Why Multilingual MattersCenter for International and Cultural Education

Gusties come from all different linguistic and cultural backgrounds. Many students are "multilingual," which means they grew up speaking a language other than or in addition to English. There are over 20 languages spoken by students at Gustavus, among both international and domestic students, including Spanish, Hmong, Amharic, Twi, French, and American Sign Language, just to name a few!

Being multilingual comes with many benefits, including cognitive advantages and strong intercultural skills. Multilingual identity can also be a challenge, though, on a predominantly monolingual campus, and if English isn't your dominant language. This is why we have specific resources and information for multilingual students.

We want to help you make the most of your multilingual background. See the menu to the left for more information about and resources.