Bilingual in America

While we are resting and recharging over the summer we are also working behind the scenes to get ready for Season 4. Listen in to meet Gaby Maldonado and hear who she is and what gifts she is bringing to BiLingual in America.

While Mariachi bands date back to 18th-century Mexico, it wasn’t until the 20th century that the music transformed regional folk music into more of an urban phenomenon. During Season 2 of Bilingual in America, we first introduced the White Plains, NY High School Mariachi band as part of our episode titled "Music as a Global Language". Today’s episode goes a bit deeper as we hear from student musicians and Teacher Director extraordinaire, Zachary May.

White Plains High School is proud to have been the first Mariachi high school band in New York State. Its members are now celebrating their 9th year as performers. The bands' student musicians hail from Mexico, Colombia, and the United States. Let's listen in to hear about the White Plains High School Mariachi Band family, where student musicians Emiliano, Pamela, Angel, and their bandmates reveal their passion for music, the importance of having fun while performing, and so much more.

Bilingual children’s book author Maria Twena is a second-generation Latina, who felt very much like an outsider while growing up in New Orleans, Louisiana where she was balancing two languages and two cultures. Maria is the creator of the book series, MariVi: The Master Navigator, which will now also be featured as an animated series for TV.

Through her longitudinal book series, Maria gives bilingual/bicultural children, like herself, a place where they can authentically see themselves, exercising the role that they often play in their families. Listen in to hear her thoughts on the collectivist ethos, culture clash, and being a Sherpa for her parents.

Flor Bromley is a bilingual songstress originally from Peru. She is signed with 8 Pound Gorilla Records and has released three family albums. Her work has been praised by The Recording Academy, Red Tricycle, Broadway Workd, Parents Latina, Rockmommy, and The Toybook, among others. Her songs have been featured and played on the top 13 of Kids Place Live Sirius XM. In 2022 her album, Fiesta Global, was named an official selection of Notable Works for Children by the American Library Association. She is a NAPPA 2022 Award winner and a USA songwriting competition finalist. For more info please visit florbromleymusic.com.

Areli Morales Romero was born in Puebla, Mexico, but was raised in New York City. She is a DACA recipient, and Areli Is a Dreamer is her debut children's book. A graduate of CUNY-Brooklyn College with a Bachelor's degree in childhood bilingual education, she currently works as a preschool teacher. Join us as Areli shares her story of living the life of a Dreamer.

Karlyn Tabb currently works at the German International School in White Plains, NY. Students attending the school learn language in a variety of ways. Some come from homes where German is not spoken or even part of their family tree.

Karlyn, although not a native speaker, has family ties to Germany and that is what sparked her interest to learn the language during her childhood. She is a language lover and has been interested in the beauty of language and culture since her youth.

Karlyn has traveled and lived abroad, which in turn helped her grow her linguistic skill set. She is the proud mom of two children who have embraced German and Spanish thanks to the cocoon of language she, with the support of her husband, has created in her home.

Mayor Thomas Roach was born in White Plains, NY, and currently resides there with his family. He received his bachelor’s degree from the State University of New York at Albany and his law degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo. He was the first person in his family to earn a four-year degree and is a product of the public education system from kindergarten through his law degree.

Mayor Roach began his legal career with the Legal Aid Society in the Bronx and then later entered private practice in Westchester County, specializing in trial work. In 2001, he was elected to the White Plains Common Council. In 2013, he won his first full term as Mayor of White Plains. Today we discuss how living in a multicultural community is a great gift and how diversity is a resource!

Dr. Rocio del Castillo and Dr. Julia Cloat are changing the multilingual dual language landscape. Together, they have co-authored their first book, Teaching Reading in Spanish: A Linguistically Authentic Framework for Emerging Multilinguals. In addition, they have co-founded Via Educational Consulting, whose mission is to provide practical and equitable solutions to schools and districts on the path toward culturally and linguistically responsive education. As educational leaders, they are inspirational and 'just on time' in addressing the needs of our dual language teachers.

We are closing March, Women's Herstory Month, with a bang! Jacarina Soto is a first-generation Afro-Dominican American who went from getting her college degree and working in corporate America to living a purposeful life running her own spiritually directed business. Jacarina is a trauma-informed holistic coach and Master Energy Healing Guide.

She is dedicated to helping others show up as better versions of themselves. Yarina and I experienced the healing touch of Jacarina at a wellness retreat and knew we had to invite her to BiLingual in America to share her voice and her gifts. Listen...Breathe...Enjoy.

Susan Bretti, Thought Leader and Director of the Changing Suburbs Institute, shares all the details of the upcoming, once again in-person, 17th Annual Educational Forum. The forum is hosted by Manhattanville College in New York and will focus on Culturally Responsive Teaching. The conference guest keynote speakers will be Dr. Yolanda Sealy-Ruiz, Associate Professor at Teacher's College, Columbia University, and Elisa Alvarez, Associate Commissioner for the Office of Bilingual Education and World Languages. 

The annual Educational Forum will take place on March 24, 2023, at Manhattanville College. Registration is now open for the various workshops and presentations on the conference theme, Culturally Responsive Sustaining Pedagogy. Listen in!

Jacqueline  Cabrera, a seasoned special education teacher, wife, mother, and bilingual extraordinaire, shares her pearls of wisdom on bilingual language acquisition as it pertains to the uniqueness of all students.

Today's episode highlights the transformational work of Dra. Veronica Benavides, the founder, and CEO of The Language Preservation Project. She and her team work to reverse the trend of language loss across generations. The Language Preservation Project team works with families and educators to leverage the strength found within culture and language to develop proud and confident multilingual learners. 

Dra. Benavides discusses her family's personal experience with internalized messages about assimilation, and how one chance encounter in college helped her see new possibilities for herself and others. Listen in!

Dr. Devin E. Naar, a Judeo-Spanish language scholar, is the author of Jewish Salonica, and is an Isaac Alhadeff Professor in Sephardic Studies, Associate Professor of History, and faculty at the Stroum Center for Jewish Studies in the Jackson School of International Studies at the University of Washington. 

He speaks with us about the fascinating history of the Ladino language: Judeo Spanish and how it serves as a bridge between many cultures. Let's listen in to this captivating interview with co-host Suzanne Lasser.

Today's episode focuses on recently retired Patricia Galluzzo and Virginia Calderon. These two women have worked for over a quarter of a century providing translation support and assistance as needed in both Spanish and English. Patricia came to New York at the age of 9 from her native Argentina, while Virginia arrived at the age of 20 in California from her native Peru. Along the way, they learned English but not at the expense of their Spanish.  As they begin the next chapter in their stories, they leave behind a strong legacy of translations and have modeled for others the importance of activating communities and resources to help those in front of us.  Their dedication to this work went well beyond what was written in their job description! Listen in!

Andres Salguero was raised in Bogata, Columbia, and grew up with his father. He earned his Doctorate in music. Christina Sanabria, from Colombia, grew up in a Spanish-speaking household in America. She was always involved in theater and dance, and later earned a master’s degree in education from U Penn. Together they are… Latin Grammy winners 1,2,3 Andres, and make beautiful bilingual music for children and families. Enjoy their music and story with us!

Dual language stakeholders…get ready! Today we are visiting with educators, authors, and consultants Dr. Andrea Honigsfeld, TESOL professor at Molloy University, in New York, and Dr. Joan Lachance, Associate Professor of Teaching English as a Second Language at the University of North Carolina. Together this team is unstoppable as they venture into their latest book, Collaboration and Co-Teaching for Dual Language Learners: Transforming Programs for Multilingualism and Equity 

Multilingualism, Asset lenses, collaboration, partner teaching, equity, special education, ENL teachers, administration, and assessment are just some of the topics woven into a hands-on complete guide. Listen in to an engaging talk.

Educator, Leader, and Change Agent Lorynn Guerrero is New Mexico's Teacher of the Year. She speaks with us about being beautifully bilingual at any stage of one's language learning journey, how she's left an impact at New America School La Cruces High School with the GRADS program, and how this is just the beginning of her legacy work. The GRADS program began as an in-school program for teenage parents and has since added onsite child care centers, career readiness, youth leadership, and fatherhood programs. Listen in!

This week on BiLingual in America, we continue the conversation with Dr. Virginia Collier and Dr. Wayne Thomas. They met in 1980, and for the past 40 years have devoted their professional attention to Dual Language programs and their benefits for students. They discuss how students in DL programs learn curriculum in their second language without the expense of losing their first language, why DL is necessary and emphasize that in terms of student success, it is the long-term results that really matter. Listen in to hear them share more of their love language, DATA! Speaking with them was such an honor for both of us! 

Dr. Virginia Collier and Dr. Wayne Thomas are internationally known for their research on long-term school effectiveness for culturally and linguistically diverse students. Dr. Thomas is a Professor Emeritus of Evaluation and Research Methodology and Dr. Collier is Professor Emerita of Bilingual/Multicultural/ESL Education, both at George Mason University. 

Their research on dual language education is perhaps the most well-known across the United States. Their longitudinal studies of student achievement in various types of educational programs for English learners are considered seminal work in the field. Their Dual Language Learning series is published by Velazquez Press and available for purchase at www.dlenm.org.

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.

Dr. Nancy Cloud, Professor Emerita of the M.Ed. in TESL Program and in the Department of Educational Studies at Rhode Island College, is a specialist in ESL, bilingual and dual-language education. Prior to her work in Rhode Island College, she coordinated the M.S. TESL and Bilingual Education Programs at Hofstra University for ten years and federally funded projects at the Institute for Urban and Minority Education at Teachers College, Columbia University for six years. 

Dr. Cloud publishes regularly on topics pertaining to the appropriate assessment and instruction of English Language Learners K-12. She received her doctorate from Teachers College, Columbia University, and is proficient in Spanish. 

Let's listen in as Dr. Cloud shares her gems with co-hosts Suzanne Lasser and Yarina Sencion. 

BIA hosts Suzanne Lasser and Yarina Sencion had the privilege of speaking with native-born New Yorker Luana Graves Sellars who lives on Hilton Head Island in South Carolina, one of the most culturally rich and historic areas of the South. A passion for her Gullah Geechee roots has led her to become a preservationist and cultural influencer through her writing that is focused on educating others, as well as documenting Gullah culture, its history, and its people. 

In 2021, Luana started her own company, Sankofa Communications, which expanded into visual media where she also writes, directs, and produces cultural videos and documentaries. The founder of the nonprofits, Lowcountry Gullah, and the Lowcountry Gullah Foundation, Luana is also a keynote speaker and community activist who is doing her part to sustain and preserve Gullah Geechee culture for our future generations.

Dual Language programs are enrichment programs; they are richly instructional settings for students and, as we learn today, for teaching partners as well. They are learning spaces where students and teachers share, inspire, and feel creative. 

Johaira Buxo was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The oldest of six children, she immigrated to the United States when she was only 8 years old.  Growing up her dad would always say that education was everything because it is the one thing no one can take from you. She grew up with the understanding that no matter where you come from or your familial status, you can achieve greatness. 

Dr. Vilma Luz Cabán is a Dual Language educator, humanitarian researcher, and advocate for women and children. Vilma's main passion has been serving 29 years as a public school educator. This work has ignited personal inquiries related to writing and educational research on topics that directly impact the lives of women and young people. Together they work to ensure their children are bilingual, bi-literate, and bicultural. Their work is centered around putting students first and making sure they can always show their personal best. Please listen in...

Our regular listeners know that BiLingual in America the podcast is a space where we celebrate the strength, beauty, and joy of being bilingual in America, however, there is also the flip side to that that many times comes up during conversations with our guests. 

Guests have shared about raw and real struggles and instances where they have come face to face with bigotry. America is the land of opportunity but it can't be denied that it has, throughout history, mistreated various groups such as Native Americans, African-Americans, and Asian Americans. Some people arrive in the US and feel the pressure to become more American while in the recent past, others have been forced to do so through the Indian Assimilation Act. 

On today's episode of Bilingual in America, Yarina and I speak with Haley Laughter of Gallup, New Mexico. Haley is a member of the Navajo Nation and through her yoga practices works to heal generational trauma within the Indigenous community. Let's listen in to hear about why she views herself as an initiator of bringing balance into one's life. 

Career development opportunities should be a natural part of an educator's professional life. Professional learning is most effective when educators have the option to personalize the experience and communicate meaningfully with other educators who share their focus. 

Excel Leadership Academy is pioneering the way in creating unique opportunities for educators working with young language learners, to do just that through their Micro-credentials program. At its core, professional learning is the key component to improving educator practice and providing new perspectives on an ever-changing profession. Co-host Suzanne Lasser digs into the matter. Let's listen in...

If you have listened to any of our podcast episodes then you already know that Yarina and I recognize and promote bilingualism and multilingualism as an asset. Our passion is not only something that we feel; the value of bilingualism and multilingualism has been proven by so many revered academics. 

In today’s episode, we speak with New York State Associate Commissioner for the Office of Bilingual Education and World Languages, Elisa Alvarez, and Alicia Baez Barinas, Associate in Bilingual Education. Elisa and Alicia are two of the women leading the charge with NYSED with regard to Culturally Responsive Sustaining Education (CR-S) and why New York State must provide an education that honors our English Language Learners and Multilingual Language Learners. 

The landscape of schools today is increasingly multilingual. To achieve equity in culturally and linguistically diverse schools we need not just new strategies but new roles for both teachers and students. We need to recognize what meaningful engagement with rigorous content learning, actually involves and we need to understand that effective language interactions are at the heart of that engagement and learning.

How then, can we create opportunities for students to use all the tools in their toolbox, including home languages, to engage meaningfully with content and each other? Our guests today, Yolanda Rodriguez and Andrea Honigsfeld, are leaders with wide visions for creating powerful equitable platforms. 

And, we close this segment with a very special treat! Internationally acclaimed musician Jimmy Bosch offers a wonderful musical rendering of our program hashtag. You won't want to miss it!

As we welcome 2022, Yarina and I decided to focus on NYSs Blueprint for the ELL/MLL Success.  If you aren't familiar with the document and you are in the field of education be sure to visit NYSEDs webpage to check it out! 

Yarina and I collaborated on today's interview with Hulda Yau, a 6th-grade Integrated classroom teacher in the Rochester City School District. In 2014, Hulda became a core member of the CUNY NYS initiative on Emergent Bilinguals (NYSIEB) and has worked as a lead teacher in a research study that examines the impact of translanguaging strategies on a variety of student outcomes. 

Translanguaging is not new to our listeners and has been featured on BIA. Today's episode is geared more towards those in the field of education but really what Hulda shares is applicable to those who are bilingual or who are allies of the bilingual and multilingual community. 

Listen with an open heart and mind as Hulda shares about the intention, purpose, structure, and liberation associated with translanguaging.

As we near the end of the year 2021 we take a moment to celebrate the multicultural influences of language and family in music and art. We speak with two arts educators about their roles as teachers and their impact and desire to create a legacy of love and identity. Listen in...

Hi ... I'm Suzanne Lasser...

If you're considering adoption an important issue you'll face is whether you're interested in adopting a child whose race, ethnic background or culture is different than yours. Many prospective adoptive parents are open to creating a multi-racial, multi-ethnic, and multi-cultural family. Heather Stangallini shares her testimony with Yarina Sencion, about family, commitment, trauma, and love on the cross-cultural adoption path. Listen in...

Today's episode takes us beyond our US borders and overseas to Europe where we hear from Natalia Simons, of Spanish and British ancestry, and her experiences growing up speaking Spanish in England. 

We also talk with Juan Jose Almagro of Madrid Spain who has been an English as a Foreign Language teacher for 25 years. He talks about language teaching and learning, and his own creative journey as a poet and author in English and Spanish. They speak of the challenges and successes they have both faced within the publishing world. English and Spanish are the bridges that connect our two geographically-dispersed guests - who have never met!

Bilingual in America celebrates the great harvest of La Cosecha Educational Conference with out-of-the-box leaders and featured speakers Dr. Jose Medina and Luis Garcia. Listen in as they talk about equity, reparations, and indigenous language revitalization.

Dr. José Medina provides educational consulting with a specific focus on meeting the needs of culturally & linguistically diverse students,  both in the  United States and internationally. Luis García is a bilingual educator in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and a Board member of Dual Language Education New Mexico (DLeNM).  He is of Tiwa/Piro Pueblo and Chicano heritage and dedicates much of his time to promoting dual language education and maintaining cultural traditions.

These distinguished leaders, who are setting trends, will be presenting their expertise at this year’s La Cosecha Educational  conference, 11/10-11/13

As we prepare to celebrate the 26th annual, La Cosecha Educational Conference, we speak to one of its founders, David Rogers. David is the executive director for Dual Language Education of New Mexico and talks with us about leadership, dual language education in terms of linguistic and cultural capital, as well as for the need for educational reform. La Cosecha is an internationally-recognized, dual language conference run by teachers for teachers. Its aim is to assist in the expansion of dual-language programs in New Mexico and throughout the United States.

Welcome back, listeners and followers! A new season brings a new lens. A time to grow… reflect…. And tell more stories. A time to celebrate the work that forwards conversations…. A time to establish new partnerships.

And a time to renew hope as we listen to Aura, an English as a New Language teacher, tell her story of challenges, breakthroughs, and impact. #speakyourbeauty!

In our anniversary month, we relaunch our very first episode - Speak Your Beauty - the episode that set the tone and purpose. May you find threads of connection, courage, and compassion as you listen.

Bilingual in America is officially on summer break and in true educator fashion, we will use this time to slow down, recharge, and plan for the year ahead. Until then.... speak your truth...speak your stories...Speak Your Beauty.

See you in September!

Newcomer Centers have been known as places that acknowledge diversity as a resource and recognize the individual customs and traditions each child brings to their new community.  It is an integral first step for children arriving from countries, around the world with little or no English language proficiency.

Newcomer Center Programs help students become familiar with U.S. schooling, work to accelerate English language skills by promoting language development through essential content-area instruction, and support the social needs of recent arrivals and their families. Communities that support newcomer programs understand the importance of supporting English Language Learners upon their arrival so that they can reach their potential as learners.

Many questions come to mind when the topic of ASL (American Sign Language) as a foreign language is brought up. People often ask if it is appropriate to call ASL a foreign language. Is it really a language? Others may note that foreign language courses teach students about the culture of the group of people who use the language. The answers to all of these questions support the recognition of ASL as a foreign language. 

Because of its unique modality -- visual/gestural rather than oral --, many people wrongly assume that ASL is fundamentally different than spoken languages. ASL is a fully developed human language, one of the hundreds of naturally occurring signed languages of the world. It is not a "simplified" language -- it contains structures and processes which English lacks. 

There is abundant linguistic research on ASL demonstrating that the grammar of ASL is radically different from English -- surely as different as any of the more traditional foreign languages taught in school.

As we continue to address the reality of the pandemic and the impact it has had on bilingual students and their families we learn how some families were able to return “home” for safety during an uncertain time while others had to trust in their child’s instructional home, the school, to make it safely through. Covid may have isolated us but we saw educational borders extended, new instructional frontiers reached, and the desire to remain bilingual unwavering.

To say that Covid has changed the world of education… is an understatement. Educators have been thrust into an evoloutionary shift of blended instruction, whether they were ready or not. As we continue to traverse in this world of learning and technology, how do we move forward?

Lucy Roman, who has served as an Instructional Technology Coordinator and Media Specialist in a major school district gives us a broad stroke on what is digital literacy and how bilingual families and students can be supported as we move forward in this new landscape of blended learning.

There have been reports throughout the country about attacks on Asian Americans since the COVID 19 pandemic began. According to Russell John, an Asian American studies professor at San Francisco State University, the number of incidents began to rise sharply after the Coronavirus was called the "Chinese" virus. Today, we speak to guests who are living through this. They share their bilingual stories, their viewpoint, and how raising the tide lifts the whole boat up.

In today’s segment, we explore the topic:2nd  Language learning and special education support. Can it happen successfully, simultaneously? This has been a long-standing conversation. In conversing with Eliana Fernandez, a special educator with more than 30 years of experience who has worked with infants, elementary school students, middle school children, parents, and teachers alike, as well as serving as the Chair of many Special Education committees, Eliana brings us her perspective, expertise, and insights. Please listen in...