https://www.uwlax.edu/news/posts/Campus ConnectionPosts tagged with 'Natalia Roberts':2024-02-05T14:39:51.347Zhttps://www.uwlax.edu/news/posts/functional-fluency/Functional fluency2024-02-05T14:39:51.347Z2024-02-01T08:48:00ZChloe Harthttps://uwlax.edu/profile/chart/chart@uwlax.edu
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<p class="date"><span class="label">Posted </span><span data-part="time">8:48 a.m.</span><span data-part="weekday"><span> </span>Thursday</span><span data-part="month"><span>, </span>Feb.</span><span data-part="day"><span> </span>1</span><span data-part="year"><span>, </span>2024</span></p>
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<figcaption>Eleanna Meehan has earned the Global Seal of Biliteracy with Functional Fluency in English and Russian.</figcaption>
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<h3 class="tagline">UWL student earns Global Seal of Biliteracy through UW Collaborative Language Program</h3>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">After taking advantage of the </span><a href="https://www.wisconsin.edu/collaborative-language-program/" data-mce-href="https://www.wisconsin.edu/collaborative-language-program/"><span data-contrast="none">UW Collaborative Language Program</span></a><span data-contrast="auto">, Eleanna Meehan is now proficient in Russian – and she has the Seal to prove it.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="auto">Meehan, a senior studying international business and accounting with a </span><a href="https://www.uwlax.edu/academics/department/global-cultures-and-languages/languages/russian/%22%20HYPERLINK%20%22https://www.uwlax.edu/academics/department/global-cultures-and-languages/languages/russian/" data-mce-href="/academics/department/global-cultures-and-languages/languages/russian/%22%20HYPERLINK%20%22https://www.uwlax.edu/academics/department/global-cultures-and-languages/languages/russian/"><span>certificate in Russian studies</span></a><span data-contrast="auto">, has earned the Global Seal of Biliteracy with Functional Fluency in English and Russian. Throughout her college career, Meehan took six semesters of Russian language.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="auto">“I studied French all four years of high school and, through that experience, realized that I had an aptitude and passion for learning foreign languages,” Meehan says.&nbsp;</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="auto">Meehan was born in Russia and adopted at 11 months old. Her ties to Russia made it easy for her to decide that her next learned language would be Russian. During her senior year of high school, she started studying Russian with a tutor before continuing her studies at UWL.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="auto">“It has taken a lot of dedication and hard work, as Russian is not an easy language to learn,” Meehan says. “However, I’ve enjoyed every second of it! Russia has such an incredible history and rich culture that many people are not aware of, and it has been a fascinating experience to study it and become closer to this part of my ancestry.”</span><span id="_mce_caret" data-mce-bogus="1" data-mce-type="format-caret"><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}"></span></span></p>
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<figcaption>The proficiency test assesses listening, speaking, reading and writing skills.</figcaption>
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<p><a href="https://www.wisconsin.edu/collaborative-language-program/" data-mce-href="https://www.wisconsin.edu/collaborative-language-program/"><span data-contrast="none">Russian is part of the UW Collaborative Language Program (CLP)</span></a><span data-contrast="auto">. As part of the CLP curriculum, students can take a nationally accredited language proficiency test, which assesses listening, speaking, reading and writing.&nbsp;</span><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="auto">Meehan achieved at least Intermediate-Mid level in all skills, allowing her to receive the Global Seal of Biliteracy, a micro-credential that gives multilingual graduates a way to highlight their language skills for potential employers. </span><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="auto">“It demonstrates to employers not only language skills, but also delivers confidence that our students bring the valuable soft skills linked to language learners, such as communicating and listening well, being a good critical thinker and problem solver, and being able to make connections across complex ideas,” says Natalia Roberts, professor of Russian language and culture at UWL. “It goes without saying that language learners bring strong work ethics to their employers.”</span><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="auto">Meehan has already been offered a full-time position before graduating.</span><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="auto">“I have accepted a position as an audit associate with Baker Tilly after graduation,” Meehan says. “I am excited to be part of a firm with offices in 146 countries and many opportunities to work abroad, including in Russian-speaking countries!”</span><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="auto">The Seal demonstrates the commitment of the Department of Global Cultures and Languages to accomplish its mission of developing global citizens who can communicate effectively, with cultural sensitivity and awareness, in more than one language.</span><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="auto">“In a global society where intercultural communication has become increasingly important, the Global Seal distinguishes our graduates as globally competent individuals,” Roberts says. “By learning languages for several years, our students develop empathy toward people of different cultures and backgrounds and gain new perspective on the world and others with different values and points of view. These emotional skills will serve our students beyond the professional realm, as the world around us, even on a local level, becomes increasingly diverse.”</span><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="auto">For students interested in learning a new language or improving their fluency, Meehan suggests finding engaging ways to learn and practice the language, like re-watching favorite television shows or movies in the desired language.&nbsp;</span><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="auto">“The biggest piece of advice I can give is that it won’t be easy, but it will be worth it,” Meehan says. “It takes time and dedication to learn a new language, and it is something you have to practice every day.”</span><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="auto">In addition to Russian, the CLP offers German, French, Chinese, Japanese and Arabic, which all have access to earning the Seal. The program, founded in 1998, is dedicated to improving access to language courses for all learners across UW campuses, with particular emphasis on languages considered critical to Wisconsin and the U.S. economy and national security.</span><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-contrast="auto">“If you stick with it, the benefits are endless,” Meehan says. “I truly believe learning a foreign language is one of the most beneficial things you can do for both your personal development and your career development. It allows you to develop and appreciate new perspectives and insights into the world we live in, connect with new people, and make you a very valuable asset in any career you pursue!”</span><span data-ccp-props="{">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span data-ccp-props="{">Congratulations to all UWL students who earned the Global Seal of Biliteracy (French, German or Russian): </span><span data-ccp-props="{">Seairra Mortellaro,&nbsp;</span><span data-ccp-props="{">Madeline Erickson,&nbsp;</span><span data-ccp-props="{">Richard Cayasso, </span><span data-ccp-props="{">Gretchen Heller, </span><span data-ccp-props="{">Itzel Cayetano, </span><span data-ccp-props="{">Milana Adiran, </span><span data-ccp-props="{">Timothy Harrold, </span><span data-ccp-props="{">Olesya Kazina, </span><span data-ccp-props="{">Kit Kirsch, </span><span data-ccp-props="{">Isabela Pericak; and through the Collaborative Language Program: Samuel Zajkowski (UW-Stevens Point).</span></p>
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<img loading="lazy" src="/contentassets/d2492d337f8a4841b98d59100cb0f8ab/uwl-2023-functional-fluency-award-winner-eleanna-meehan-3.jpg/Medium" alt="Eleanna Meehan has earned the Global Seal of Biliteracy with Functional Fluency in English and Russian." />
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<span class="title">Functional fluency</span>
<span class="date"><span class="label">Posted </span><span data-part="time">8:48 a.m.</span><span data-part="weekday"><span> </span>Thursday</span><span data-part="month"><span>, </span>Feb.</span><span data-part="day"><span> </span>1</span><span data-part="year"><span>, </span>2024</span></span>
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UWL student earns Global Seal of Biliteracy through UW Collaborative Language Program
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</span>https://www.uwlax.edu/news/posts/language-listing/Language listing2021-01-08T11:48:56.737Z2021-01-08T11:48:56.737ZBritney Heinemanhttps://uwlax.edu/profile/bheineman/bheineman@uwlax.edu
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<p class="date"><span class="label">Posted </span><span data-part="time">11:48 a.m.</span><span data-part="weekday"><span> </span>Friday</span><span data-part="month"><span>, </span>Jan.</span><span data-part="day"><span> </span>8</span><span data-part="year"><span>, </span>2021</span></p>
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<figcaption>UW-La Crosse lecturer Natalia Roberts, shown in this 2020 photo pre-COVID-19, teaches Russian through the UW System's Collaborative Language Program. The program was recently included in the America’s Languages Guide to Exemplary Programs and Practices in U.S. Language Education — a list of exemplary and accessible language programs at all U.S. education levels. </figcaption>
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<h3>Collaborative Language Program earns prestigious distinction</h3>
<p>UW System’s Collaborative Language Program has a new feather in its cap. And UW-La Crosse faculty had a lot to do with it.</p><p>The program was recently included in the America’s Languages Guide to Exemplary Programs and Practices in U.S. Language Education — a list of exemplary and accessible language programs at all U.S. education levels.</p><p>Over the past 20 years, the program has exposed thousands of students throughout the UW System to a wide array of online language courses.</p><p>“We are able to provide our students with a much broader range of language learning options by participating in the CLP,” says <a data-mce-href="/profile/shay/" href="/profile/shay/">UW-La Crosse Professor Shelley Hay</a>, who currently teaches German to students at UW-Stevens Point through the program. UWL shares courses in German, French, Russian and Chinese, and receives courses in Japanese and Arabic. “Many of these languages are considered critical&nbsp; and are often sought by employers.”</p><p><a data-mce-href="/profile/nroberts/" href="/profile/nroberts/" data-mce-selected="inline-boundary">UWL Lecturer Natalia Roberts</a>, who has taught Russian in the program for the past 16 years, says she and other faculty receive training on the latest teaching technology through the program.</p><p>Long before COVID-19 forced many classes online, professors in the program were well-versed in teaching virtually and fostering long-distance connections among students.</p><p>“Students enjoy applying their knowledge and interacting with their peers during synchronous live lessons with different campuses,” Roberts explains. “They also benefit from the native speakers who bring regional and generational diversity to the cohort.”</p><p>But it’s not just students who learn meaningful lessons and form constructive relationships. According to Hay, the program has also sparked connections among faculty.</p><p>“The instructors in the program are located all over the state of Wisconsin, but we interact regularly and support each other,” Hay notes. “We share ideas about course instruction, learn about new technology together and collaborate on research projects. It’s wonderful to be a part of such a talented and diverse group.”</p><p><strong>About the Collaborative Language Program</strong></p><p>Founded in 1998, UW System’s Collaborative Language Program is dedicated to improving access to language courses for all learners, with particular emphasis on languages considered critical to Wisconsin and the U.S. economy and national security.</p><p>Instructors in the program reach students across UW campuses using a combination of the latest blended and online learning methods.</p><p>The program serves an average of 350 students each semester.</p><p>Other UWL faculty who have taught in the program include Anna Keef and Virginie Cassidy, both in French.</p><p>For more information, visit <a href="http://www.wisconsin.edu/collaborative-language-program/" data-mce-href="http://www.wisconsin.edu/collaborative-language-program/">www.wisconsin.edu/collaborative-language-program/</a>.</p>
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<img data-src="/contentassets/d2492d337f8a4841b98d59100cb0f8ab/2020-uw-system-collaborative-language-program-0058.jpg/Medium" alt="UW-La Crosse lecturer Natalia Roberts, shown in this 2020 photo pre-COVID-19, teaches Russian through the UW System's Collaborative Language Program. The program was recently included in the America’s Languages Guide to Exemplary Programs and Practices in U.S. Language Education — a list of exemplary and accessible language programs at all U.S. education levels. " class="lazy" />
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<span class="title">Language listing</span>
<span class="date"><span class="label">Posted </span><span data-part="time">11:48 a.m.</span><span data-part="weekday"><span> </span>Friday</span><span data-part="month"><span>, </span>Jan.</span><span data-part="day"><span> </span>8</span><span data-part="year"><span>, </span>2021</span></span>
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Collaborative Language Program earns prestigious distinction
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<span class="read">Read<span class="sr-only"> more about Language listing</span></span>
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