We Teach Languages We Teach Languages Episode 154: Strengthening Asian Representation in our Language Classrooms with Kristi Lentz
Apr 8, 2024
Kristi Lentz, a seasoned K-12 Spanish and ESL teacher, discusses her transformative journey towards centering Asian voices in language education. She shares poignant moments when students expressed the need for diverse materials featuring Asian characters. Kristi highlights her participation in a CARLA workshop, her collaboration on the 'Asian Voices in SLA' website, and the necessity of authentic storytelling by community members. Her passion for intersectionality and culturally responsive pedagogy offers valuable insights for educators seeking to enrich their classrooms.
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From Inspiration To Lifelong Teaching
- Kristi Lentz describes choosing Spanish after being inspired by a peer and teaching abroad in Venezuela and Panama.
- She began teaching Spanish in U.S. schools from 2001 and later added ESL to her career.
Narrow Focus Limits Student Representation
- Kristi realized her own limited knowledge of Asian communities after focusing heavily on Latin America in her teaching.
- She noticed a need to represent Asian identities because many of her students are Asian American.
Relocating Shifted Classroom Perspective
- Moving to Berkeley exposed Kristi to classrooms where students rarely shared her demographics, prompting deeper attention to materials.
- This change made her more responsive to how students reacted to classroom content.
