Highest Aspirations

Student agency through academic languaging with Dr. Margo Gottlieb and Dr. Gisela Ernst-Slavit


Listen Later

In this episode of Highest Aspirations, we speak with Dr. Margo Gottlieb and Dr. Gisela Ernst-Slavit about the powerful concept at the heart of their new book, Academic Languaging. They challenge the traditional view of academic language as a fixed code to be mastered, redefining it as an active, student-driven process that empowers multilingual learners. The conversation dives deep into the crucial role of student agency, exploring how authentic voice and choice can transform the classroom. 


Key questions we address:

    1. What is "academic languaging," and how does it fundamentally shift the traditional view of academic language?
    2. Why is student agency essential for developing academic languaging?
    3. What are practical classroom strategies teachers can use to foster student agency?


    For additional episode and community resources:

    • Download the transcript here.

    • Order Dr. Gottleib and Dr.Ernst-Slavit book Academic Languaging

    • Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The Community Brief

    • For additional free resources geared toward supporting English learners, ⁠visit our blog.


    Margo Gottlieb, Ph.D., has been a bilingual teacher, coordinator, facilitator, consultant, and mentor across K-20 settings. Having worked with universities, organizations, governments, states, school districts, networks, and schools, Margo has co-constructed linguistic and culturally sustainable curriculum and reconceptualized classroom assessment, policy, and practice. As co-founder and lead developer of WIDA at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2003, Margo has helped design and contributed to all the editions of WIDA’s English and Spanish language development standards frameworks and their derivative products. She has been appointed to national and state advisory boards, served as a Fulbright Senior Scholar, and was honored by the TESOL International Association in 2016 for her significant contribution to the field. In 2025, Margo was inducted into the Multilingual Education Hall of Fame.


    Gisela Ernst-Slavit (PhD, University of Florida) is a Professor Emerita at Washington State University, where she maintains an active research program focused on academic languaging and the education of multilingual students.

    A native of Peru, Gisela grew up speaking Spanish, German, and English. She is the author, co-author, or co-editor of 13 books and over 100 articles and chapters. She has been a visiting professor at the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid and has also served as President of the Washington Association for English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL affiliate) and held leadership roles in several professional organizations, including the American Educational Research Association, the Council on Anthropology and Education, and TESOL International Association.



  • ...more
    View all episodesView all episodes
    Download on the App Store

    Highest AspirationsBy Ellevation Education

    • 5
    • 5
    • 5
    • 5
    • 5

    5

    27 ratings


    More shows like Highest Aspirations

    View all
    The Cult of Pedagogy Podcast by Jennifer Gonzalez

    The Cult of Pedagogy Podcast

    2,417 Listeners

    Angela Watson's Truth for Teachers by Angela Watson

    Angela Watson's Truth for Teachers

    1,258 Listeners

    The Splendid Table: Conversations & Recipes For Curious Cooks & Eaters by American Public Media

    The Splendid Table: Conversations & Recipes For Curious Cooks & Eaters

    3,069 Listeners

    Latino USA by My Cultura, Futuro and iHeartPodcasts

    Latino USA

    3,769 Listeners

    The Lazy Genius Podcast by Kendra, The Lazy Genius

    The Lazy Genius Podcast

    6,626 Listeners

    The Fr. Mike Schmitz Catholic Podcast by Ascension

    The Fr. Mike Schmitz Catholic Podcast

    7,696 Listeners

    Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard by Armchair Umbrella

    Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard

    69,624 Listeners

    Melissa & Lori Love Literacy ® by Supported by Great Minds

    Melissa & Lori Love Literacy ®

    432 Listeners

    Fiction - Comedy Fiction by The Sunset Explorers

    Fiction - Comedy Fiction

    6,447 Listeners

    Science of Reading: The Podcast by Amplify Education

    Science of Reading: The Podcast

    663 Listeners

    Triple R Teaching by Anna Geiger

    Triple R Teaching

    212 Listeners

    Teaching MLs by Tan Huynh

    Teaching MLs

    102 Listeners

    IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson by Higher Ground

    IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson

    12,594 Listeners

    Literacy Talks by Reading Horizons

    Literacy Talks

    61 Listeners

    The Mel Robbins Podcast by Mel Robbins

    The Mel Robbins Podcast

    20,478 Listeners