Thursday, September 9, 2010

What Skills Do Americans Need in the 21st Century? 'Speaking in Tongues' Tackles This Topic

Sunday afternoon, the American Cinematheque at the Aero Theatre presents a new documentary on bi-lingual education. Following the film there will be a panel discussion with the following guest speakers:




  • Lori Orum, Principal, Edison Elementary School, Santa Monica Malibu School District
  • Toby Bornstein, Executive Director, Multicultural Learning Center, Los Angeles Unified School District
  • Shelly Spiegel-Coleman, Executive Director, Californians Together
  • Marcia Jarmel & Ken Schneider, Filmmakers, Speaking in Tongues

Details:

Sunday, September 12 – 3:00 PM at the Aero Theatre

SPEAKING IN TONGUES, 2009, Patchworks Productions, 60 min. Four Kids, Four Languages, One City, One World. Marcia Jarmel and Ken Schneider's fascinating documentary follows four kids from diverse backgrounds on a bold journey to becoming bilingual despite a troubled school system. At a time when 31 states have passed "English-only" laws, a few pioneering families have put their children in public schools where, from the first day of kindergarten, their teachers speak mostly Chinese or Spanish. This charming story will challenge you to rethink the skills that Americans need in the 21st century.Winner of the Audience Award for Best Documentary at the San Francisco International Film Festival.

View a trailer on the official Speaking in Tongues website.