UTEP Faculty Establish Branch of Bilingualism Matters

UTEP faculty members Ana Schwartz, Ph.D. and Annie Tremblay, Ph.D. are co-founding an El Paso branch of Bilingualism Matters, an international organization that communicates bilingualism research to communities and institutions beyond academia.

Established in 2008 at the University of Edinburgh, Bilingualism Matters aims to make research-based evidence on language and multilingualism accessible to families, communities and professionals in education, health or policy, according to the organization’s website.

UTEP’s chapter of Bilingualism Matters joins a network of more than 30 branches that span Europe, Asia and North America. “El Paso’s selection as a branch for Bilingualism Matters is a reflection of the community’s authentic bilingual and bicultural nature,” said Schwartz.

Schwartz and Tremblay, along with the branch’s members, will leverage the training and institutional knowledge offered by Bilingualism Matters’ national headquarters to make meaningful inroads with local entities and create real-world applications for bilingualism research conducted at UTEP.

The researchers pointed to data that show evolving attitudes toward bilingual education as students progress to high school, which underscores the need to understand its value. “At times, there can be a sentiment that immersion in English-only academic programs is advantageous, but the reality is that bilingualism enhances cognition and access to opportunities,” said Tremblay. “Our hope is that by disseminating research to the community there will be greater sensitivity to the importance of bilingualism and a greater effort to preserve and encourage bilingualism and biliteracy.”

The newly founded branch will conduct workshops and lectures, as well as host events that will bring together community leaders. “If a year or two from now we have people, schools and communities regularly engaging with our organization, it would be monumental,” said Schwartz. “My bilingualism is the greatest gift my family ever gave me. It opened the doors to friendships, professional opportunities and membership into communities that without it I would have never known. Giving this same opportunity and gift to El Paso would be meaningful both as an academic and as an individual.”