Samira: Thanks for tuning into Voices in Education, everyone! My name is Samira, and my two amazing co-hosts, Kayla and Ethan, are with me. Say hey to the viewers.

Kayla: Hello everyone! I am so looking forward to this segment.

Ethan: Hi everyone! This is going to be a really insightful and important conversation about present-day problems in real life affecting our future generations.

Samira: Today's podcast explores multilingualism, a topic that is not only important to us personally but also fundamental to our educational system. Why must we care? What effect does it have on student performance? And how can we actually help the students who speak more than one language?

Kalya: The foundation of equality, cognitive development, and even academic success is multilingualism.

Samira: First, some background information. More than 300 languages are spoken in American homes, in case you were unaware.

Kayla: That makes me think about how roughly 60 million people speak a language other than English at home.

Ethan: Yet, if we visit the majority of American schools, we will find that the curriculum, signs, and tests are all in English. The adjustment multilingual students must make to school environments is a bit absurd.

Samira: That demonstrates how educational institutions can fail to support the communities they should be serving. It raises the following question of what if educational institutions disregard the language diversity of their students?

Samira: Let's get into some real stories. A couple years ago since my young cousin had just moved from the Dominican Republic, I tutored him in a middle school. He was a very intelligent child who was good at solving problems, but he hardly spoke English.

Ethan: I suppose the teachers thought he required special education.

Samira: That's right, but in actuality, he did comprehend the math. He just didn't have the words to say it. Because the school lacked Spanish-speaking support staff, he was unable to participate in more in-depth class discussions.
Kayla: That is such a typical situation. It's all about access, not intelligence. Schools are essentially placing children in a more difficult position to succeed and develop academic confidence when they fail to invest in translation, dual-language support, or ESL-trained staff.

Ethan: I had the same experience. One of the students at my middle school had just moved and spoke Arabic at home. Despite her great articulation, she was silent in class. She was afraid of being made fun of for her accent, not because she couldn't talk.

Kayla: For many bilingual students, that is their reality. I believe that many people don't realize how much fear or guilt can quiet young children, especially while their native tongue isn't being encouraged.

Samira: Alright, let's take a different approach to this. How about if multilingualism is encouraged in schools?

Kalya: Everything is different. Parents feel more involved, students feel happy, and they feel seen. It starts to develop into a genuine community with diversity and trust.

Ethan: Additionally, it has some cognitive advantages. According to research, students who are bilingual or multilingual have better working memory, are better at multitasking, and may even be able to avoid the onset of cognitive decline in their later years.

Samira: Plus, second-generation children and immigrants are not the only ones who embrace multilingualism. English-speaking families who want their kids to study Spanish, Chinese, or French from an early age, such as kindergarten, are being targeted by numerous programs across multiple states.

Kayla: That's so true, and what a wonderful thing. Being multilingual is something that more and more parents are intentionally seeking for their children, not just for second-generation or immigrant children. Technology has made education so accessible. In fact, the currently popular Duolingo app allows kids to learn many languages simultaneously, which is a perfect present day example.

Ethan: As more and more individuals begin to realize the potential mental and professional advantages of being multilingual, the majority of parents desire their kids to be bilingual because of how learning a second language enhances your brain capacity and potential rather than weakening your first language.

Samira: All right, let's quickly debunk a few inaccuracies to better inform our audience about multilingualism.

Kayla: Many people think that children who speak more than one language become confused and lost. This is just untrue. If anything, children are even more skilled at learning new languages than adults.

Ethan: The other day, I also heard a story about how long ago it was believed that children needed to know nothing else before learning English. The students will actually learn the material in their strongest language first, therefore it was also untrue. They continue to be engaged while simultaneously learning English.

Samira: In reality a lot of people believe that promoting multilingualism is too expensive to execute yet in the longer run, investing in language-based resources is more economical. High graduation rates, lower dropout rates, and enhanced parent-school ties are just a few advantages.

Kayla: Now, what are we hoping schools will achieve?

Ethan: To start with, they could try to hire more translators and bilingual teachers. Not only for ESL courses, but for all classes, especially in cities with a larger percentage of multilingual individuals.

Samira: I absolutely agree. This leads me to the second change I believe schools should make: creating a curriculum that represents the languages and cultures of the community. Activities that let students use all of their languages and skills.

Kayla: A change that has to be made is to respect the children's use of their native tongue rather than punishing them for it. Maybe set aside time for language classes or lessons where you learn something new. Along with improving learning, it might increase students' enthusiasm and engagement.

Ethan: Students feelings of inclusion at school can be greatly impacted by even something as basic as teaching them how to say "hello" or "thank you" in their native tongue.

Samira: If you're a parent or student listening, don't hide your gift of language; acknowledge it as unique.

Ethan: Yes, you should encourage your children to talk, read, and write in their native tongue. Discuss with your school how they are assisting students who speak more than one language.

Kayla: Remember that you, too, have power students. You have the ability to speak with your professors and even form language clubs.

Samira: All things considered, multilingualism is a bridge to opportunity, identity, and a deeper understanding rather than a barrier.

Kayla: The issue is not limited to ESL teachers. Every administrator and teacher in every school has a responsibility to do.

Ethan: Let's stop thinking of students as lacking. Let's start to think of them as already complete, intelligent, and only using multiple voices.

Samira: We appreciate your interest in Voices in Education. Share this episode with a friend or even a teacher if you enjoyed it. Let's start the conversation. Bye guys, till next time!