A new episode of It’s About Language is now available.Listen to the conversation, then explore the stories, quotes, and resources that follow. In This Episode What starts as a conversation about being snowed in quickly unfolds into a journey through Charlie’s early career decisions, including a pivotal leap into teaching abroad and the unexpected pathContinueContinue reading “S6E5: It’s Not Just What You Say: The Hidden Power of Language and Communication with Charlie Hanchett”
Podcast Archives
15 Min Language Story | Chris Howell
In this 15-minute conversation, Chris Howell shares how humility, self-awareness, and solidarity shape the way we understand language, culture, and what it really means to connect.
S6E4: From Library French Lessons to Global Impact with Maureen Manning.
A new episode of It’s About Language is now available.Listen to the conversation, then explore the stories, quotes, and resources that follow. In This Episode Dr. Maureen Manning joins Norah Jones for a wide-ranging conversation about language as a life-shaping force—and why the stories we tell about language learning matter as much as the learningContinueContinue reading “S6E4: From Library French Lessons to Global Impact with Maureen Manning.”
S6E3: Learning Language at the Speed of Being Human with James Mattiace.
A new episode of It’s About Language is now available.Listen to the conversation, then explore the stories, quotes, and resources that follow. In This Episode https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2100414.rss In this episode of It’s About Language, Norah Jones interviews James Mattiace. He is an educator, assessment reformer, and lifelong language learner. They discuss what languages reveal, not justContinueContinue reading “S6E3: Learning Language at the Speed of Being Human with James Mattiace.”
15 Min Language Story | Norah Jones
One Word, One Vowel, One Big Lesson About Language Language has a funny way of humbling us — and teaching us — all at the same time. In this 15-Minute Language Story from It’s About Language, Norah Jones shares a moment from her teenage years that perfectly captures why language isn’t about perfection, but aboutContinueContinue reading “15 Min Language Story | Norah Jones”
S6E2_Language as a Bridge: Lessons from Senegal with Katy Wheelock
Hit play to listen, then explore the stories, quotes, and resources below. In This Episode Norah Jones talks with Katy Wheelock, a French educator with 30+ years of classroom experience and the founder of Vive l’Experience, about why language learning is ultimately about connection, not perfection—and how centering Francophone Africa (especially Senegal) transforms teachers, students,ContinueContinue reading “S6E2_Language as a Bridge: Lessons from Senegal with Katy Wheelock”
15 Min Language Story | Jeanmarie Rouhier-Willoughby
The Transformative Power of Language: A Journey with Jeanmarie Rouhier- Willoughby In this opening segment, we meet Jeanmarie Rouhier- Willoughby, a professor of Russian, folklore, and linguistics whose entire life trajectory was shaped by a single childhood move—and a father determined that she experience life in a culture, not just alongside it. Her story movesContinueContinue reading “15 Min Language Story | Jeanmarie Rouhier-Willoughby”
S6E1: The Voice of French-Speaking Africa
Four French educators and AATF leaders join Norah to share how a Fulbright-Hays trip to Côte d’Ivoire is reshaping French teaching in the U.S.—from decolonizing curriculum and centering Francophone Africa to bringing home real stories, resources, and relationships that change how students see the world.
S5E11 I Just Want to be Heard- A Conversation with Sharon Deering Williford
How language, identity, and patience shape our healing and humanity. In this deeply personal episode, Sharon Williford returns to the podcast nearly five years after her first appearance. Then, she was freshly navigating life after a massive stroke that left her with severe aphasia—a loss of language that profoundly impacted how she communicated and howContinueContinue reading “S5E11 I Just Want to be Heard- A Conversation with Sharon Deering Williford”
S5E10 Language is About People – A Conversation with Paul Frank
“People don’t want to abandon who they are in order to have a better future. Language gives them options—and dignity—to be both rooted and reaching.” – Paul Frank In this powerful episode, Norah Jones is joined by Paul Frank, Associate Director for Language Solutions at SIL International. With more than four decades of experience inContinueContinue reading “S5E10 Language is About People – A Conversation with Paul Frank”
S5E9: The Soul of the Mangyan Ambahan
Discover the cultural richness of the Mangyan people and the poetic beauty of Ambahan, an ancient tradition of sung poetry that shapes identity and community. This episode features voices from the Mangyan Heritage Center sharing stories of preservation, passion, and belonging.
S5E8: Casa Areyto Taino Language & Culture Live
“To create a world where every Taíno descendant knows who they are and where they come from.” – Priscilla ColónFounder, Casa Areyto In this episode, we welcome Priscilla Colón, a writer, artist, and educator with over 20 years of experience in language programs. She has trained and empowered diverse learners, from government personnel to publicContinueContinue reading “S5E8: Casa Areyto Taino Language & Culture Live”
S5E7: Playful, Unexpected – Planet Word Museum with Anne Friedman
“Let’s use our words to create community, to build bridges, to find the things we have in common—what we all laugh at, what we all celebrate. And let’s not use our words to divide.” – Ann Friedman, Founder & CEO of Planet Word I’ve always believed that words hold immense power, shaping our connections, fuelingContinueContinue reading “S5E7: Playful, Unexpected – Planet Word Museum with Anne Friedman”
S5E7: Playful, Unexpected – Planet Word Museum with Anne Friedman
“Let’s use our words to create community, to build bridges, to find the things we have in common—what we all laugh at, what we all celebrate. And let’s not use our words to divide.” – Ann Friedman, Founder & CEO of Planet Word I’ve always believed that words hold immense power, shaping our connections, fuelingContinueContinue reading “S5E7: Playful, Unexpected – Planet Word Museum with Anne Friedman”
S5E6 Julia, 17, Shares the Joy of Languages
There are hundreds and hundreds of languages and hundreds of different ways of saying something. Something simple can just be explained and communicated in so many different ways. Sure, you can use a translator, but you never get to experience that joy for yourself. That’s changed my perspective and my worldview. Julia Hosage Hello! MyContinueContinue reading “S5E6 Julia, 17, Shares the Joy of Languages”
S5E5 Ana Lucia Lico: Embrace Your Gifts
You have to fight to remain living the language and culture that are meaningful to you or to your students. Fight against not enough resources, fight against lack of support, and if you feel alone, parent or an educator, look for other schools, look for communities, look for organizations. You will find people like usContinueContinue reading “S5E5 Ana Lucia Lico: Embrace Your Gifts”
S5E4 Megan Dierks, Steve Sacco: Open All the World with Vision and a Grant
Discover how Megan Diercks and Steven Sacco will use storytelling to empower global citizens and enrich language curricula! Tune in to learn about their immersive initiative in Côte d’Ivoire and its broader implications.
🌍🎓 #LanguageEducation #Fulbright-Hays
S5E3 Gianny Morales: Making a Home in Two Worlds
At the age of 20, I was like, wow, the models of bilingual education in the US and in Colombia failed me. They’re leaving kids behind. So I have a lot of drive to make that right, by being out there with teachers, surrounded by the people making changes. Gianny Morales The stories we tellContinueContinue reading “S5E3 Gianny Morales: Making a Home in Two Worlds”
S5E2 Shuhan Wang: A New Framework for Language Education
It’s not about learning vocabulary, learning how to say something in another language. Deep down, we’re talking about making us better, smarter, more compassionate, more open minded, more empathetic people who care about self and also one another. That’s my goal and my passion. Dr. Shuhan Wang In another place in our conversation, she says,ContinueContinue reading “S5E2 Shuhan Wang: A New Framework for Language Education”
S5E1 What Makes Us Human, a Conversation with Victor D.O. Santos, Ph.D.
Season 5 kicks off with Norah Lulich Jones hosting Victor Santos, author of What Makes Us Human. Explore how Santos uses riddle in both words and images to engage and delight children (and adults) with the power of human language.
E126 Humans, Language,Technology: a conversation with Noemí Rodríguez
We learned a lot after the pandemic: how important it is to be face-to-face and humans need each other. Folks tell me AI is going to replace us. I beg to differ. We as human beings are powerful and can use this intelligence to help us. Noemí Rodríguez I love this conversation with language educationContinueContinue reading “E126 Humans, Language,Technology: a conversation with Noemí Rodríguez”
E125 Taking Proficiency Seriously, with Paul Sandrock
Proficiency comes down very simply to what someone can do with the language. It’s not what you know about the language, it’s what you can do with the language. As a learner I need to take it within me on a playground, in in the community, doing video games with kids around the world… PaulContinueContinue reading “E125 Taking Proficiency Seriously, with Paul Sandrock”
E124 Language Warriors – A Conversation with Brandon Locke
Language is everywhere. We have to make it right for our own community and make it meaningful for our own community, but always keep that larger picture out there. Opening eyes to the world is the best thing that we can give our students. Brandon Locke Qeyaakaq. “Language Warrior.” The photo shows Brandon, initially unawareContinueContinue reading “E124 Language Warriors – A Conversation with Brandon Locke”
E123 LAMA Leadership: A Conversation with Tal Gale
LAMA means “Why?” Clarity on why we are having a conversation to educate and develop leaders allows us to look at language intentionally, to ask questions about meaning, and to explore with our participants, who, in turn, will also be our teachers. Tal Gale Human language gives us the gift of Why. Without language, organismsContinueContinue reading “E123 LAMA Leadership: A Conversation with Tal Gale”
Episode 122 Your Language Niche: A Conversation with Gregory Nedved
I would say you can do a lot with languages–things you wouldn’t expect–and that is what I have tried to do in my life. It’s not simply reading, writing, speaking and listening. You find a niche that works for you. You find the thing you like, where you think you have a future, and youContinueContinue reading “Episode 122 Your Language Niche: A Conversation with Gregory Nedved”