In February, the Wisconsin International Scholars (WISc) Program hosted the “Leveraging Your Languages” workshop in collaboration with the Wisconsin Intensive Summer Language Institutes (WISLI). The interactive session, facilitated by Ryan Goble and Felecia Lucht, encouraged WIScholars to connect their language skills to their professional, academic, and personal goals.
Through hands-on activities, students from various academic and professional backgrounds reflected on the importance of their language learning experiences.
A key highlight was an activity where participants created posters showcasing the benefits of multilingualism and additional language learning. These visual displays illustrated how linguistic skills open doors to international and cultural experiences, professional advancement, and personal growth.
“We were in awe of the many unique language experiences in the room,” said workshop co-facilitator Ryan Goble, WISLI Communications and Outreach Manager. “It was amazing to see so many Badgers explore how their multilingual journeys and talents contribute to their identities as global professionals.”
Rojaan Koupaei-Abyazani, a senior and psychology major at UW-Madison, shared a takeaway from the event. “When I was hearing about everyone’s languages and their interests, I realized that even the most ‘niche’ languages are paths to personal growth and ways for us to engage in the greater global community. A language is an opportunity.”
Programs like the Wisconsin International Scholars and the Wisconsin Intensive Summer Language Institute thrive thanks to the investment and support of UW-Madison International Division partners. Through these innovative, hands-on experiences, students develop essential skills that will benefit them and their communities for years to come.
The WISc Program continues to offer events throughout the semester that support language learning and global engagement. Click here to stay updated on future activities.
WISLI offers intensive summer training in over 30 less commonly taught languages, helping global leaders build multilingual skills and cultural and regional expertise in just eight weeks—the equivalent of two semesters of academic study.