The current global and culturally diverse economy in which the United States is immersed has created more awareness regarding the importance of having a multilingual and multicultural workforce in most industries and organizations, including in the governmental sector. The Importance and Benefits of Multilingualism in the Government Sector Equal access to essential information and resources […]
Continue readingFluency vs Proficiency
Everyone is on a language journey. You’re involved with some form of communication every day, whether you’re speaking, listening, reading, or writing. If you’re multilingual or studying a world language, then you have even more paths on your language journey. As you grow in your first language and other world languages, you’ll want to become more […]
Continue readingLanguage: A Critical Skill to Responsibly Connect with the People You Serve
The demand for multilingual talent in the United States keeps growing across all industries, and the nonprofit sector is not an exception. If you are in a leadership position within a nonprofit organization, it is imperative to be aware that there is a high probability that your organization is engaging with people with low English […]
Continue readingMultiple Languages Better Serve Communities in Need
Nonprofit organizations are created to improve the lives of people in need. These organizations complement different aspects of society using their available resources either in health, education, or the arts to promote the social and economic development of all residents within a community. According to the National Council of Nonprofits, individuals who conduct or support […]
Continue readingThe Effects of Linguistic Relativity on a Speaker’s Perception
Starting at the beginning of the twentieth century, researchers in the field of linguistic anthropology, notably Franz Boas and Edward Sapir, conducted experiments to try and determine what effect, if any, language has on a person’s perception. Though those initial studies have been hotly contested, the groundwork was laid, and we have made great strides […]
Continue readingNon-Clinical Job Opportunities in Healthcare for Bilingual Talent
When we think about job opportunities in healthcare, what automatically comes to mind are doctors, nurses, emergency medical technicians (EMTs), and pharmacists. However, while hospitals, laboratories, pharmacies, and caregiving facilities are primarily seen as avenues for careers in clinical medicine, they also have a plethora of talent recruitment needs that are non-clinical. And just like […]
Continue readingThe 2020 Census and Language Proficiency for Patient-Centered Care
I recall when I began my career over two decades ago in Hispanic media in New York City working for large publishing houses on national Spanish-language magazines like People en español, Glamour en español, Vogue en español, and a series of other Latino-specific print offerings. Back in 2000 we tried our darndest to persuade big […]
Continue readingEliminating Language Barriers in the Educational System
How important is it to have multilingual employees in different departments at schools and higher education institutions in the United States? The educational system in the U.S. is continuously receiving non-English-speaking students from different cultural backgrounds. Statista Data reflects that about 22.6 percent of school children did not speak English at home in 2019, and […]
Continue readingWhen It Comes to Education, Language Matters
As established in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of the United Nations, “parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children” and every child has the right to education. But what happens when students and their parents are immigrants who do not command enough English […]
Continue readingWhen Recruiting, It’s Better to Be Safe than Sorry
Why is it beneficial to vet prospective employees for proficiency in a second language they claim to have before hiring them? There are different reasons why companies vet prospective employees. According to Indeed Career Guide, employers vet candidates to verify certifications, credentials, or educational training that could make the job seeker a perfect candidate for […]
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