Tertulias at UCI: Fostering Bilingualism and Linguistic Equity

By Reinaldo Cabrera Pérez and Jasmin Hernandez Santacruz
​March 28, 2025

Language is more than a tool for communication—it is a fundamental part of identity, culture, and community. For bilingual and multilingual individuals, maintaining one’s home language alongside English offers cognitive and social advantages and is a critical aspect of fostering inclusivity in education. Supported by an IDEA (Inclusion, Equity, Diversity & Advancement) Spaces: Learning to Action Groups grant from the School of Education and co-created by Reinaldo Cabrera Pérez and Jasmin Hernandez Santacruz, the TERTULIAS initiative - short for Transforming Education through Reflections, Teaching, and Unique Language Integration in Authentic Settings - has been a year-long effort to foster dialogue around multilingualism, linguistic diversity, and equitable educational practices.
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A tertulia is a gathering where people come together to exchange ideas, much like a literary or philosophical salon. Inspired by the CHARLAS framework developed by alumna Dr. Cecilia Perez, our TERTULIAS creates space for students, faculty, academics, and staff to explore how language intersects with identity, power, and educational opportunity. Each tertulia invites participants to reflect on topics like language ideologies in higher education, language as a marker of identity, and how language policies impact access to learning. While bilingualism is widely praised in research for its academic and cognitive benefits, many multilingual individuals in higher education still face marginalization—from restrictive language policies to deficit views of non-standard language varieties and an implicit bias toward monolingual norms. 

Reinaldo Cabrera Pérez (right) and Jasmin Hernandez Santacruz, co-creators of the UCI TERTULIAS

At each gathering, participants challenge these assumptions by sharing personal stories, learning from one another, and uplifting inclusive practices already in place across campus. As attendee Catherine Maximous, fourth-year Psychology and Education Science major, shared: “TERTULIAS has given me the space to freely speak about the implications of being an Arabic-English bilingual in today's society, as well as connect with a community that not only values diverse bilingual experiences but also shapes our presence in educational, professional, and social spaces.”

Through TERTULIAS, the School of Education is building a community where linguistic diversity is seen not as a barrier but as a strength. By supporting bilingual education and inclusive language practices, we move closer to a more equitable, representative, and human-centered learning environment.

Join us at our next TERTULIA and be part of the conversation.