Bilingual in America

Dr. Audrey Cohan is the Senior Dean for Research, Scholarship, and Graduate Studies at Molloy University, Rockville Centre, New York where she has worked for twenty-nine years, Dr. Cohan began her career as a special education teacher in New York City, working with students with special needs and then went on to pursue certification in TESOL. Dr. Andrea Honigsfeld is TESOL professor at Molloy University, Rockville Centre, New York. Before entering the field of teacher education, she was an English as a Foreign Language teacher in Hungary, an English as a Second Language teacher in New York City, and taught Hungarian at New York University. A Fulbright Scholar and sought-after national presenter, Andrea is a regular guest on our podcast. Today, this powerhouse partnership, who have worked together for two decades, talks about their new book, Collaboration for Multilingual Learners with Exceptionalities: We Share the Students. They discuss why it is important to combine expertise and identify a shared purpose. Don't miss this GEM!

How many Latinos are in the field of aviation? Listen in to hear from Jonathan Tejada who was born and raised in the US by his Colombian parents and became interested in aviation as a young boy when they would travel to Queens, NY to watch planes landing and taking off at LaGuardia Airport. He shares his journey in aviation and how it led him to birth Cafe Avion. Alex Retamozo migrated to the US from Paraguay when he was 6 years old. His love of math and science landed him work as a commercial and military pilot. Listen in to hear how they are opening pathways for others, like them, to take flight!

123 Andrés is a husband-and-wife duo that creates children's music in both English and Spanish. They have performed for audiences across the US as well as in Puerto Rico, Panama, and Mexico. They are performers, songwriters, advocates, authors, podcasters, and teacher trainers. This year, 2024, they won their second Grammy Award for Best Children's Music Album for their album We Grow Together, Crecimos Juntos Children's Songs.

Just like the mariposas monarcas, María Chinchilla left everything that was familiar to migrate from Guatemala to New York at the age of seventeen. In her first published children’s book, Maria Becomes A Butterfly, María beautifully tells the story of how she weathered tormentas, discovered her superpowers, and finally found a sense of belonging. This story will resonate with not only young readers who have their own immigration experience, but also with anyone who has ever struggled to make a new place feel like home.

Angela Alvarez-Cooper and Dr. Laura Florez Gomez, clinicians, advocates, leaders, and everyday experts, talk with us about language acquisition myths that impact students with language delays and language challenges. Listen in and bust these myths, as they have never served our multilingual learners well.

Marla Felton and Sue Spiegel join Bilingual in America to talk about the not-for-profit, Common Circles, founded by Marla Felton. Their interactive exhibit aims to increase empathy, decrease bias and help people find their shared humanity. After conducting extensive research, they have created a multi-faceted experience for students that allows them to learn about the lives of others and, as a result, think about their own lives and personal stories. Listen in to hear about the many layers to each of us and how through connection we thrive.

Dr. Andrea Honigsfeld speaks with us about her soon-to-be released secondary professional resource, Growing Language & Literacy for Grades 6-12. This is a follow-up to her 2019 Heinemann publication by the same title for grades K-8. We discuss her use of TESOL levels, the four areas that she weaves into each chapter, and the added value of lived experiences and linguistic assets of multilingual learners. With Andrea, learning is never finished!

Today we have the distinct honor of speaking with Dr. Alma Flor Ada and Dr. Isabel Campoy, educators, leaders, authors, advocates for multilingual education, and social justice trendsetters. Their children's books and poetry illuminate the richness of the Latino culture and their strong belief in the power of transformation and social justice. Their legacy work continues as they travel the world presenting at educational conferences and continue to write books for educators and children that bring light and transformation.

Judith Aucar, Deputy Director of El Centro Hispano in Westchester, New York, joins us to talk about their 50th anniversary and how they will celebrate this important milestone. El Centro offers services to support all immigrants, regardless of language background, as they begin life in search of a better future. As Judith reflects on the growth of El Centro since its inception, she also shares some of the many classes and services they provide at present. Listen in to hear how this community gem keeps shining brighter and brighter!

David Rogers supports the work of Dual Language Education of New Mexico-DLeNM, whose mission is to promote the effective design and implementation of dual language education (www.dlenm.org) in New Mexico and beyond. As they continue to serve students, families, and educators, they have added the MITOTE podcast to their repertoire! Welcome to the airways, MITOTE!

Valentina Gonzalez is an educational consultant for Rooted Linguistics and a content creator working with educators across the nation to support multilingual learners and their families. Her personal experiences as an immigrant fuels her passion for the work she does. She works with schools and districts to provide professional learning experiences that are tailored to meet the needs of educators. Valentina specializes in creating presentations that are practical, engaging, and interactive. She is a longtime educator of multilingual students from around the globe and has worked as an ESL Instructional Support Specialty Teacher, serving and co-teaching in first-to-fifth-grade classrooms. As a district leader, she has served as an ESL facilitator for campuses and as a professional development specialist. Currently, Valentina shares her time delivering professional development, writing, and research. She is the co-author of Reading & Writing with English Learners: A Framework for K-5, and the children's picture book Krofne with Baba.

What does it take to truly make an impact in this world? Author Dr. Vilma Luz Cabán, well known as an educator and dedicated champion for women impacted by domestic violence and social and economic inequalities, has blazed a trail of success and passion. In her wide-ranging and often heart-wrenching memoir, Cabán weaves her personal experiences and lessons from her survival with her deepest wish to change the course of cycles of abuse for women everywhere. She succeeds in shining a light on a reality often kept in the shadows, and offers hope for a way out and a better tomorrow. Vilma shares how a bruised and broken heart can become the heart of an advocate. And that advocates can make all of the difference.

Julia Chapa has served emergent bilinguals as a Bilingual and ESL teacher in Texas for over 20 years. She has experience providing scaffolded instruction for second language learners, resulting in outstanding student achievement. In 2018, she began her company EDU Specialist, which supports parents and teachers working in bilingual and DL settings. Listen in to hear the ways EDU Specialist supports English learners and the developmental process of second language acquisition.

Michael Rodriguez, Executive Director of Dual Language Education of New Mexico, reflects on this year's Dual Language conference, La Cosecha, that took place in Albuquerque, New Mexico, this past November, hosting more than 3500 attendees. And YES! We even have a save the date for next year's conference... Let's listen in...

Jesus Cervantes is the National Director of Biliteracy and English Language Development (ELD) for Benchmark Education and a longtime advocate of bilingual education and Dual Language instruction. He has focused his career on providing English learners access to language and literacy. His areas of expertise are in literacy, biliteracy, and language development. He is a published author of children’s books as part of Reading programs and the teaching of Foundational Skills. Today, he talks about his bilingual journey, flexibility, and creativity within a Dual Language structure. He shares his thoughts on the state of Bilingual Education on the 50th anniversary of the Bilingual Education Act.

A language learner in her own right, Alexandra Güílamo has spent more than twenty years serving a wide range of language learner programs. Alexandra is a former teacher, academic coach, elementary school principal, and district-level director in highly diverse urban and suburban school districts. She is a leading dual-language expert, author, keynote speaker, and the Chief Equity and Achievement Officer at TaJu Educational Solutions – a company dedicated to professional development, coaching, and technical support for the educators, leaders, and communities of dual-language and bilingual programs. Alexandra will be at La Cosecha Dual Language Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico from Nov 8-11th.

Claribel Gonzalez speaks with us about how sketch notes serve as an access point for abstract ideas and the various ways that images and visual literacy can support anyone but especially our Multilingual Learners (MLLs). Claribel has been a bilingual teacher, a bilingual coach, and a staff developer. When she is not designing sketch notes for researchers, authors, and teachers, she is hard at work at the RBERN in West Seneca, NY. Listen in to hear about how what appears to be a simple process is actually very complex!

Dr. Lillian Ardell, founder of Language Matters, is a biliteracy advocate, coach & staff developer. At her core, she is an applied linguist with a passion for teaching and learning. She speaks with us about the work she does to disturb monolingual bias, help educators flex into the bilingual advantage, and the need to experience small brave moments.

Today. my co-host, Yarina Sencion, and I have the great fortune of speaking with Dr .Aradhana Mudambi, an accomplished, multilingual educator and social justice activist. We had the opportunity to make her acquaintance last year at La Cosecha, the annual dual language education conference, and we are just amazed at all the different things that we have in common and the initiatives that she is taking on. We know that you will just want to sit back and listen because there are a lot of gems that she is about to share. Join us...

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.