Dr. Karyn Koven- The Beauty of Learning Another Language

Shellee and Dr. Karyn Koven discuss: -Importance of high school students getting real world experience to stand out to colleges. - Student's should find ways to differentiate their interests and capitalize on them - Dr. Karyn believes people should learn as many languages as they can and her company Language Bird offers lessons that are taught by connecting students to fascinating people from around the world. Students have flexibility in their schedule and can earn high school and middle school credits from anywhere in the world. About Dr. Karyn Koven: LanguageBird was founded in 2015 by Dr. Karyn Koven under the premise of delivering top quality world language courses to high school students in preparation for college. In her experience as a high school administrator, counselor, and teacher, Dr. Koven found that options for world language were too limited and often did not go beyond two years of study. Without active conversation components, online language courses and software fail to fully supplement in person learning. Dr. Koven’s creation of LanguageBird marries the flexibility of online learning to individualized instruction, poising learners to achieve their goals with ease. After earning her undergraduate degrees in English and Journalism from the University of Wisconsin - Madison, Dr. Koven began her teaching career in Southern California. As an English teacher, she assisted students in crafting their college essays and helped them to navigate college admissions. She went on to earn her doctorate degree in Educational Leadership from UCLA to pursue a path in college admissions counseling. Prior to LanguageBird, Dr. Koven co-founded HighTech Los Angeles, a charter school designed to deliver rigorous college preparatory coursework to students. There, she developed curriculums compliant with the state of California, the University of California, and California State University to ensure all students were eligible for admittance to 4-year colleges. To equip students for life beyond the classroom, Dr. Koven partnered with dozens of local businesses and non-profits to provide HighTech students with valuable internships. Dr. Koven is an educator at heart and believes in centering curriculum around students’ needs. Her approach of project-based learning involves students more directly in their coursework, fosters creative thinking, and allows students to incorporate their interests into their learning. Dr. Koven developed LanguageBird to enrich students’ lives both in and out of the classroom and hopes students come away from their courses inspired to be lifelong learners. Koven is a member of the Female Founders Collective and the Women’s Presidents Organization. LanguageBird was named as one of fastest growing companies in the U.S. by Inc. Magazine in 2022 and #16 in Education. Dr. Koven’s method of leadership empowers her employees to recognize their strengths and encouraging growth. LanguageBird instructors continue professional growth in peer-to-peer mentorship and workshops on best teaching practices. With LanguageBird, Dr. Koven has cultivated a community of learners who are able to master speaking a new language with confidence after engaging in self-paced courses in language and cultural discovery. Instructors teaching their native language incorporate their culture into lessons, creating a more engaging experience and expanding students’ horizons. As CEO, Dr. Koven directs a team of globally minded professionals committed to delivering an exceptionally well-rounded language experience to students. Connect with Dr. Koven: Website: www.languagebird.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/LanguageBird/ LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/languagebird Instagram: www.instagram.com/languagebird/ Connect with Shellee: Website: https://collegereadyplan.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCr_WodPHDfSWEbiPdsRDbyQ Twitter: https://twitter.com/gocollegeready Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/collegereadyplan/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CollegeReadyPlan/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/college-ready/ Email: [email protected] 🎁 Episode Gift & Contact   🎓 College Planning Support for Parents Want help organizing next steps and avoiding costly college mistakes?   📘 Workbook Gift: https://go.collegereadyplan.com/podcast-gift-workbook   🤝 Interested in Collaborating with College Ready? Email Julienne at [email protected]