April is National Bilingual/Multilingual Learner Advocacy Month, a time to recognize the needs and achievements of bilingual and multilingual learners. As a proud Bilingual educator, who now serves as the Assistant Deputy Secretary and Director for the Office of English Language Acquisition, I want to take the time to share how valuable and important being bilingual is to me.
Being Bilingual has opened up a world of opportunities in life, from being able to keep in touch with my loved ones back in Mexico, to learning and enjoying the beautiful arts from my heritage culture, to sharing my traditions and language with different types of people throughout the world. Being bilingual allows me to code-switch and to be my most authentic self. Soy de aquí y de allà with orgullo. Not to mention, being bilingual has added extra cash in my pocket in positions where I received a stipend or higher wage because I am bilingual, biliterate, and bicultural.
More than ever, our society must embrace and encourage a multilingual, multicultural and multiliterate society. It can only make us a stronger nation. As we recognize National Bilingual/Multilingual Learner Advocacy Month, I welcome you to join the Department of Education’s Call to Action for Bilingual and Multilingual Learners.
- Spark students’ interest in learning a second language and take pride in maintaining their first language.
- Encourage parents’ support and advocate for high-quality language programs in their schools.
- Urge colleges and universities to prioritize bilingual preparation programs for multilingual educators.
- Call on leaders and stakeholders at the national, state, and local levels to create, invest in and implement policies, processes and best practices focused on high-quality language programs.
- Call on workforce leaders at the national, state, and local levels to advocate and invest in language as a workforce credential.
In partnership,
Montserrat