2025 Hall of Fame Nominee
Woodville Tompkins Technical & Career High School
Savannah, GA
I have witnessed the value of speaking more than one language since my arrival in this country at the age of 11. My first day at middle school is one example. I did not speak English. Then, the bell rang promptly, and I experienced anxiety because I had no idea where to go, no one to turn to, and I cried silently. It stopped when I heard Mrs. Martell, the Hispanic Migrant Education teacher, say, “Bertha, don’t cry. I am here to help you.” She said it in Spanish! I experienced immediate relief as I met her when my mom registered me a day prior. Anytime I saw Mrs. Martell, because she spoke my language, I felt safe and seen. This experience taught me that language learning and cultural competence are valuable for all learners because they propel true ongoing life-changing gifts, such as the ability to be an advocate and a spokesperson for someone in need at the right time; the capacity to connect at a deeper level that no translator or artificial intelligence ever could, the agency of providing comfort to others when needed by making them truly feel seen, heard, and understood through empathy; the greater knowledge of the self that unfolds as one learns from other cultures, and the confidence and leadership of finding support among community members to support one another toward a common goal, whether in need or not, or to simply make our corner of the world a better place.
Though I only remained at this school for less than five months before it was time to move again, I have so many memories of the support Mrs. Martell provided to Spanish-speaking students and parents by being bilingual and culturally competent. She made a difference in so many lives daily, and this is another byproduct of languages and intercultural competence that all students deserve to experience: the empowerment of their purpose through the ability to make a difference through these gifts daily in whatever profession their hearts desire, internationally or locally. As educators, we have the power to guide learners through language acquisition and cultural competency by connecting with the communities that speak our target language.
Learners must see the value of languages and cultural competence through the learning experiences we prepare for them, the voices and stories we choose to spotlight, and through our daily modeling and interactions.
Today, I treasure the stories of high school and college educators and community members who exemplified the value of languages and true cultural competence. Without them, I would not have a story to tell or a clear purpose today. If I could summarize the value of learning languages and developing cultural competence for all learners into one word, it would be IMPACT, as the impact created by students through these skills reaches not only the people interacting or being served, but the students themselves, the community, and the world. This impact can be so profound and liberating that it often cannot be measured.