In this episode of Highest Aspirations, we speak with Dr. Margo Gottlieb and Dr. Gisela Ernst-Slavit about the powerful concept at the heart of their new book, Academic Languaging. They challenge the traditional view of academic language as a fixed code to be mastered, redefining it as an active, student-driven process that empowers multilingual learners. The conversation dives deep into the crucial role of student agency, exploring how authentic voice and choice can transform the classroom. 

Listen to the full episode here, and find resources referenced in the conversation below.

Key questions we address:

1. What is "academic languaging," and how does it fundamentally shift the traditional view of academic language?
2. Why is student agency essential for developing academic languaging?
3. What are practical classroom strategies teachers can use to foster student agency?

For additional episode and community resources:

• Download the transcript here.
• Order Dr. Gottleib and Dr.Ernst-Slavit book Academic Languaging
• Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The Community Brief
• For additional free resources geared toward supporting English learners, ⁠visit our blog.

Margo Gottlieb, Ph.D., has been a bilingual teacher, coordinator, facilitator, consultant, and mentor across K-20 settings. Having worked with universities, organizations, governments, states, school districts, networks, and schools, Margo has co-constructed linguistic and culturally sustainable curriculum and reconceptualized classroom assessment, policy, and practice. As co-founder and lead developer of WIDA at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2003, Margo has helped design and contributed to all the editions of WIDA’s English and Spanish language development standards frameworks and their derivative products. She has been appointed to national and state advisory boards, served as a Fulbright Senior Scholar, and was honored by the TESOL International Association in 2016 for her significant contribution to the field. In 2025, Margo was inducted into the Multilingual Education Hall of Fame. 

Gisela Ernst-Slavit (PhD, University of Florida) is a Professor Emerita at Washington State University, where she maintains an active research program focused on academic languaging and the education of multilingual students. A native of Peru, Gisela grew up speaking Spanish, German, and English. She is the author, co-author, or co-editor of 13 books and over 100 articles and chapters. She has been a visiting professor at the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid and has also served as President of the Washington Association for English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL affiliate) and held leadership roles in several professional organizations, including the American Educational Research Association, the Council on Anthropology and Education, and TESOL International Association.