Welcome to the rich heritage of language and culture from Mississippi. With over 60 languages used by students throughout the state, we appreciate a diverse background of cultures.
NML’s State Liaison from Mississippi, Sylma Samuel Ferreira, was honored with a state-level award from the Board of Trustees of Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL) in Mississippi during Black History Month. She received the state-level 2023 Institutions of Higher Learning Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion Award. The award recognized her “for serving as a role model and strong advocate for the advancement of diversity at Delta State University and the State of Mississippi”. See the article in the Delta State University events page.
Pictured l to r: Trustee Dr. Ormella Cummings, Chair of the Board of Trustees’ Diversity Committee; Sylma Samuel-Ferreira; and Dr. E.E. Caston, Interim President, Delta State University
The Mississippi Department of Education:
The Mississippi Department of Education has updated the information on the Mississippi Seal of Biliteracy. See the document below.
Read about the Mississippi Seal of Biliteracy
The Mississippi Foreign Language Association – MFLA www.mflams.org/
Welcome to “A New Seed to Harvest in the Magnolia State” a message from Toni Stillman, President of Seedtime Multilingual, Inc.
When most people think of the State of Mississippi, it is unlikely that they conjure up a multicultural climate with multilingual language learners. After all, historically, language and culture have been the main event on a backdrop of race and reconciliation. I won’t ask for a show of hands, but few are familiar with the incredible diversity that exists in the state, especially in the Gulf Coast Regions.
Seedtime Multilingual, Inc., was born out of the desire to build on my teaching philosophy that culturally competent students are more informed about the world and able to compete as global citizens. The organization provides access to foreign languages: English as a second language, Japanese, and Spanish. We aim to support and follow our learners as long as they need assistance, encourage and assist with student exchange opportunities and promote bilingual literacy.
Our program desires to fill the gap between institutions’ struggling language programs and decreasing student enrollment. Seedtime Multilingual students will be confident in their proficiency and ability to excel when they enter the target language classroom. Our curriculum aligns with state standards for language courses. We also facilitate combining STEM with a foreign language so that students go beyond earning a language credit to growing and developing a valuable skill.
This post may be a subtle reminder of the effect of globalization on local societies, which does not exclude the state of Mississippi. Culture plays an integral role in all economies, so as we reflect on Mississippi blues, bluegrass, country music, vibrant agriculture, and biodiversity of flora and fauna; we hope that one day, Mississippi will lead the multilingual revolution. Seedtime Multilingual® is a proclamation for the State of Mississippi, where international business fuels a growing economy. Mississippi welcomes you to the “SeedZone.”
Contact Toni Stillman, President of Seedtime Multilingual Inc., for more information.