Emma Lynn Blanchette

I am honored to join my peers in this prestigious and exciting honor society. Languages have always interested me with their diverse complexities and unexpected similarities, and I did not let the lack of language learning opportunities available to me inhibit this passion. From a young age I began teaching myself French, which has lead me to earn a degree in the language and study abroad in Paris on the ASFAP scholarship, despite the setbacks presented by the pandemic. I was also persuaded to pursue a full degree in Applied Linguistics by the incredibly inspiring Linguistics Department faculty which, combined with my minor in music, have given me a unique perspective in the study of languages, namely second language acquisition. After graduation I plan to move abroad to teach English as a second language, where I will gain invaluable experience helping others acquire a language they may not have had the opportunity to explore before, as well as to further study and admire the languages and cultures of others across the world. I thank my Linguistics and French professors that have supported me so passionately during my time at UWM. I hope in the years to come I will be able to impart my love for languages to my students.