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Milán International School Scholars (MISS)!

Milán International School Scholars is creating a world where our girls learn that they are valuable human beings,”wakan” (sacred), capable of learning and teaching multiple languages, and are inspired to reach their greatest goals!

May 28, 2012 at 8:26 am Leave a comment

Hello Honorable World!

“A nation is not conquered until the hearts of its women are on the ground; then it is finished, no matter how brave its warriors or how strong their weapons.” The Mighty Cheyenne Nation

MY + INTER + LINGUAL + ÁCADEMIC + NETWORK = MILÁN
MILÁN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL SCHOLARS = MISS

“WAKAN” (SACRED),

GLOBAL,

HIGHLY LITERATE,

FINANCIALLY ASTUTE,

LANGUAGE CHAMPIONS!

A very warm welcome to Milán International School Scholars!, an afterschool, ESL mobile outreach, and weekend language immersion homeschool based in Stone Mountain, Georgia, USA. Our HERSTORY is etched in an elegant, global, determined hand.

*CREATE * CONNECT * COMMUNICATE *COLLABORATE * COOPERATE * LEARN * LEAD * SHARE*

Milán International School Scholars (MISS) was born out of the challenges that I and other enthusiastic scholars faced as we tried in vain to find a school that honored our children’s unique identity, global goals, herstory and abilities. The experiences that I faced learning a 3rd language, and teaching a 2nd language within a monolingual English environment were memorable, difficult, hurtful, condescending, surprising and empowering. Neither children nor adults can achieve in an unwelcoming, hostile enviornment.

While living and studying in México my first experience of an “ism” came not from native Mexicans, but rather from a few misinformed, narrow minded U.S. citizens who were aghast by the presence of Indigenous female Americans and Americans of African ancestry studying abroad.

Travel is the greatest education in the world! Consuela y Elena in Almalfi Coast, Salerno, ITALIA

REINAS (Queens) rule at Milán International Immersion School!

In addition to the usual emotions that one has trying to learn a new language and about different cultures, I was shocked to discover so many people were unaware of the scholarship and potential of women of African American, Indigenous American, Caribbean and Latin American backgrounds.

What was more disheartening was/is the fact that many teachers were/are uninformed about our children’s true ability to learn multiple languages–well and the correct pedagogy that will foster life long learning.

Unfortunately, there are people who righteously believe only a certain “phenotype” is worthy of being educated. (While teaching in a public school, an ”official” told me that I should just “dummy down” the lessons that I taught.)

Young women from all cultures and classes are too often “defined” and taught by instructors who are culturally disconnected, ill informed, and who “care not what they do–and to whom.” And truthfully, in many instances there are people who feel that girls, women and children of color don’t belong on the international stage.

“Learning another language is very important for all of us, particularly those of us who lost our language in the middle passage and in chattel slavery. Because when you lose the language you lose certain essences of the culture. So it is important to know another language. It is very possible and the best way is conversationally.” “Milán International School Scholars is Genius, Ambitious and Long Overdue!” The Honorable Dr. Adelaide Sanford, Elder, NYC Regent, Elder Scholar/Mentor

I AM “SACRED.” MY SPIRIT IS “WAKAN.”

The Honorable South African Leader Rolihlahla Dalibunga Madiba, also known as the great Nelson Mandela said “If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in HIS language, that goes to his heart.”

To this I add:

Language is our link to those present, yet unborn and those who have passed on . . .

When you teach a girl the languages of the world, the great sacred mystery of the woman she shall become will whisper the genetic code of languages known and unknown, and she’ll change the hearts of all mankind.

When you teach children, or anyone for that matter from your heart (teaching the child and not solely the curriculum), you move, I believe, beyond a holistic connectedness to an indescribable, inimitable human connection. Some people call it spiritual. I call it magical; and it may very well be holy.

I am beloved! I am beautiful! I am a builder! I am a believer!

Here at Milán International School Scholars (MISS), we want all of our scholarly girls to know that they are sincerely valued, “WAKAN” (SACRED), more than capable and worthy of being respectfully educated, becoming linguistic, global champions and educating our world.

I welcome your thoughts on multilingual literacy, cross-cultural communication and success, culturally congruent and exemplary linguistic pedagogy, socially responsive models and the importance of educating our girls in a world language immersion school.

You have my sincere best wishes for a healthy, balanced, caring, communicative, harmonious, energized, debt-free life; and the ability to celebrate all languages (including those known and unknown), and the commonality of ALL nations as one.

As the Honorable Mohandas Karamchand Ghandi said “BE the (positive) change YOU wish to see in the world.” After all, we all are “Mitakuye Oyas’in” (“related” in the language of the Lakota Sioux, 1st Americans). Respectfully, Lisa Fátimah, Teacher and Founder, Milán International School Scholars (MISS). Remember, World Language Learning should not be a ‘”foreign affair.” When we educate Every girl, we create one honorable world! (c) 2011

FREEDOM FROM THE FLAVELAS OF BRAZIL

FLOWERS AND POWER IN THE FLAVELAS (BARRIOS)

THE BENEFIT OF POWERFUL INTERNATIONAL AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS – SOLEDAD O’BRIEN – THE ASIA SOCIETY

LEARNING WORLD LANGUAGES IN AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS – DELIA POMPA

WHAT I THINK OF MYSELF DETERMINES MY DESTINY – ¡SONAR NO CUESTA NADA!- (IT COSTS NOTHING TO DREAM!)

MI QUERIDO BARRIO – MY BELOVED COMMUNITY – AFRO CARIBBEAN CULTURAL CENTER, NEW YORK CITY, MARTA MORENO VEGA, PRESIDENT/FOUNDER

WHY CHILDREN SHOULD NEVER BE USED AS INTERPRETERS