Podcast Script
Names: Annabelle Autar & Brianna Castillo

Annabelle = A
Brianna = B

B: In this podcast episode Annabelle and I are going to discuss important topics that we learned about in our sociolinguistic perspective in our childhood education course. This ranges from the places we speak, to experiences we endure, and the importance of implementing multilingual education.

A: I think that Brianna and I learned a lot about language and the importance of being inclusive during this course. Personally, I found a lot of examples of multilingualism in my community and school.

B: Yeah, before taking this course, I don’t think I took the time to look around and actually look for signs of multilingualism in my community.

A: Me neither, but I’m really glad I’m able to see all of the diversity our society has now. But, let's get into the topic of today!

B: So, starting with sociolinguistics before this course, I mostly thought of language as something you “learn,” like vocabulary lists, grammar rules, all the technical stuff.

A: I agree, additionally working with bilingual students made us realize language is way more social than we thought. It’s identity, it’s family, it’s the way kids express who they are depending on who’s around them.

B: Exactly! I remember one of the students mentioned he switches between English and Spanish depending on who he was talking to. With us, he’d speak English. But at home with his parents he switches to Spanish.

A: It's important to mention that this wasn’t a result of confusion but rather it was because each language matched a different part of his world.

B: As a result I realized that sociolinguistics helped us see that bilingual students aren’t juggling two languages, they’re using both to navigate different social spaces.

A: Now, let’s talk about our mini-ethnographic projects. They really pushed us to observe our communities with a new perspective.

B: This isn't just research, I noticed patterns, listened, and learned from the people around me. I started paying attention to how language was used in everyday places: grocery stores, parks, and restaurants.

A: Exactly, I started paying attention to the little things too. I especially saw them in little hotspots near the areas I live in.

B: So Annabelle, tell us about your project. Yours was so connected to the diversity of Queens.

A: Well, for my mini-ethnographic project, I interviewed people in my workplace and my friend's mom.

B: So, why did you end up choosing them for your project?

A: Well, my friend’s mom was an immigrant from Russia, while my coworker is a multilingual individual who speaks Spanish.

B: What did you end up learning from them during your interviews?

A: Well, I learned that my friend's mom definitely went through some culture shock after coming to the US. Through hard work, she was able to learn English and become a Physician’s Assistant. Meanwhile, my coworker does his best to be helpful as a Spanish translator for a lot of us. Honestly, both of my interviewees were really inspiring because I personally am not multilingual, so it’s really awesome to see how well people in my life succeed as being multilingual individuals.

B: Wow, that’s really awesome!!It’s really cool to see a variety of diversity in our lives.

A: You should tell me about your project now! What did you notice about your community!

B: I centered my project on Club Pilates in New Hyde Park, since I work there and spend so much time in that environment. What I noticed almost immediately is how many languages show up in daily interactions; English, Spanish, Korean and even Tagalog.

A:Whoa, it sounds like Club Pilates is filled with so many different types of people in culture! How does it feel to work in an environment like that, and who did you end up interviewing?

B: I also interviewed some of the instructors and staff. They said speaking multiple languages, or even learning a few phrases from members, helps them teach better and break down barriers. It makes the studio feel inclusive and connected, not just a place to work out.

A: That sounds super cool! Have you learnt any cool new phrases by working there?

B: It’s like a mini multilingual ecosystem.

A: Honestly, I wish I was able to speak another language. It would feel so cool to be interconnected with other people in that way.

B: Me too, through this I realized how multilingual spaces exist everywhere not just in schools or internationally, but in everyday community spaces.

A: Both of our projects linked back to what we saw working with individuals. Kids naturally use all their linguistic resources, and they feel more comfortable when adults recognize and respect that.

B: Well, speaking of speaking other languages, part of this course involved getting to know a multilingual student. Thanks to Mrs. Paulino, we got to spend some time with Tony!

A: Yeah! It was so much fun getting to talk to Tony. He was really funny, and it was really cool getting to learn more about him over the weeks. Brianna was your favorite part about our whole project based on Tony’s life and experiences?

B: Honestly, my favorite part was just getting to sit down and really talk with Tony. Hearing his perspective of his own words made everything super interesting. I loved how open he was about his life, and experiences within his country. He always managed to make us laugh even when he was talking about something serious!

A: Aw yeah, I also really enjoyed filling out the google slides while Tony was responding to our questions. It was satisfying to see our work come together as we got to learn more about him.

B: Is there anything you would have done differently while working with Tony, or even during this class to learn more about multilingualism in our community?

A: Honestly, I think that I wouldn't have changed a thing. I feel like through Tony, and the interviews we got to conduct, I really learned so much about our lives and the impact of language. I think the only thing I’m going to work on is becoming multilingual myself!