Emma Lynn Blanchette

  • Senior, French and Linguistics double major

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.

UWM Land Acknowledgement: We acknowledge in Milwaukee that we are on traditional Potawatomi, Ho-Chunk and Menominee homeland along the southwest shores of Michigami, North America’s largest system of freshwater lakes, where the Milwaukee, Menominee and Kinnickinnic rivers meet and the people of Wisconsin’s sovereign Anishinaabe, Ho-Chunk, Menominee, Oneida and Mohican nations remain present.   |   To learn more, visit the Electa Quinney Institute website.