Our innovative idea is to connect people by providing language and culture learning opportunities in the community. The social change we work towards is evidenced by the way we build confidence, create opportunities, and engage our volunteers and students to build community. The idea of building confidence is our strongest pillar. For the first semester college student, intimidated by running her own GLN Chapter, we give her the tools to start and run an organization and the confidence to succeed. For the volunteer who has zero teaching experience, we give him the training and resources necessary to prepare him, and the confidence to lead a group of 5 to 20 individuals in a classroom. For the student who thinks she “can’t learn languages,” we restore hope and give her the confidence to enjoy learning and using a language. We engage our administrative volunteers and help them gain valuable business skills. Why should college students be doomed to pouring someone’s coffee in a “big time” internship where nobody knows their name? Through GLN, we help them achieve more for themselves while gaining valuable social and professional skills. Suddenly the student who doesn’t see the value in her potential becomes capable in marketing, operations, and finance, and also becomes part of a social network that creates lasting change for her community. We engage our instructors. Initially, I had to beg the first few of our teachers to volunteer their time. It was not until these individuals actually began teaching with us that they saw the joy and value. Soon enough, more volunteers were applying than we had teaching positions. Our idea’s true innovation shines through the way we engage our students. We create a fun, relaxed environment where they are active participants; they feel comfortable sharing, collaborating, and learning with their fellow classmates. Furthermore, organizing our classes free of charge, without tests, grades, or other added stress assures that anyone coming to GLN is truly there to learn.

A person who speaks 3 languages is trilingual; a person who speaks 2 languages is bilingual; a person who speaks 1 language is—American. Only 9% of Americans can speak a foreign language fluently. We are not being pushed to learn foreign languages. If we want to connect with over 95% of the world, we need foreign language skills. Americans are not exposed to foreign languages and cultures due to lack of accessibility. This bolsters the idea that if the education is unavailable it must not be needed. If people do not perceive the need, they will not work to make the opportunity available. GLN connects with communities on a local level to establish this need. We then mobilize the community to create foreign language opportunities through cooperative volunteer efforts. Half of our 6 GLN Chapters are in cities where language institutes won’t go: Birmingham, Nashville, and Boulder. Only 8.5% of college students in the US are enrolled in foreign language courses. Administrators in higher education underestimate the urgency and value in college students possessing foreign language skills. GLN engages college students in creating lasting language opportunities on campus and holding the Administration accountable for supporting them. In 2006 only 33,728 students throughout the US were enrolled in 204 of the less commonly-taught languages, 12 of which are critical need languages. With a national average of 165 students per language, it’s clear that training and support for foreign language education go towards popular and profitable languages, neglecting languages that we deem to be of critical need. GLN teaches 48 of the 204 languages rarely taught. Based on statistics from the Modern Language Association, GLN-GW alone has the highest enrollment per institution for each of those 48 languages. For 8 of those languages we have higher enrollments than any US institution combined. Just imagine the impact of each additional GLN Chapter.

The Global Language Network aims to increase cross-cultural understanding while at the same time preserving and enhancing diverse cultures from around the globe. We measure success with the improvement of students’ language skills, but our long term success is measured by our students’ ability to translate language skills into life skills and our administrative volunteers’ ability to develop social and professional skills they can use outside the program. GLN as a whole impacts tens of thousands of individuals each year. Depending on the campus size, each GLN Chapter directly impacts 1,000-2,000 members involved each year. Indirectly, GLN impacts tens of thousands of individuals who interact with our members, benefiting from experiences they gained through us. At the end of each semester, students fill out evaluations designed to measure how much their confidence and practical skills in the language have improved during the semester. With this we have found that gaining confidence alone changes lives. Alumni also receive follow up surveys which give us an understanding of what they are doing with their skills. This focus on measurable outputs and outcomes allows us to continually grow as an organization. We are dedicated to delivering outside results for our members. The Member Services Manager of each GLN Chapter creates relationships with our members and connects them with outside opportunities to put their new skills to use towards social change in the community. During our members’ involvement in GLN, we focus on the impact our services have on them and the skills they develop. Once they gain these skills, we shift the focus to how they can use these skills towards a greater good. An example of this is the Haitian Creole class we organized for Red Cross employees going to Haiti for relief work. One very grateful student, Ron, emailed me saying, “My teacher was great, and her teaching was a huge contribution to the success of my work in Haiti."

Free and fun language classes at your school! Awesome business experience! And teaching experience too? Should you be interested? Si! - teach your native language a couple hours per week (and get free training from the Global Language Network and the World Bank!) Da! - learn a new language or practice one you speak Yes! - help with Marketing, Operations, or Finance Or, start your own GLN Chapter at your school!