Language

CJ Jones peered into the audience and said, knowingly, “If you think about it, Deaf individuals have to work twice as hard” as hearing people. Approximately 300 members of the greater Twin Cities Deaf community—including undergraduate and graduate students, staff, faculty, and community members—raised and waved their hands in the American Sign Language (ASL) sign for applause.

The University of Minnesota’s ASL Program and CEHD’s Deaf Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Task Force hosted an entertaining evening event featuring Justin Perez, a performance artist and educator known for his use of Visual
Vernacular.

Sofia Vivas shares how her quest for knowledge led her to the learning technologies program.

On May 24, 2023, Governor Tim Walz signed the Minnesota Reading to Ensure Academic Development (READ) Act into law. Its ambitious goal is to have every child reading at or above grade level every year.

Most of the time when we think of a milestone, we view it as the completion of a task or reaching a desired point. And as we celebrate that achievement, we often overlook that a milestone is not the destination.

I grew up in Nigeria, a country with more than 500 languages and 300 ethnic groups. Coming from a family of six, I experienced both of my parents’ cultures and languages, which reflected the rich diversity of the country in terms of food...

Recognizing the need to embed diversity and equality throughout its programming, the Department of Curriculum and Instruction (C&I) established a Race, Equity, and Justice Council (REJC) in 2019. The council was formed through the combination of...

Minnesota’s state seals of biliteracy program recognizes students who have achieved high levels of proficiency in a language other than English. About 2,000 graduating high school students receive a seal each year, but there are large gaps in what...

A group of six preschoolers chatter excitedly as they settle into a circle to begin their morning. The beat of a drum starts a series of songs, and the children join in, taking turns saying their names and sharing how they’re feeling today...

I grew up knowing that the Mississippi River was both “great” and with falls. From my earliest memories, I remember trying to spell M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I orally the fastest. Yet, I never knew the Dakota language for this precious, life-giving...