ArticlesMarch 2024

Ñ! Magazine – CLASS MAGS for Language Learners

By Daniel Verdugo, Ann Arbor Public Schools

Daniel Verdugo

DOI: https://www.doi.org/10.69732/OBCG2451

Ñ! magazine is an educational project of Huron High School, in Ann Arbor Public Schools, Michigan. This bilingual print publication is designed to meet the Standards of Foreign Languages in the 21st century, and it develops its 5 goal areas, the so-called Five C’s: Communication, Cultures, Connections, Comparisons, and Communities.

Picture 1 - Ñ! magazine publishes two new editions per year. A hashtag marks the theme of each edition: Ñ! #WAR / Ñ! #LEGADO - one issue has a heart made of photos saying "you matter"; a second issue has pictures of hands that say "from hate to love"
Picture 1 – Ñ! magazine publishes two new editions per year. A hashtag marks the theme of each edition: Ñ! #WAR / Ñ! #LEGADO

This project-based approach to the second language classroom focuses on providing real communicative exchanges and engaging students with real audiences in the target language. Students are invited to participate in the project as writers and content creators. As a publishing project, it offers students multiple opportunities to collaborate and use the target language for meaningful tasks.

Picture 2 - Alma is an Alebrije designed by Lily Papp for Ñ! #PLUS·ULTRA - has a colorful creature and a picture of the issue. it says "Students benefit when linguistic and non-linguistic activities are incorporated in the WL classroom.
Picture 2 – Alma is an Alebrije designed by Lily Papp for Ñ! #PLUS·ULTRA

Magazines in the WL Classroom

Classroom magazines can be effective media projects to engage students in learning. Traditional magazines for the WL classroom (e.g., Scholastic magazines) tend to be subscription-only publications (about $8/student), and are often designed in the static, non-interactive format of textbooks. While these publications can be helpful, they overlook the role of teachers as curriculum developers, and they fail as media outlets for students’ creativity and self-expression.

Publishing your own classroom magazines also offers great opportunities to develop cultural competency. With each edition, teachers have new opportunities to present cultural topics and current events. Publishing students’ work can be a way to invite students to make connections and recognize different viewpoints and perspectives.

Picture 3 - ”Things we inherit - Cosas que heredamos” is a collage by Lynne Trang for Ñ!#STANDUP4HUMANRIGHTS - the collage has various pictures and words, including of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton as the face ont he statue of liberty. it says "Our fundamental rights are not up for debate". Then there's a picture of the issue and the words: "The opportunity to share and distribute their work motivates students, validates their effort, and improves engagement."
Picture 3 – ”Things we inherit – Cosas que heredamos” is a collage by Lynne Trang for Ñ!#STANDUP4HUMANRIGHTS

One of the main innovations of Ñ! magazine has been expanding students’ use of Spanish beyond the classroom setting and into their communities. Ñ! is the only bilingual publication in Ann Arbor and it is printed and distributed freely to promote multilingualism and civic engagement.

Picture 4 - Ñ! #ONE·LOVE was recognized with the 2023 ACTFL/LCF Award for Excellence in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Classroom - On the cover - OneLove is an anti-discrimination, anti-racism, LGBTQ+ rights and human rights campaign, started in 2020 by the Dutch Football Association, that invites football players to wear the rainbow-colored OneLove logo to promote diversity and inclusion. Germany, England and other European nations had planned to wear the armband during the 2022 FIFA World Cup. However, with same-sex relationships criminalised in Qatar, FIFA opposed the campaign, and threatened to impose sanctions to players displaying the armbands during the championship. Then it has a picture of the issue, and ACTFL's logo - 2023 ACTFL award for excellence in diversity, equity, and inclusion in the classroom. Next to this, words say: "Media projects in the classroom allow teachers to develop their curriculum and provide real opportunities for students to reflect and create content purposefully.
Picture 4Ñ! #ONE·LOVE was recognized with the 2023 ACTFL/LCF Award for Excellence in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Classroom

CREATE · CURATE · CONNECT

Based on my experience with Ñ! magazine, I launched myclassmag.com, an open educational initiative to advance multilingualism and literacy.

My Class Mag uses Creative Commons licenses, so launching your own classroom magazine is simple. Open our magazine template and make a copy of the slide deck. You are free to remix it, adapt it, and distribute it. My Class Mag promotes the publication of media projects in the WL classroom to develop proficiency, digital skills, and critical thinking.

Picture 5 - My Class Mag is an open educational initiative that uses a CC BY license. CREATE your own Slide Deck, CURATE your content, and CONNECT with your students! - What are Open Educational Resources: Open Educational Resources (OER) are teaching and learning materials that you may freely use and reuse, without charge. That means they have been authored or created by an individual or organiation that chooses to retain rew, if any, ownership rights. This magazine is an OER! CC BY
Picture 5 – My Class Mag is an open educational initiative that uses a CC BY license. CREATE your own Slide Deck, CURATE your content, and CONNECT with your students!

It is important that we, as educators, facilitate opportunities to engage language learners in the creation and curation of new knowledge. We also need to go beyond traditional views of curricula to enable students to participate in real spaces of dialogue that favor reflective attitudes and promote civic values. Media projects in the classroom can motivate students to reflect and write about some of the most important issues of their time.

Picture 6 - My Class Mag publishes open magazines for language learners and facilitates professional development opportunities for language teachers interested in publishing their own projects. - has a screenshot of myclassmag.com - publishing and license information - my class mag OER template by my class mag, LLC is licensed under CC BY 4.0 - BY - Credit must be given to creator, then has pictures of several issues, and info@myclassmag
Picture 6 – My Class Mag publishes open magazines for language learners and facilitates professional development opportunities for language teachers interested in publishing their own projects

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