A Message from Dr.

Uju Anya

Dr. Anya is a professor of second language education and curriculum

and instruction at Penn State University. She teaches both students
and teachers of other languages. Her research focuses on
sociolinguistics, applied linguistics, and second language learning
with particular focus on race, gender, sexual, and social class
identities in the language classroom. She has expertise in diversity,
equity, and inclusion in educational policy and curriculum design,
and also, applied linguistics as a practice of social justice.

Dr. Anya’s book, Racialized identities in second

language learning: Speaking blackness in Brazil, was
the winner of the 2019 American Association for Applied Linguistics First Book
Award. With her book and her research overall, Dr. Anya studies the black
experience in language learning.

One of the things that Dr. Anya is raising awareness about is how important it is for black
language learners to have a study abroad experience. Many black students do not pursue study
abroad because they do not know or believe (or have been told) that it is accessible to them. But
it is! Here at Florida Memorial University, our goal is to prepare you to embrace global
citizenship and to be the next solvers to the world’s problems. When you have the opportunity to
study abroad and see the world through others’ eyes, you develop interpersonally as an adult,
you can appreciate diversity more, and you get to meet and know others with whom you might
normally not socialize. These are key aspects to academic and personal development that are
necessary in order to promote social justice in this world. Plus, and in the words of Dr. Anya,
you will “increase your cultural capital” and “have greater access to varied social networks!”

Now, we are going to do a task. We are going to watch a personal video that Dr. Anya made just
for you all. At five different points during the video, a pop-up question will appear (see these
same questions below). I will stop the video and give you a couple of minutes to answer these
questions. Please write your answers in the spaces provided below. When you’re finished, please
be prepared to discuss your answers and your opinions.

1. What "multilingual situations and multilingual interactions" do you have in your own life?

My entire extended family consists totally of English and French Speakers. So, simply speaking
to family members is a multilingual interaction for me.

2. What are some of the things that Dr. Anya gained from studying abroad?

It made it possible to learn how to solve problems, it opened her mind up to other possibilities
and experiences.
3. What does Dr. Anya mean when she says to try and "pursue on ground, local, language
experiences"? How could you do that here, and also, abroad?

She meant in the sense of local to the places and countries where the languages are spoken and
are common.

4. Why does Dr. Anya say that it's especially important for black students to study abroad?

It's very important for us to go out and experience other places that are pretty similar culturally,
historically, and in experiences to help us understand or have a greater understanding of what is
really means to be a black person in this world.

5. What has been the main barrier for black students in the U.S. to be able to study abroad? How
can you change this?

Language has been the main barrier for black students trying to study abroad, and with study
abroad programs and learning new languages I believe we can change this.

We are now going to watch two more video clips that I have prepared for you.

Follow-up task: