Reviews & Press
“Thank you for making this documentary. It is a highly valued resource that has inspired…and will continue to inspire families to value learning about other cultures and even their own cultures through language.”
– Dawn Williams Ferreira, Mentor, National Urban Alliance, PhD Candidate, UC Berkeley, Education: Language Literacy Society & Culture Program
“There’s no question we need to push ahead on expanding the linguistic competencies of our populace, and this film offers vivid portraits of what this might look like.”
– Claude Goldenberg, Professor of Education, Stanford University; author of Successful School Change and Promoting Academic Achievement among English Learners
“Speaking in Tongues is a film that needed to be made. With insight and the appeal of children, you have brought alive the vast capability of kids to learn languages and the impact of doing so early and thoroughly. As English grows in use around the globe, you provide a case study in overcoming our linguistic egotism and help show multiple benefits of bilingual education.”
– Westy Egmont, National Immigrant Integration Conference
“An illuminating lens into the increasingly relevant topic of multilingualism in a globalized world.”
– NorthWest Film Forum
“A story about human aspirations and how language divides and combines…really moving. ”
– John Wranovics, Author, Agee and Chaplin
“Speaks directly to one of the important issues facing our diverse society.”
– Laurie Olsen, Executive Director, California Tomorrow
“Provide[s] valuable insight into the issues and challenges that schools across America are facing.”
– Brett Lovejoy, Executive Director, American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages
“Moving, informative and fascinating to watch.”
– Jennifer Austin, Ph.D., Department of Classical and Modern Languages, Rutgers University
“This is an education, opportunity, and human development issue–but it’s also a diplomatic and national security issue.”
– Heidi Swarts, Ph.D., Department of Political Science, Rutgers University
“Offers a powerful vision of what bilingualism looks like.”
– Francisca Sanchez, Associate Superintendent, San Francisco Public Schools
Speaking in Tongues in the News
09.1.2011: Speaking Tongues a Hit (Yu Ming Charter School Blog)
—.—.—: “Old School Review: Speaking in Tongues” (Old School Review: John Nesbit)
12.15.10: “DVD Review: Speaking in Tongues” (Hyphen: Asian America Unabridged)
04.19.10: “Speaking in Tongues: A Must-See Documentary Film” (Spanglish Baby, a blog on raising bilingual kids)
04.15.10: “Documentary Screening Sparks Dialogue on Bilingual Education” (Foghorn Online article about San Francisco screening and discussion)
03.08.10: “Three Docs and Life Off Screen” (review in CineSource Magazine)
02.19.10: “Multilingualism – a 21st-Century Skill” (Marcia’s blog post on YourSFPublicSchools)
11.23.09: “Speaking in Tongues and My Beijing Birthday” (review in Asia Pacific Arts)
09.16.09: “Forum Highlights Early Language Education” (coverage of Seattle screening by KPLU, Seattle’s local NPR station)
04.25.09: “Marcia Jarmel & Ken Schneider follow SF immersion students” (SF 360)
04.22.09: “Mission Featured in SF Film Festival” (Mission Local article about SF Film Festival screening, featuring filmmaker interview)
04.21.09: “Documentary takes in-depth look at bilingual education” (San Francisco Examiner)
04.19.09: “‘Speaking in Tongues’ Documentary” (SF Gate)
04.2009: “Speaking in Tongues/A Day Late In Oakland” (SF Appeal Online Newspaper screening announcement)
03.06.09: “San Francisco Lines up 11 for Doc Competition” (IndieWire)
01.13.09: “Tongues’ Cracks the Language Barrier” (SF 360)
