Twenty years ago, Jane Ross and I began a collaboration driven by a shared belief in the power of heritage languages to connect communities, cultures, and generations.
What started in 2005 with the creation of the French Heritage Language Program in New York has grown into a thriving initiative that has served thousands of students and expanded nationwide as part of the Embassy of France in the United States and Villa Albertine, the French Institute for Culture and Education’s French for All initiative.
Today, we are especially proud to see that journey reflected in Bridging Worlds. This book grew out of a 2011 conference on heritage languages and social cohesion that we organized at the Lycée Français de New York. The conversations that began there—among scholars, educators, and advocates—sparked collaborations that ultimately came together in this volume.
Nearly two decades after our work first began, publishing Bridging Worlds together carries deep personal and professional meaning for both of us. The book reflects the extraordinary contributions of scholars and educators whose research helps deepen our understanding of identity, community, and multilingual education.
We are deeply grateful to all the contributors, the institutions and communities that supported this work, and the creative talents who helped bring the book to life. Special thanks to Raymond Verdaguer for the magnificent cover illustration. We are also especially thankful to The Center for the Advancement of Languages, Education, and Communities (CALEC) for supporting this project from its initial vision through publication.
This project is a celebration not only of heritage languages, but also of the collaborations and friendships that make such work possible.
Jane, it has been an honor building this bridge together.
Link to purchase the book and support CALEC:
https://lnkd.in/erHRbHvz
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FABRICE JAUMONT 