Cherokee language in classrooms and music, giving rise to a new generation of Cherokee speakers in the process. But is it too late? Join us for Episode 30, "A New Generation of Cherokee Speakers Rises."

The America the Bilingual podcast is part of the Lead with Languages campaign of ACTFL — The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages.

This episode was written by Mim Harrison. Our producer is Fernando Hernández, who also does our sound design and mixing, and our associate producer is Beckie Rankin. Graphic arts are created by Carlos Plaza Design Studio. Be sure to check our writeup of this episode on America the bilingual-dot-com, for more on the Cherokee and their language.

Support for the America the Bilingual project comes from the Levenger Foundation.

Music in this episode, “Quasi Motion” by Kevin MacLeod, was used with a Creative Commons Attribution License. Check his work at:

http://freemusicarchive.org/music/kevin_macleod/global_sampler/quasi_motion

Our thanks to Epidemic Sound for helping us make beautiful music together.

When Viviana Cisniega’s son Luis was four months old, she taught him to talk—not in English, not in her native Spanish, not even by speaking. Instead, she taught her son some American Sign Language, the physical language of the deaf. For a number of years, some very young hearing babies have learned a few of the signs in ASL, as a way to successfully talk with their parents and caregivers before they begin to speak. But how do members of the deaf community feel about using ASL for infants who can hear? Find out in Episode 29 of the America the Bilingual podcast.

This episode was written by Mim Harrison, brand and editorial director for the America the Bilingual project. Our producer is Fernando Hernández, who also does our sound design and mixing. Associate producer is Beckie Rankin. Our Graphic arts are created by Carlos Plaza Design Studio. The host is Steve Leveen. Support for the America the Bilingual project comes from the Levenger Foundation.

Music in this episode, “Quasi Motion” by Kevin MacLeod, was used with a Creative Commons Attribution License. You can find his music here: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/kevin_macleod/global_sampler/quasi_motion

Our thanks to Epidemic Sound for helping us make beautiful music together.

When people find out I’m learning Spanish, they frequently ask me, “How are you doing it?” It’s an obvious question. But over the years I’ve discovered that it’s not the best question. A better one is “What are you doing with your language?” For when you can answer that question, you have discovered a place, or places, where your adopted language can live in your life. That, as we’ll hear in this episode, makes all the difference.

This episode was written by me, Steve Leveen. Our producer is Fernando Hernández, who also does our sound design and mixing, and our associate producer is Beckie Rankin. Our brand and editorial director is Mim Harrison. Graphic arts are created by Carlos Plaza Design Studio.

Support for the America the Bilingual project comes from the Levenger Foundation.

Music in this episode, “Quasi Motion” by Kevin MacLeod, was used with a Creative Commons Attribution License. Kevin Macleod also performs "Take me out to the ball game". You can see information for both tracks here:

http://freemusicarchive.org/music/kevin_macleod/global_sampler/quasi_motion

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcwZIHMfWyA

Our thanks to Epidemic Sound for helping us make beautiful music together.

When people find out I’m learning Spanish, they frequently ask me, “How are you doing it?” It’s an obvious question. But over the years I’ve discovered that it’s not the best question. A better one is “What are you doing with your language?” For when you can answer that question, you have discovered a place, or places, where your adopted language can live in your life. That, as we’ll hear in this episode, makes all the difference.

The America the Bilingual podcast is part of the Lead with Languages campaign of ACTFL — The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages.

This episode was written by Steve Leveen. Our producer is Fernando Hernández, who also does our sound design and mixing. Our associate producer is Beckie Rankin. Our brand and editorial director is Mim Harrison. Graphic arts are created by Carlos Plaza Design Studio.

Support for the America the Bilingual project comes from the Levenger Foundation.

Music in this episode, “Quasi Motion” by Kevin MacLeod, was used with a Creative Commons Attribution License.

You can find his work at: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/kevin_macleod/global_sampler/quasi_motion

Even at 16 we may be too old to learn a new language and speak it without an accent. So what about us adults over 50? Should we even bother trying? Hear longevity expert Laura Carstensen debunk some common assumptions. And hear the story of one intrepid fifty-something language learner who refuses to give up on her efforts to become a bilingual—and to reduce global greenhouse gases, which for her are related quests.

The America the Bilingual podcast is part of the Lead with Languages campaign of ACTFL — The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages.

This episode was written by Steve Leveen, and our producer, Fernando Hernández (who also does our sound design and mixing). Check out the rest of our cast at America the Bilingual-dot-com, including Beckie Rankin, Carlos Plaza, Mim Harrison, and our bark-lingual pup, Chet.

Our main musical theme is “Quasi motion”, By Kevin Macleod, under a Creative Commons Attribution License. You can find more of his work here: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/kevin_macleod/

Financial support comes from the Levenger Foundation.

Our thanks to Susan Golden, Jason Martin, Roch Hillenbrand, Phil Pizzo and the Stanford DCI staff

Thanks for listening, for America the Bilingual, this is Steve Leveen.

In this second episode on the dual-language movement, we hear from six voices of change in America. They trace their heritages to different countries and have had different life experiences, but they share a common vision for America. They would place our old melting pot respectfully in a museum of American history.

The America the Bilingual podcast is part of the Lead with Languages campaign of ACTFL — The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages.

This episode was written by Steve Leveen and producer Fernando Hernández, who also does our sound design and mixing. Our associate producer is Beckie Rankin. Our brand and editorial director is Mim Harrison. Graphic arts are created by Carlos Plaza Design Studio.

Music in this episode, “Quasi motion” by Kevin Macleod, was used with a Creative Commons Attribution License.

http://freemusicarchive.org/music/kevin_macleod/global_sampler/quasi_motion

Imagine there was a new way of teaching that results in most students becoming truly bilingual and biliterate before finishing high school. Imagine if this new way of teaching also helped students rise in academic achievement overall. And finally. imagine if this new way of teaching could also help students develop more empathy towards others.

We don’t have to just imagine it, it exists. It goes by the name dual-language education. or dual-language immersion, and it’s growing fast in America.

In Part I of our coverage of dual-language education, we hear from two luminaries in the field who explain what it’s about and how it got started—not at the national level, but at the state level.

The America the Bilingual podcast is part of the Lead with Languages campaign of ACTFL — The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages.

This episode was written by Steve Leveen and Producer Fernando Hernández, who also does our sound design and mixing. Our associate producer is Beckie Rankin. Our brand and editorial director is Mim Harrison. Graphic arts are created by Carlos Plaza Design Studio.

Music in this episode was with a Creative Commons Attribution License by:

Kevin Macleod - Quasi Motion

http://freemusicarchive.org/music/kevin_macleod/global_sampler/quasi_motion

The rest of the music is licensed from Epidemic Sound.

How has a presumably dead language become such a disruptor? Because Latin certainly seems to be just that. It’s one of the most frequently taught languages in American schools. It’s a language that few speak and yet can help people think. And it’s been shown to be effective in strengthening English literacy. Who knew?

In this episode, you’ll meet two Latinists who make their living by teaching the language, and one who makes his living by allowing Latin to teach him.

The America the Bilingual podcast is part of the Lead with Languages campaign of ACTFL — The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages.

This episode was written by Mim Harrison and edited by Fernando Hernández (who also does our sound design and mixing). Check out the rest of our cast at America the Bilingual-dot-com, including Carlos Plaza, Beckie Rankin, and especially our bark-lingual mutt, Chet.

Music in this episode was with a Creative Commons Attribution License by:

Kevin Macleod - Quasi Motion

http://freemusicarchive.org/music/kevin_macleod/global_sampler/quasi_motion

The rest of the music is licensed from Epidemic Sound.

We're back with Season 2 of America the Bilingual! We open with this episode that features two stories of how people reconstruct themselves in a new language and how through that process, they can sometimes discover and express important new aspects of themselves that can be liberating.

America the Bilingual is part of the Lead with Languages campaign of ACTFL — The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages.

This episode was written by Fernando Air-nandez, who also does our cool sound design and mixing. Our associate producer is Beckie Rankin. Check out the rest of our cast at America the Bilingual dot com, including Mim Harrison, Maja Thomas, Carlos Plaza, Daruma Tech and especially our mascot Chet.

The main theme music of this podcast is “Quasi motion” by Kevin Macleod, under a Creative Commons Attribution License.

You can find his music here: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/kevin_macleod/global_sampler/quasi_motion

As we close Season One of America the Bilingual, we are filled with gratitude for the hundreds of interviewees—teachers, scholars, and bilinguals of all types. Thank you for answering our incessant questions and adding your voices to our first 20 episodes.

We will resume our schedule with Season Two on March 28th, 2018. In the meantime, we’re in production on a dozen new episodes, including: How Monolingual English-speaking Parents Can Raise Bilingual Children, Latin in the 21st Century and How to Learn a Language by Not Studying It.

A Request

Dear listeners, we’re hungry for stories. Write to us at America the Bilingual and let us know your language story—your language biography, as we call it. Among other stories, we’re looking to hear from people who became bilingual as adults—how did you do it? And why? We’re looking forward to hearing from you.

And our heartfelt thanks to you, listeners, for being with us for our first season. Thank you for listening, for telling your friends, and for helping to spread bilingualism across America.

Credits:

America the Bilingual is part of the Lead with Languages campaign of ACTFL — The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages.

The programs are written by Steve Leveen, and our producer, Fernando Hernández (who also does our cool sound design and mixing). Our associate producer is Beckie Rankin. Check out the rest of our cast, including Mim Harrison, Carlos Plaza, Daruma Tech, and especially our mascot, Chet. Maja Thomas is editorial consultant.

Music in this episode with a Creative Commons Attribution Share Alike License by (in order of appearance):

Anonymous420 - Mouse Compatible

http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Anonymous420/Nostalgia/Anonymous420_-_Nostalgia_-_06_Mouse_Compatible

Komiku -Fouler l'horizon

http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Komiku/Its_time_for_adventure_/Komiku_-_Its_time_for_adventure_-_01_Fouler_lhorizon

Loyalty Freak Music - People are spinning

http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Loyalty_Freak_Music/TO_CHILL_AND_STAY_AWAKE/Loyalty_Freak_Music_-_TO_CHILL_AND_STAY_AWAKE_-_06_People_are_spinning

Kevin Macleod - Quasi motion

http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Kevin_MacLeod/Global_Sampler/Quasi_Motion