Ep245. ft. Michelle Land - Beyond the Classroom: Why Multilingual Learners Need Teachers Who Advocate (Part 1)

Teaching multilingual learners is never just about teaching English. It is about understanding rights, trauma, identity, belonging—and knowing when a teacher must become an advocate. In Part 1 of this powerful conversation, Mike sits down with multilingual educator and educational leader Michelle Land to explore the journey from classroom teaching to advocacy and leadership. Drawing on more than two decades of experience, Michelle shares how studying and teaching across the United States, Norway, and beyond shaped her understanding of language education. She discusses the realities multilingual learners may face when entering a new country, including cultural displacement, fear, trauma, and the challenge of learning while navigating uncertainty outside school. But this conversation goes further. What does effective teacher advocacy actually look like? Michelle argues that advocacy cannot rely on outrage alone. Teachers need to understand educational law, student rights, institutional responsibilities, and the evidence behind the positions they defend. Knowledge gives educators the credibility—and confidence—to challenge decisions when necessary. The conversation also explores le...