For years, working with Linda Egnatz on just about any project at all has inspired me and made me more effective in my work. I invited her to be a podcast guest because she’ll inspire you, too, no matter what your relationship is specifically to language and culture.
The key with Linda is she stays aware of the world around her, and–here’s the magic–keeps asking the questions “Is this working out well for everyone involved? Is there a pathway to more empowerment for people here? Is there a better way to connect people than is happening here?” And on top of this awareness and sensitivity–already powerful in themselves–is the fact that Linda’s awareness skill is applied to environments as small as a classroom or a school, or as large as the whole world.
So, for our Episode 7, here’s what Linda spotted: those learning languages in the United States are seldom given a vision of the use of that language beyond a year or two, a class or two, or high school graduation. They don’t get a clear sense that languages can be a life-giving tool for them in their jobs and careers, for example, because they have not been provided a solid vision, rationale, and pathway to keep striving. At the other end of the spectrum are those business, industries, and organizations that need employees with solid language skills, but the positions are left open and their company weakened because of lack of proficient language speakers and writers–and employers don’t really even know the pathways to go down to find such proficient language users.
This is a national problem with global implications. And, in typical Linda style (take a look at her bio), once she noted it, she began to work to solve it. She worked with others to develop and support state initiatives to reward students’ achieved language proficiency with a Seal of Biliteracy (spoken and written language) at graduation. Then, wanting to reach all language users (not just learners–so important!), she envisioned a Seal available to all. Then she envisioned a Seal that would not just identify and congratulate you for where you are, but credential you… and then she envisioned how the credentials could point out paths which a learner/speaker could follow to get more proficient and grow the credential… and then she envisioned a registration system so that there would be a data set from which employers could find credentialed speakers to be employees, and then…. See what I mean? Linda spots the mission and keeps on following the paths–and empowers others along the way to contribute their energy and insights.
So, listen to this Episode to learn about Seals of Biliteracy, to learn about how language connects people, or maybe simply to experience how all of us can see needs and then step into the pathway to serve.
Linda wrote me, “I once asked, ‘How does one discover their mission?’ I was told, ‘When you see a need and know that you are uniquely qualified to meet it, big or small, that can be your mission.'”
This is your invitation to this episode. Experience Linda Egnatz, yes, but also ponder what needs you might be uniquely qualified to meet. What paths will you blaze so that others may follow and grow your vision?
Interested in learning more? Connect with me for presentations and workshops. Educators and language organizations, you’d enjoy the two presentations I’m providing at Global CRED: a keynote on language insights to transform learning, and a session on the breakthrough power of being vulnerable through language and cultural mistakes. Also connect with me for presentations on what language proficiency is, how we grow it, measure it, and apply it effectively in life and work. Educators, organizations, and businesses will all find these topics highly relevant and practical.
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Guest Bio
Linda Egnatz is the Executive Director of the Global Seal of Biliteracy certification program which provides three tiers of language credentials in over 130 languages for free. She is the President-Elect of the Joint National Committee for Languages-National Council for Languages and International Studies (JNCL-NCLIS), Advocacy Chair, and Past President of the Illinois Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ICTFL), and a member of the Global Teachers Club Advisory Council. Egnatz, who is Nationally Board Certified (NBCT), holds a Master’s degree in Spanish Literature from Purdue University. With 38 years of experience teaching Spanish at both the high school and university levels, she brings a breadth of experience and comprehensive understanding of vertical articulation issues and has shared that knowledge in World Language education methods courses as an adjunct instructor at DePaul University. Egnatz is a 2013 Golden Apple Awardee and was named the 2014 ACTFL National Language Teacher of the Year. She has co-authored research studies on the Seal of Biliteracy and language assessment and was a contributing author to Foreign Language Education in America: Perspectives from K-12, University, Government, and International Learning. Her advocacy work on the Seal of Biliteracy, which includes providing testimony before the Illinois legislature, has been featured in Univision and Chicago Tribune interviews and she continues to be an authoritative voice and advocate for Seal of Biliteracy programs nationally. Egnatz has published in the Foreign Language Annals, Hispania, The Language Educator, Language Magazine, and Education Weekly. She has presented internationally in the U.S., Latin America, Europe, and the Middle East and is a recognized trainer in the area of language proficiency. In her Global Seal role, her focus is to provide a pathway to language certification and to create resources for bilinguals of any age to level up, leverage their bilingualism, and link to future opportunities to use their language skills.
Resources provided and recommended by Linda:
The Global Seal, like state seals of biliteracy, is more focused on language as a tool for one’s life work, and on filling the gaps in the world of businesses, government agencies, and NGOs who need competent language users but struggle to find them, or need to know how to measure their language skills if they do.
https://theglobalseal.com/linda-egnatz – Here’s the Global Seal site that gives all the information you need and can share with others on the purposes, uses, approaches, and access to the Global Seal. Here’s also where you can learn more about Linda’s background and credentials and the recognition she has received for her prodigious and transformational work.
https://theglobalseal.com/language-credentials-careers – In this specific area of the Global Seal site, see how credentialing through the seals of biliteracy available to both students and other users of language lead to enhanced career opportunities and growth.
https://www.languagemagazine.com/2019/05/20/seal-of-biliteracy-goes-global/ – Here’s an article on the Global Seal and Linda’s work.
Link to study mentioned: https://www.leadwithlanguages.org/wp-content/uploads/MakingLanguagesOurBusiness_FullReport.pdf
Linda alludes to a chart which helps both learners of language and those enterprises that need language users to identify what level of language skill is actually needed for the jobs for which they need employees. You can download the PDF of the chart here: https://www.actfl.org/sites/default/files/guidelines/OralProficiencyWorkplacePoster.pdf
Linda talked about, and I noted above, the the upcoming amazing virtual global language event – and did I mention it is free of charge??? Here’s the link to the event: www.theglobalseal.com/cred
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Love your interview with Linda! It is so wonderful to have you two amazing women working to change the world of language education! Powerful!
Thank you, Maury, for listening and writing — and for such a supportive message.