Bilingual in America

On today's podcast, we continue to highlight scheduled speakers at La Cosecha Dual Language Conference, which begins on November 2nd. First, we hear from Dr. Barbara 'BK' Kennedy, founder of GlobaLingo Educational Consulting. BK is trilingual (English, German & Spanish), and has worked as a bilingual ESL and world languages teacher, as well as a district administrator and state program director. GlobaLingo provides customized Dual Language planning, evaluations, and professional development in the US and abroad. She is presenting two sessions at this year's La Cosecha Conference and shares a bit about each session's subject matter, along with why DLeNM (Dual Language Education of New Mexico) holds a special place in her instructional heart.

We also went back to one of DLeNM's longtime supporters, James Lyons. Jim is one of the principal authors of the Bilingual Education Act of 1984. The impact of this historic Education Act is still felt today. Jim shares why one language is not enough; how multilingualism stimulates brain function; and why DLeNM has been successful in creating the best Dual Language conference in the United States.

Today's episode features Patrick Werito, Coordinator of Tribal Initiatives for Dual Language Education New Mexico, and Michael Rodriguez, Director of Dual Language Education New Mexico. These two forces share details of their ongoing work with the bi/multilingual communities in New Mexico and beyond, and of course, what to look forward to at the upcoming La Cosecha \Conference in Santa Fe, New Mexico from November 2nd-5th!

As more states and districts are embracing the “science of reading”, some educators and advocates have raised the question: Will these teaching methods work for English-language learners? Today we are joined by Mario Palma. Director of Bilingual ELL Solutions at American Reading Compan, and Dr. Kathy Escamilla, Professor of Education in the Division of Educational Equity and Cultural Diversity at the University of Colorado. 

Let’s listen in as we learn about the implications this has on our emergent multilingual learners.

Joy School® English is produced by Alegra Learning, an education company with this simple mission: a life full of meaningful connections. While they are headquartered in Provo, Utah, Alegra Learnings' impact is felt on an international level. Brothers Tal and Eli Eyre share the mission and passion of Joy School® English with Segment Host, Suzanne Lasser. 

Joy School is a perfect way for young children to learn English and develop character-building values that incorporate social and emotional learning. With relatable phrases, built-in reward systems, unique art, and fun stories, young children are captivated by the Joy School English program. To find out more please visit joyschoolenglish.com. Let's listen in...

Three interesting statistics: The US has more immigrants than any other country in the world,

Recent studies show that 40 million people living in the US were born in another country and Immigrants today account for 13.7% of the US population. With this in mind, today you will hear Yarina Sencion in conversation with Michelle Caceres. Michelle graduated from Syracuse University and has been an ENL teacher for the past five years. She shares her parent’s journey to the US  and the life they have made in the US over the past 35 years. 

Michelle’s father’s journey differs from that of my great grandfather and even that of Yarina’s family, however, all three are examples of the thousands who have left the comfort of “home” in search of economic opportunity, and encounter political freedom or experience religious freedom. 

Author and multicultural advocate, Amada Irma Perez believes that the immigrant experience is strengthened by telling these stories and that through these stories people find the strength to thrive. Let's listen in...

This segment is Part 2 of Pearls of Wisdom with Dr. Ofelia Garcia. If you missed Part One, you’ll definitely want to listen to that earlier episode. We begin this segment with Dr. Garcia reflecting on the importance of students being proud of who they are, their families, and their cultural roots.

Dr. Garcia shared many pearls as we continued our conversation: "Growing a language is adding a pearl", and many others. Dr. Garcia is truly the Queen of Translanguaging! Let's listen in.

Sometimes as a podcast host you get to speak with a giant in the field and you just can’t get all of the conversation to fit into one episode so what are you to do??? Well, you decide to split the interview into 2 episodes! Yarina and I had a chance to speak at length with a well-known expert with broad and strong roots in the field of bilingual/multilingual education, a true pionera: Dra. Ofelia Garcia. 

If you are unfamiliar with her work within the world of education you should know that she began as a teacher in NYC Public Schools before bilingual education even existed as an instructional model. She is Professor Emerita in the Ph.D. programs of Urban Education and of Latin American, Iberian, and Latino Cultures (LAILAC)  at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. She has been a Professor of Bilingual Education at Columbia University’s Teachers College and Dean of the School of Education at the Brooklyn Campus of Long Island University. She has authored and co-authored numerous books with other gifted researchers. 

When Yarina and I reached out to her about joining us on the podcast she responded by saying, “Sure, anything for teachers and our kids, who are holding our society up during these hard times.” Listen in to hear about the need to compare bilinguals in the US and their language skills within their own context, addressing the cracks in our educational systems and working towards educational opportunities that dismantle practices of cognitive injustice. 

In honor of Bring Your Child to Work Day, program co-host Suzanne Lasser and I shared the Bilingual in America platform with Abraham and Emil, our respective bilingual sons. In the first part of this episode, the boys interviewed a language role model from their lives. Emil speaks with Marcela DeAndrade, his language teacher. Abraham speaks with Arshia Dhawan, his long-time friend, and classmate.

During the latter part of the program segment, Emil and I continue to speak with Ms. DeAndrade, as we discuss the Seal of Biliteracy Certificate, available now for high school students. Let's listen in.

Hi! I’m Suzanne Lasser and today, on BIA, co-host Yarina Sencion and I speak with Susan Bretti and Dr. Lauren Raubaugh about  Bilingual in America’s partnership with Manhattanville College’s Changing Suburbs Institute aka CSI. The theme for  CSI’s 16th annual educator’s forum, taking place virtually on Friday, April 22nd, is Cultural Responsiveness: Unlocking the Potential for Diverse Learners. 

During Episode 14, we heard from Dr. Nancy Cloud about what she will be sharing as this year’s Keynote Speaker. Right now, instead of sharing too many program details, we dive right in so you can hear about it directly from CSI Director Susan Bretti and one of the presenters, Dr. Lauren Raubaugh. 

The four of us had a lot of fun recording this episode and I feel that Yarina said it best, “When we align with others and champion the same causes, we get good information out to folks.” The conference is happening on April 22nd and there is still time to register. Until next time, what more will you do to #speakyourbeauty?

Xánath Caraza is an internationally acclaimed poet & author, with works translated into seven languages, and a professor at the University of Missouri in Kansas City. Today she speaks with Yarina Sencion about her multilingual life and the role each version of her identity plays in her work. During this powerful conversation, we once again touch on the beauty of Nahuatl, the language of the Mayans still in use today, that when European colonization began could be heard from Mexico to Panama.  

Xánath moves us with a reading of one of her poems, talks about her obsession with paper, and how writing for her is a life force.  I was moved by the beauty of her recitation of just one paragraph of her poem Sihuatl. I fell silent reflecting on her 2018 book of poems, Lagrima Roja, being translated & released in Greek and English honoring those women who fell victim to femicide in Mexico. I felt heavy when thinking about her newest book of poems, Jackeline's Butterfly, inspired by the death of the first child in US custody as part of the crisis at the border. 

The weight of each of these works captures her commitment to sharing her undeniable gift with the world, and why as a writer she must let it all flow and rest.  As we come to the end of Women's Herstory Month, we are privileged to highlight Xánath, another strong, intelligent, dynamic, vibrant, and creative soul who speaks her beauty.