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”
Tag Archives: Spanish
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”
Episode 121 Lorie Roule: Advocating for Sustainable Language Programs
Language is very important to bring people together. Communication can bring peace. If we can communicate together in a caring and loving way, there will be peace in the world. Lorie Roule’s mother, from an interview We tend to be, as a country, short-sighted about language. A problem goes away and the attention goes away,ContinueContinue reading “Episode 121 Lorie Roule: Advocating for Sustainable Language Programs”
Episode 120 The Pulsera Project : Chris Howell
We work anywhere where we see issues or anywhere where we think that we can make a connection and work with people who are really capable. They’re extremely inspiring people. It’s the idea of connecting students with artists. Christopher Howell In a world where cultural divisions often seem insurmountable, a remarkable initiative known as theContinueContinue reading “Episode 120 The Pulsera Project : Chris Howell”
Episode 117 The GLOBE Academy: Sandra Daniel
The association that people have had in the past with language education is not what it has evolved to become today. People are highly strategic with the way that they are using language in the classroom. Language is used for an authentic purpose, it’s used for critical thinking skills, it’s used for strategic problem-solving, soContinueContinue reading “Episode 117 The GLOBE Academy: Sandra Daniel”
Episode 116 The Day I Met Homer (Little Adventures in Language & Culture)
In Episode 116 It’s About Language host Norah Jones does a bit of storytelling of her language and cultural meetings, missteps, mistakes…and reflects on the powerful growth such experiences bring. She invites listeners to reflect on the roles of their own life stories in defining themselves and their impact in challenging times.
Episode 115 Joy and Opportunity for All: Nancy Hong
We don’t want DLI programs to just simply exist. We want them to thrive, and, as I found in my research, a leader’s choices, their decisions, and their practices can really elevate everyone’s practice and build a community of respect and understanding and support for this program. We want Dual Language Immersion (DLI) programs toContinueContinue reading “Episode 115 Joy and Opportunity for All: Nancy Hong”
Episode 112 Honing Our Craft: Florencia Henshaw & Kim Potowski
“We learn about fundamentals. Then as we recognize that society changes, we start questioning as we face new challenges. We need to start having other conversations.” Ponder for a moment the word “craft.” A world of mass-manufactured goods, one-use items, disposables, low-low-low prices, divided attention, and Instagram glamour… Where does craft fit in? The wordContinueContinue reading “Episode 112 Honing Our Craft: Florencia Henshaw & Kim Potowski”
Episode 111 Language and the Art of Motorcycles: Michelle Olah
“It’s a long journey. It’s a long trip. And it’s getting there and getting back. …We bought something because the new context called for it. And that’s okay. You need to be adaptable, you need to be flexible. That was a super easy decision to make, because we knew what our plan was. So whenContinueContinue reading “Episode 111 Language and the Art of Motorcycles: Michelle Olah”
Episode 110 United by Language Family : Terri Marlow
“We are a family, not biological family, but a family united by language.” Do we need data to love our family? We can read much research about how a family unit – no matter how it may be constituted – is of critical importance to human well-being. But if we do not experience it, itContinueContinue reading “Episode 110 United by Language Family : Terri Marlow”
Episode 109 Bringing Perspectives Together : Enrique Moras
“Complexity makes life more interesting. Stories need to evoke these complexities, to generate questions. We need questions more than answers.” What journey are YOU on? What questions are you creating, the language of which can create more openings to understanding, connections, and possibilities than “answers” ever can? What talent in yourself are you cultivating? HowContinueContinue reading “Episode 109 Bringing Perspectives Together : Enrique Moras”
Episode 99 – Language Inspirations: Presenters on Presenting
Episode 99 | Its About Language | Language Inspirations – Presenters on Presenting
I’m excited to share with you Episode 99!
Language learning happens in the home, community, school and workplace. Language teachers are parents, siblings, friends, community members, colleagues, strangers, and media of all types. Language connects us to each other and the world around us.
In this episode, I attended SCOLT (Southern Conference on Language Teaching) and NECTFL (Northeast Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Languages). Excited presenters share with me how they help build the language bridges that connect us all.
Episode 97 – Children Celebrate Their Heritage
Its About Language | Episode 97 | Children Celebrate Their Heritage
What an exciting episode! We continue celebrating Mother Language Day, hearing from young children, young adults, and adults on the importance of celebrating heritage, sounds, music, dance, food, and stories. These are pivotal times for the world and celebrating traditions together – this is how language is the pathway to bringing peace to the spirit of individuals.
Episode 96 – Young Voices from Mother Language Day
Its About Language | Episode 96 | From the Kids of Mother Language Day 2023
Episode 96 is all about International Heritage Language Association in Edmonton Alberta celebrating Mother Language Day. I was so excited to see the many heritage schools come together and had the opportunity to interview quite a few. In this episode you will hear from three young adults / kids as they reflect on the hope they are bringing to the world. Enjoy the podcast!
Episode 95 – Celebrating Our Languages: Antonella Cortese & IHLA
Its About Language | Episode 95 | Celebrating our Languages with Antonella Cortese & IHLA
This week’s guest is Antonella Cortese, “mother” of the IHLA Mother Language Day Festival in Edmonton, Canada. Hear how this annual festival provides an opportunity for youth to learn about world-wide heritage languages and share their own, through dance, music, and poetry — and go to my website for her mom’s traditional Italian pastry recipe!
Episode 94 – The Elements of Our Language
This week, Steven Sacco is interviewing Norah. Norah shares where her passion for language began and how it shaped her world, and from that foundation how she took it a step farther to help change the lives of others. The Elements of Our Language are truly the stepping stones in new pathways leading to so many opportunities in our lives.
Episode 93 – Connecting with: Meredith White
How does language open hearts, minds, opportunities, and hope for all?
I speak with Meredith White, an Instructional Technology Coach and Spanish Teacher in Gwinnett County Public Schools, Georgia this week. She’s here to talk about the power of language in the lives of those who teach it and of those who learn it. She provides insights into how we can use language to focus on what brings joy and sustainability in our busy lives, allowing balance as well as effectiveness in all we do.
It’s About Language | Episode 93 | Connecting with Meredith White
Episode 92 – Inviting You to Reflect with Parthena Draggett, AATSP President
Episode 92: Inviting You to Reflect with Parthena Draggett, AATSP President. Our lively conversation touches on the diversity within the classroom and outside in the world, and how language studies connect learners to themselves and cultures around the world. Parthena emphasizes the importance of being open to the process of learning and the dynamics of language. Such truths invite language learners of all ages to be bold, be vulnerable, and to consider themselves speakers of a language from the beginning. It’s a powerful, positive concept for an interconnected world.
Episode 91 – Young Voices on Language’s Purpose
Episode 91 | Hear the voices of young adult language students from Northside ISD in San Antonio on language as a powerful tool in their lives. They share about identity, connections, opportunities, personal heritage, and many more gifts that learning new languages have for them, and all of us.
Episode 85 – IAL at FLAVA: The Walk of Hope
In this episode of Its About Language Norah speaks with World Language Educators at FLAVA, who share the importance and impact of language on their own lives and the lives of the young people they teach.
Episode 84 – A Conversation with Thomas and Collier on Dual Language Realities
Episode 84 a conversation with Drs. Collier & Thomas. Internationally known for their research on long-term school effectiveness for linguistically and culturally diverse students.
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Episode 83 – You are Invited to… Succeed as an Adult Language Learner
Today on the podcast Norah Jones is speaking with Elizabeth Mack. Tune in for Episode 83: “You are Invited to… Succeed as an Adult Language Learner.” As an adult language learner, you can find information, opportunities, and encouragement and information in many different places, starting here on my website and listening to this episode.
Episodio 77 – IAL a la AATSP: Enseñar el idioma vivo
For this third and final episode from the AATSP conference in Puerto Rico, Norah Jones shares participants’ stories that could only emerge from the heart of their native Spanish language.
Episode 76 – IAL at AATSP: Building Inclusion
Listen here, download and share as Norah Jones captures the excitement of attendees of the AATSP conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico.