EDTalks: Exploring the Loss of Language and Identity in Education

EDTalksMN

Presenter: Laichia Vang, High School Student and Activist, Roseville Area High School Our cultural identity is strongly intertwined with our native language. So what happens when that language gets lost or diminished? High school activist Laichia Vang (she/they) is a native Hmong speaker who experienced the erasure of her native Hmong language while participating in English Language Learners (ELL) classes. In her talk, she explores this common experience that is shared by many students of color and others for whom English is not their first language. They also identify ways that our education systems must support and advocate for multilingual students and families by understanding what is at stake when language is lost. EDTalks is presented by AchieveMpls in partnership with the Citizens League, with generous support from the Bush Foundation. Learn more at www.achievempls.org/edtalks or follow us on Twitter at #EDTalksMN​. This virtual EDTalk was live streamed online on February 23, 2022. It was emceed by Amanda Koonjbeharry.