language matters.
LANGUAGE
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.
A simple but meaningful way to recognize linguistic diversity in COIL and Virtual Exchange activities.
LANGUAGE
MATTERS
Language is more than a communication tool. It shapes how we express ourselves, participate, connect with others, and make meaning.
In COIL and Virtual Exchange, participants may be communicating in a language that is not their first or most comfortable language.
A simple acknowledgement can help create a more inclusive environment by recognizing the effort involved in communicating across languages.
Acknowledging linguistic diversity can open the door to greater participation, empathy, and connection across cultures.
KEEP IT
SIMPLE.
ADAPT
Adapt the acknowledgement to your context, activity, and audience.
OPEN
Use it at the beginning of a session, event, or collaborative activity.
INCLUDE
Include at least two languages whenever possible and appropriate for your context.
SPEAK
FROM THE
HEART.
“Before we start our activities, we want to share that although the language used for this session will be English, we acknowledge and promote linguistic diversity. We recognize the effort involved in communicating in a foreign language and encourage all participants to speak from the heart and include expressions from their mother tongue.”
HABLAR
DESDE EL
CORAZÓN.
“Antes de iniciar nuestras actividades, queremos compartir con ustedes que aunque el idioma utilizado para esta sesión será el inglés, reconocemos y promovemos la diversidad lingüística. Reconocemos el esfuerzo que implica comunicarse en un idioma extranjero y nos gustaría animar a todos los participantes a hablar desde el corazón y sentirse libres para incluir palabras y expresiones de su lengua materna.”
take it with you.
EXPLORE THE
FULL DOCUMENT.
Download or explore the complete Language Acknowledgement resource for use and adaptation in your own COIL or Virtual Exchange activities.
OPEN PDF ↗