In partnership with UWM’s School of Education, the CIE-NRC Title VI grant program would like to announce its first cohort of Community Language Fellows who will build a curriculum for K-12 students in Italian and Swahili this summer. This fellowship serves as one of the ways UWM’s International NRC Title VI award supports language preservation, cultural exchange, pedagogical innovation, community engagement, and empowerment of language teachers.
Alessandra Piano is a cultural heritage specialist and educator who teaches introductory foreign language courses to university students. She also teaches elementary students in an Italian immersion program. Alessandra, who has years of experience in teaching and developing curricula for diverse learners, said she applied for the fellowship because of her dedication and commitment to language education and because the key aspect of the fellowship closely aligns with her expertise. Furthermore, Alessandra noted that the fellowship will allow her to create comprehensive teaching resources to enhance her students’ learning experience. Aside from collaborating with other educators, Alessandra describes the opportunity as an encouragement for educators to “develop language proficiency, cross-cultural understanding, and global citizenship.”
Dr. Francis Maina Mutonya is a teacher, researcher, and translator with years of experience in developing courses and syllabi. Dr. Mutonya, has taught Kiswahili and English languages in Mexico, and has supervised research and taught students at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. He applied for the fellowship because of his commitment to developing valuable content for multilingual learners, especially within the MPS district where he teaches ESL in a bilingual school. Furthermore, the application for the fellowship was influenced by his dedication to integrating new knowledge into language teaching. Dr. Mutonya believes this fellowship will help him use his expertise to make an impact.
Monica Niespodziany is an Italian language teacher with over ten years of experience. Some of her expertise includes developing curriculum, preparing course materials, and teaching cultural immersion. Also, Monica leverages technology to help students interact with teaching materials. Her goal is to ensure that their students feel comfortable navigating daily tasks where they can experience the culture and language first-hand. She noted she was excited to learn about the fellowship’s support in helping sustain the teaching of Italian languages. Applying for the fellowship will also help her work to versions of her curricula.