The Meaning of Education Through Multiple Languages | Michelle (Hyoju) Yang | TEDxYouth@VISAnseong

In her TEDx talk, Michelle Yang, a sophomore at Valor International Scholars, highlights her multilingual journey, emphasizing the transformative power of language in connecting with diverse cultures. She shares personal experiences as a student-athlete, showcasing how language is a powerful tool beyond mere words, fostering deep connections. Michelle underlines the cognitive benefits of multilingualism and expresses her future aspirations, seeing it as a valuable asset in her dream of attending the United States Military Academy. She concludes by encouraging everyone to recognize the potential for personal development through education, contributing positively to their communities and the world. Michelle was born in the United States and acquired proficiency in English. During her elementary school years, she attended a Chinese school, where she learned Mandarin. In middle school, she delved into the study of Japanese, and during high school, she expanded her linguistic repertoire by learning Spanish. For Michelle, being multilingual signifies more than linguistic prowess alone; it represents an opportunity to immerse herself in the cultural diversity of each country. Beyond language skills, this multilingualism enables her personal development and empowers her to thrive within the global community. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx