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Spanish-speaking Transgender Hotline

The transgender advocacy group Trans Lifeline, a national hotline operated entirely by trans people to provide peer and crisis support across the U.S. and Canada, has launched a Spanish-language extension. In the last two years, Trans Lifeline’s hotline has received a massive uptick in calls from people who speak Spanish, sparking the need to have Spanish-speaking operators, according to a blog post by the company.

From 2018 to 2019, Trans Lifeline operators answered 23 times more calls tagged as Spanish language. They also experienced a 386% increase in calls tagged Latinx and a 146% increase in calls from immigrants—including those in detention centers.

Álvaro Cuervo, a bilingual staff operator with a background in clinical mental health work, says, “Offering this service can even have an effect on how people think about immigration, racial justice issues, and trans issues. The work we do on the line is very different because of that ‘no active rescue’ policy. Folks feel more comfortable calling our line and speaking to a stranger instead of a mental health provider. Once you take away the fear of being hospitalized and institutionalized, people are able to be more vulnerable.”

“It’s important to try to remove as many barriers as possible, and it’s a good thing if we can remove the language barrier to get people the resources they need,” said Mara Keisling, executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality, in a statement to CNN. The numbers for the hotline remain the same. U.S.: 877–565–8860; Canada: 877–330–6366.

Call to Protect Portuguese in Macau

Macau was a Portuguese territory until 1999 and is Portugal’s only ex-colony which is not a member of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (Comunidade dos Países de Língua Portuguesa or CPLP), although Portuguese is one of its official languages. It is now an autonomous region of China, similar in status to its neighbor across the Pearl River, Hong Kong. With giant casinos and malls, its 700,000 people live on fewer than 13 square miles of land, making it one of the most densely populated and wealthy regions in the world.

The legislature is concerned that three proposed laws would place “the English language in a position of clear supremacy over Portuguese” and that “the singularity of Macau and its role as a bridge between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries is at stake.”

In a letter to the legislative leader, Pereira Coutinho argued that the laws’ language options were “also liable to violate… the Basic Law of the Macau SAR, which establishes Portuguese as the official language,” and therefore “compromise Macau’s connection to the Portuguese-speaking world.”

His concerns include “the possible loss of the characteristics” of the territory “as a ‘beacon’ of Portuguese speaking in the East” and “the future of thousands of young people who have dedicated themselves to learning the Portuguese language in Macau.”

Data released in November 2019 showed that the teaching of Portuguese has grown overall in Macau over the past 20 years under Chinese administration, despite an initial decline. In 2018/19 there was an increase in numbers studying Portuguese of about 20%.

Still, in primary and secondary education, the total number of schools with Portuguese offerings almost doubled, while the number of teachers rose 119% in the same levels of education.

In higher education, there was a 374% increase in the number of students in Portuguese-medium courses between the academic years 1999/2000 and 2019/2020.

After more than 400 years under Portuguese rule, Macau became a Special Administrative Region of China in 1999, with a high degree of autonomy for an agreed period of 50 years.

TED Talks Arabic

millennial female Arabic speaker explaining presentation to older and young colleagues at office.

TED and the Qatar Foundation have launched TEDinArabic—a joint two-year initiative that will provide a global platform for thinkers, researchers, artists, and change makers across the Arabic-speaking world to share their ideas with a global audience.


TEDinArabic is TED’s first initiative to focus on sharing solutions, inventions, and stories in the Arabic language. The initiative aims to profile ideas that can change perceptions, benefit societies, and inspire others. The intention is to amplify high-quality content produced in Arabic by native-speaking creators. A foundational part of the initiative’s engagement approach will include an ideas search stretching across the Middle East. Selected ideas will be celebrated at events throughout the region in 2021.


The ideas search will result in the selection of 16 speakers to give TED Talks at the partnership’s culminating flagship event in Doha, Qatar, in 2022. This event will offer the TED conference experience in the heart of the Middle East and showcase the boldest and most inspiring ideas to emerge from the Arabic-speaking world. “We are thrilled to partner with Qatar Foundation to bring ideas from Arabic-speaking regions to the world,” said Chris Anderson, head of TED. “We at TED have always valued the power of delivering talks in one’s native language, and the nuance and richness that comes with doing so—the TEDinArabic initiative is an important step in that journey. As we bring this program to life, together with Qatar Foundation, we are grateful for the support of an organization that shares our passion and dedication to education and ideas.”


Recognizing that everyone can make a difference in the world through the power of ideas, TEDinArabic will spread the ideas of Arabic speakers to new and diverse audiences, magnifying their reach and impact. Her Excellency Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, vice chairperson and CEO of Qatar Foundation, said: “Language is more than just a means of communication; it influences the way we think and how we frame our perceptions on a subconscious level. With TEDinArabic, I hope we can continue the process of amplifying ideas from our region to a global audience in a language that is synonymous with innovation and new thinking. We are proud to be partnering with TED, with whom we share the belief that everyone’s mind and voice can make a difference, as together we aim to build a new culture of idea generation that stretches across the Arab world and beyond.”


TED will also build out a custom digital destination that will serve as the vault for the initiative’s content library, which is aimed at topics that matter to the Arabic-speaking world. This will include a combination of TED original and TED translated content, such as blog articles, TED-Ed video lessons, and custom video content. TEDinArabic is intended to endure long after this two-year partnership as it sparks the imagination of people throughout the Arabic-speaking world and empowers them to share their ideas globally. The TEDinArabic website and its content will remain live and accessible even after the culmination of this partnership. More at TEDinArabic.ted.com.

Cherokee Nation Cartoon “Inage’i” Premiers Sept 4

Image courtesy The Cherokee Nation, Promotional image for Cherokee language cartoon “Inage’i”

A new Cherokee-Language Cartoon, created in a partnership between the Cherokee Nation, the Oklahoma Film + Music Office, and FireThief Productions, an independent film company responsible for the Emmy-winning “Osiyo, Voices of the Cherokee People” TV program, is set to premiere September 4. The animated series, “Inage’i” (Ee-nah-geh-ee), which translates to “In the Woods,” will premiere its pilot episode at the inaugural Drive-in Movie Nights hosted during the 68th annual Cherokee National Holiday.

The project was funded by the tribe as part of its Durbin Feeling Language Preservation Act to preserve and revitalize the Cherokee language.

The story follows the adventures of four animal friends who live together in the forest of Turtle Island. Iga Daya’I, the mischievous rabbit; Juksvsgi, the gruff wolf; Anawegi, the conscientious deer; and Kvliwohi, the wise bear, are characters drawn from rich Cherokee storytelling tradition.

CNFO worked with the creators during pre-production of the series pilot, providing them with its Native American talent database as producers looked for voiceover talent.

“It is so important that our Cherokee people see themselves represented in the media. The Cherokee Nation Film Office is committed to seeing that through, and this event is just one way we are working to ensure that happens,” said Jennifer Loren, director of the Cherokee Nation Film Office.

“Preserving and perpetuating the Cherokee language for future generations requires new avenues that allow us to both share and teach the language,” Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. told Tahlequah Daily Press, “This partnership has produced an animated series pilot that I believe will grab the attention of children and adults alike. Whether they are introduced to the Cherokee language for the first time, or re-introduced to a language that they are already familiar with, we are excited about the groundbreaking possibilities this series will create for the Cherokee language in the years to come.”

Another Cherokee premiere, the short film “Totsu (Redbird)” is set to release this September. Like “Inage’i”, the production of “Totsu (Redbird)” hired Cherokee nation members for cast and crew members.

The film is written and directed by Cherokee Nation citizen Jeremy Charles and produced by FireThief Productions, a Native American-owned and -operated film production company located in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Why is this important to him? Charles spells that out by saying, “Television and film are a major cause in the diminishing of Native languages, including our Cherokee language. Our people have rarely seen or heard themselves in the media. Think of what that does to a culture — to never be seen. These days there are a lot of us who recognize that we have to make films in Cherokee, and cartoons, and make them high quality so that they compete head to head with contemporary English media. So that’s what I’m trying to do: to take this opportunity I’ve been given to create content in Cherokee. It’s going to take a lot of us doing it, but that is the way forward.”

Coronavirus Language Access Act Introduced to Senate

U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Bob Casey (D-PA), and Kamala Harris (D-CA) have introduced the Coronavirus Language Access Act, which expands access to coronavirus-related resources by increasing language access services and supporting culturally appropriate COVID-19 response programs to help those who have limited English proficiency (LEP), older Americans, and people with disabilities.

“We’ve seen that the coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated the existing disparities in our public health system. Given that communities of color have been particularly hard-hit by this crisis, we need to make sure that language is no barrier to seeking and accessing care and resources related to COVID-19,” said Senator Warner.

The pandemic has magnified language access issues and disparities in health care, especially since 15% of the more than 25 million people in the U.S. with limited English proficiency are age 65 or older. Many limited English proficient individuals also work on the front lines of the pandemic response leaving them more vulnerable to infection.

The Coronavirus Language Access Act would:

  • Require federal agencies receiving COVID-19 funding to provide translated materials for COVID-19-related programs and opportunities within 7 business days after the English version is available.
  • Require federal agencies receiving COVID-19 funding to provide oral language assistance services for COVID-19-related programs and opportunities.
  • Require the head of every federal agency affected by the bill to submit a report about its compliance with the requirements of the bill to the relevant congressional Committees.
  • Provide $200 million for coronavirus-related language access services – $150 million of which must be for state (including DC), Tribal, and territorial health departments and community-based organizations to support culturally appropriate coronavirus response programs.
  • Require the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to create a coronavirus informational hotline with trained interpreters that provides COVID-19 information to the public.
  • Require CDC to provide translated materials relating to COVID-19 screening, testing, treatment, and educational information to state (including DC), Tribal, and territorial agencies.
  • Provide $20 million to states for Area Agencies on Aging and $10 million to states for Statewide Independent Living Councils to support older LEP individuals and LEP individuals with disabilities, respectively, in accessing COVID-19 information through partnerships with community-based organizations.

“We must do more so that all communities – regardless of English proficiency, age, or disability – have access to the federal government’s coronavirus-related services and resources in culturally appropriate and understandable ways,” argued Sen Hirono.

In addition to Senators Warner, Hirono, Casey, and Harris, the bill was also cosponsored by Senators Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.).

Sen Baldwin said, “The coronavirus pandemic has exposed and exacerbated many obstacles and disparities in our health care system, including language barriers. Our legislation will require the federal government to deploy culturally-appropriate coronavirus-related information and resources that are accessible for everyone, regardless of their primary language.”

“For too many Nevadans coronavirus-related resources like testing information, and basic updates about how to keep families safe aren’t available in their native languages,” said Sen Cortez Masto, focusing on her own state. “I’m proud to cosponsor legislation that will require federal agencies to provide accessible, translated materials for millions of hardworking Americans with disabilities or limited English proficiency, many of whom are frontline workers. Every Nevadan should be able to easily access everything from coronavirus prevention tips to information about relief

The Coronavirus Language Access Act is supported by more than 160 national and local organizations, including ACTFL; TESOL Intl. Assn.; UnidosUS; and the NAACP. Click here to see the full list of supporting organizations.

“Language access is an issue that has long been a priority for UnidosUS and during a pandemic it is particularly important that the tens of millions of Americans who speak a language other than English have the information and resources they need to stay safe and healthy,” said Eric Rodriguez, senior VP of Policy and Advocacy, UnidosUS.

“Use of our native languages in accessing health care and resources, especially during these times, is a step in uplifting and empowering Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities in Hawaii and across the country. Papa Ola Lokahi strongly supports the efforts of Senator Hirono and her colleagues Senators Casey & Harris in standing up for the rights of our Native peoples. E Ola Ka Olelo Hawaii!” said Dr. Sheri-Ann Daniels, executive director of Papa Ola Lokahi.

DC Confucius Institute Designated as ‘Diplomatic Mission’

I hear and I forget I see and I remember I do and I understand - Chinese philosopher Confucius quotation

The U.S. State Department has designated the Confucius Institute U.S. (CIUS) Center, in Washington, DC, as a diplomatic mission, which will require it to regularly provide information to the State Department about its Chinese personnel, recruiting, funding, and operations in the U.S. 

The headquarters CIUS manages and provides funding for Chinese-language teachers and classes across the country, including university-level classes operated out of 75 Confucius Institute, and K-12 classes run through about 500 Confucius Classrooms. A few weeks ago, Language Magazine reported on the Chinese ministry of education moving to rebrand the institutes and refocus on language teaching.

In a statement, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said:

“The Trump Administration has made it a priority to seek fair and reciprocal treatment from the People’s Republic of China. For more than four decades, Beijing has enjoyed free and open access to U.S. society, while denying that same access to Americans and other foreigners in China.  Furthermore, the PRC has taken advantage of America’s openness to undertake large scale and well-funded propaganda efforts and influence operations in this country.

“Today, the Department of State designated the Confucius Institute U.S. Center as a foreign mission of the PRC, recognizing CIUS for what it is:  an entity advancing Beijing’s global propaganda and malign influence campaign on U.S. campuses and K-12 classrooms.  Confucius Institutes are funded by the PRC and part of the Chinese Communist Party’s global influence and propaganda apparatus.

“The goal of these actions is simple: to ensure that American educators and school administrators can make informed choices about whether these CCP-backed programs should be allowed to continue, and if so, in what fashion. Universities around the country and around the world are examining the Confucius Institutes’ curriculum and the scope of Beijing’s influence in their education systems.  The United States wants to ensure that students on U.S. campuses have access to Chinese language and cultural offerings free from the manipulation of the Chinese Communist Party and its proxies.”

Over the past few years, over 30 colleges and universities in the U.S. have decided to break ties and close their Confucius Institutes, as teachers and administrators have debated whether teachers in the Confucius Institutes or their educational material help disseminate Chinese government propaganda. Academic freedom has also been questioned. Universities in other countries have also closed their Confucius Institutes or are demanding greater transparency from them.

David R. Stilwell, assistant secretary of state for East Asia and the Pacific, said that the U.S. government would work with American educational institutions to “look for other opportunities for Chinese language training and instruction” during a call with reporters, adding, “We think at this point, it’s even more important that Americans study Chinese language, understand Chinese culture and work to establish a truly reciprocal relationship on both sides of the Pacific.”

The Future of Adult Language Travel – 2020 and Beyond

A new survey of 246 agents and 111 language schools across five regions taken in July by ALTO (Association of Language Travel Organisations) and has revealed that over the summer 2020 period, both agencies and schools were expecting less than a fifth of business when compared with last year.

In all regions except Asia, schools were more pessimistic than agents. School and Asian agents’ predictions are aligned until Summer 2021, at which point Asian Agents predict lower bookings of between 5 and 10% as the year progresses. The biggest spread is between the expectation of Schools and Agents in LATAM where agent predictions are 10-13% higher than schools.

LATAM is the most optimistic, followed by Brazil, with Asia predicting the lowest percentage return of business.

International agencies consistently predicted higher percentages of bookings than most regions and represent the most optimistic group for January to August 2021, then leveling out to the average prediction of a 67% return to 2019 levels.

• Asia and Turkey put a higher priority on the Access to Quality Medical Care in the Host Country and Appropriate Insurance coverage for Arriving Students.

• Asia and LATAM prioritizes School policies and protocols regarding COVID-19 in the host country.

• Brazil prioritizes the Cost of programs over Access to, and quality of,health care.

“We need to create a stronger relationship between agents and institutions that goes further than a simple commission base relationship,” said representatives from LATAM.

Agents were asked to rate destination countries for post-Covid travel. Participants commented that their decisions were affected foremost by the government policy of the host country, air travel and access to quality medical care and the host schools Covid policy, as per the Post-Covid Language Travel Priorities listed above.

• Canada, New Zealand and Australia are consistently in the top 3 globally, in Asia and with International schools.

• Regionally, Asia prioritized New Zealand, Australia and Canada.

• Europe & Russia rank Canada, Ireland and Malta highest.

• Turkey & MENA rank UK first, followed by Canada and Ireland.

• Brazil and LATM prioritized Canada, New Zealand and Australia with the UK and Ireland in 4th and 5th position.

“When ALTO decided to conduct this research, the response and enthusiasm was encouraging. A high level of engagement and care was taken by participants. In spite of the current climate there was room for optimism and evidence of an industry-wide desire to improve our practices and collaborate. It was also clear from participant comments that there is still an appetite for language travel and a global student body with a strong desire to study abroad,” said representatives of ALTO. “The results show us the key concerns of students – affordability, government response and policy, quarantine restrictions, safety of travel, and medical care in host countries. As an industry, some of these factors are outside of our control, however, efforts can be made to mitigate those concerns. There are also core areas of the industry where we can improve.Across the board, it was recognized that this extended period of disruption presents us with an extraordinary opportunity to assess and adjust our practices. The traditional model of our business may never be the same, but a change was overdue.”

“If Agents, Schools and the rest of the industry can work together to answer the concerns of our customers, we can also address the wider issues the industry faces from a social and environmental perspective. Even for those who believe the industry can recover fast and get back to ‘normal’, there are the long-term challenges which, if addressed now, will lead to a stronger more sustainable business,” said representatives of LATAM.

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Inuit Uqausinginnik Taiguusiliuqtiit’s Annual Language Award Seeking Nominations

An important part of Inuit Uqausinginnik Taiguusiliuqtiit’s work an award program to recognize outstanding achievement by an organization, groups and/or individuals who are contributing to the development, promotion or protection of the Inuit Language.

The chair of Taiguusiliuqtiit presents the award at an official award ceremony held during Uqausirmut Quviasuutiqarniq, first week of February (Nunavut Language Week).

Eligibility Requirements

Those eligible for nomination include:

  • Resident of Nunavut
  • Department or agencies of the governments of Nunavut
  • Municipalities
  • Businesses
  • Non-profit organizations, including charities
  • Inuit and land claim organizations
  • Schools and District Education Authorities
  • Unions
  • Life time language promoters who have past
  • Other nominees as agreed to by the Selection Committee

Examples of the types of projects that may be eligible:

  • Projects that make it possible to use the Inuit Language where it couldn’t be used before;
  • Projects that improve the skills of adults or young people in speaking, reading or writing the Inuit Language;
  • Creation of new books, film or new media in the Inuit Language;
  • Projects that expand the use of the Inuit Language as a language of work;
  • Projects that expand the number or the quality of services in the Inuit Language.

Nominations will be judged according to:

  1. The impact they have on the ability of the people to communicate in the Inuit Language.
  2. The number of communities who have been impacted or who may be impacted by the change that has occurred.
  3. The creativity or innovation behind initiatives to promote the Inuit Language.

Members of the public and organizations can nominate anyone they feel is eligible. You can only nominate one person, either from one of the regions, schools or Nunavut-wide.

Last year 15 people were nominated for the award, Solomon Awa, the manager of language marketing for IUT, told Nunatsiaq News. He said they’re looking for people who use their language publicly on a regular basis, like community leaders, teachers, or people on the radio or TV.

Nominations are open until 5 p.m. on August 28.

For more information and for nomination forms, get in touch with IUT by phone at 1-855-232-1852 or (867) 975-5545, fax at (867) 975-5539, or email at  [email protected] or visit the IUT website.

Learning Sciences Exchange: Innovative Ways to Communicate the Science of Early Learning Premieres August 26

For the past two years, the Learning Sciences Exchange (LSX) fellows program has brought together 12 experts in Europe and North America across disciplines—research, policy, journalism, and entertainment—to design innovative projects innovative projects that translate childhood development research for parents, educators, and the public. Watch them showcase their ground-breaking work, ask them questions about their projects, and join New America, the International Congress on Infant Studies, and the Jacobs Foundation in an interactive discussion on why it is critical to elevate and improve early learning and science communication.

Agenda:

Welcome & Introduction to the Learning Sciences Exchange (LSX)

Anne-Marie Slaughter, @SlaughterAM
Chief Executive Officer, New America

Lisa Guernsey, @LisaGuernsey
Director of Teaching, Learning, and Technology, New America

Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, @KathyandRo1
Professor and Director of the Infant Language Laboratory, Temple University

Roberta Golinkoff, @KathyandRo1
Professor and Director of the Child’s Play, Learning, and Development Lab, University of Delaware

Urs Arnold, @DrUrsVArnold
Chief Operating Officer, Jacobs Foundation

Panel Discussion: The Science Communication Imperative

Madeline di Nonno, @madelinedinonno
Chief Executive Officer, The Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media

Joan Lombardi, @joan_lombardi
Director, Early Opportunities

Ralph Smith, @readingby3rd
Managing Director, The Campaign for Grade-Level Reading

Anya Kamenetz, @anya1anya (moderator)
Education Correspondent, NPR

Introduction to Inaugural LSX Fellows’ Projects

Lisa Guernsey, @LisaGuernsey
Director of Teaching, Learning, and Technology, New America

Group #1 Presentation

Rob Carpenter, @RobertMarkCarp1
LSX Entertainment Fellow
Director, USC Media Institute for Social Change

Sujata Gupta, @sujatagupta
LSX Journalism Fellow
Freelance Science Journalist, New Scientist

Lisa Scott, @lisascottbcd
LSX Research Fellow
Associate Professor of Psychology, University of Florida

Katie Whitehouse, @katielianetx
LSX Policy Fellow
Senior Legislative Assistant, Council of the District of Columbia

Audience Q&A

Group #2 Presentation

Catherine de Lange, @catdl
LSX Journalism Fellow
Editor, New Scientist

Megan McClelland, @meganmcclellan8
LSX Research Fellow
Professor of Healthy Children and Families, Oregon State University

Janna Pahnke, @KleineForscher
LSX Policy Fellow
Head of Research and Monitoring, Stiftung Haus der kleinen Forscher

Jill Shinderman, @BarclaySqrMedia
LSX Entertainment Fellow
Principal, Barclay Square Media

Audience Q&A

Group #3 Presentation

Melissa Hogenboom, @melissasuzanneh
LSX Journalism Fellow
Editor, BBC Reel at BBC Global News Limited

Sacha Kyle, @sachakyle
LSX Entertainment Fellow
Director and Creator of Children’s Content and Media

Meredith Rowe
LSX Research Fellow
Professor, Harvard Graduate School of Education

Elizabeth Shuey, @OECDEduSkills
LSX Policy Fellow
Policy Analyst, Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)

Audience Q&A

Open Discussion

Concluding Remarks

RSVP here

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