He encourages learners to speak, read, and write in their first language in order to build their skills as a resource for learning additional languages. As a Language Representative, James profiles heritage language programs in his community and seeks opportunities to tell others about the mission and work of the Alliance. James studied Spanish and International Studies as an undergraduate at Virginia Tech and then earned a master's degree in Education: Curriculum and Instruction for Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) and Spanish. His research interests include assessment, English language learner literacy, and academic achievement. In 2011, he was an intern at CAL. He continues to teach and take graduate level courses while advocating for multilingual literacy. Contact James Elwell.