Public Profile for AndrewB

2026846627

www.TheGLN.org
http://thegln.org/GLN_National/

In today’s global society, the ability to communicate effectively and appropriately in more than one language is critical for numerous reasons, including educational and economic competitiveness, national security, professional and community development, environmental protection, diplomacy, and personal growth. At GLN, we connect people by providing language and cultural learning opportunities within their communities. We strive to offer a comfortable, enjoyable, and interactive environment where students can acquire the knowledge and skills needed to communicate and collaborate effectively around the globe.

1 (received 501c3 in 8/2008)

Connect people by providing language and culture learning opportunities in their community. Training individuals to teach 50+ languages.

--------History-------- When Andrew Brown was first exposed to a foreign culture, while studying abroad for a year in France, he discovered that he was passionate about the need to use language to connect and effectively communicate with people from other cultures. Teaching in dozens of environments around the world led Andrew to found Global Languages as a student organization at the George Washington University (GW) in 2005, with the goal of engaging communities and sharing his passion with others. What began as teaching seven languages to a handful of students has become the largest and most active student organization on campus, engaging over 300 volunteers to offer classes in more than fifty languages to the greater Washington, DC community. -------Vision---------- The success of this student organization led Andrew to establish the Global Language Network (GLN), a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization, to promote the use of language to create bridges that connect diverse individuals across cultures. In September 2008, GLN set a goal to establish 10 GLN chapters in the USA within a year. After just 4 months, we developed 6 GLN Chapters (branches) and are continuing to expand the delivery of our services throughout communities nationwide. GLN aims to serve as the passport that brings people together to build, serve, and positively impact communities throughout the United States and the world. Our vision sets a course for creating a demand for our services and articulates our view of the desired future state of our organization.

We had a student, Lynn, who wanted to take Spanish with us. She called me to complain about class being full. I said, "So take something random, like Bosnian." "But why?' she said, 'What am I going to do with Bosnian?" I replied, It's free. You've got nothing to lose." She ended up taking the Bosnian class. She loved it so much she ended up taking a second semester of Bosnian. The class was really enjoyable, they were learning so much, they went out to eat in a Bosnian restaurant, they learned a song to sing for the Ambassador at the Bosnian Embassy for the national holiday; all in all it was a great experience for Lynn and the rest of the class--for the teacher as well. She ended up accepting a position at University of Sarajevo in Bosnia, taking a lead role in their International Affairs Department.

By some stroke of luck we won the "Power in Numbers" $10,000 grant from Pepsi/Mt. Dew for 'energizing the community'. ---- We were lucky enough to win an award and grant from the DC Humanities Council which is allowing us to set-up our language classes throughout the DC library system.

I grew up in a mountain town in Colorado with no interest in or exposure to foreign languages or cultures. When I was 17, I discovered that less than 5% of the world is born into a family that speaks English. Meanwhile, my parents could only speak English. I was intrigued. If I wanted to communicate with 95% of the world in their native tongue, I had to learn another language. So I went abroad to France spending a year learning French and living with a host family in a village of 1,000 people. It was there that I first felt the transformative power of language. I learned that people – with very little in common – can be brought together through the sharing of language. My passion is driven by the proof that language connects individuals, builds rapport, and creates community. ----------------- I bring an unceasing drive and determination to this effort. I have directly taught languages to over 400 students as well as trained an additional 350 foreign language teachers. While I now speak 22 languages, I was raised speaking only English. Learning 20 languages within the past 7 years is proof that anyone can learn a language and put it to use. Additionally, I have taught 7 languages, in 5 countries, in college, high school, middle school and language institute environments to all ages. Using these skills, I helped develop a curriculum that has been used to successfully teach language skills to more than 2500 students while constantly assessing and re-evaluating my methods.

A pin from the Utah olympics that says "I speak Turkish" in Turkish.

How about mini-retirements? Take a couple months off to reflect after killing myself for 10 straight months of solid work. Next mini-retirement: Serbia.

Using a foreign language

Foreign languages, foreign cultures, traveling, vagabonding, connecting with people, painting, cooking, dancing, having fun!

Finding Funding, Less than 5% of the world population is born speaking English, and yet only 9% of Americans can speak their native language plus another language fluently. Compare this to 53% of Europeans who speak their language plus another fluently. If Americans want to communicate, cooperate, compete, and connect with over 95% of the world, they will have to develop foreign language skills.

Connect people by providing language and culture learning opportunities in their community.