U-High’s diverse portfolio of languages shared by students and faculty brings much to celebrate within our school. Many U-High students and teachers balance multiple languages, often switching between them in daily conversations, which enriches their educational experience and fosters a more inclusive environment.
For students like Andrea Moto Rios (9), who grew up in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, Spanish is her first language. Moto Rios began learning English four years ago out of necessity before moving to the U.S. Though fluent in both languages, she frequently switches between the two. “Words get mixed up, and I use Spanish while talking to English speakers or English with Spanish speakers,” she explained.
Similarly, U-High Spanish teacher Angelica Delatorre-Im, who grew up with Mexican immigrant parents in Summit, Illinois, recalls learning English in kindergarten as a way to communicate with teachers and peers. “It was more about interacting with the world around me,” she said, noting that bilingualism has provided her with “a world of opportunities.” Code-switching between Spanish and English has become second nature to her as well.
Orion Nowland (12) grew up in a bilingual household with her mother speaking Mandarin and father speaking English and Taiwanese. She enjoys the benefits of knowing multiple languages, but there are times of frustration. “The hardest part is when I can’t find the right word in the language I need,” Nowland shared. Despite these challenges, Nowland values the cultural connections of being bilingual, also noting that U-High’s Mandarin classes have further enhanced her skills.
Rayhona Parmonova (12), who speaks Tajik as her first language, enjoys the ability to communicate across cultures. “I love being able to communicate with different people,” Parmonova said, adding that she frequently code-switches when speaking with others who share her language. She appreciates U-High’s language diversity, feeling comfortable and confident sharing her culture with others.
