Anneke Vanmarcke Forzani, President & Founder-Language Lizard, LLC

How do you inspire children to learn about other languages and cultures and to respect diversity early in their lives? And how do you HAVE FUN doing it?

These are the questions that drove Anneke Forzani to establish Language Lizard, LLC.

Anneke has been a language enthusiast since birth. And it had nothing to do with the research documenting the many cognitive, academic and social benefits of early language learning. Rather, It was the result of chatting with her Belgian grandma while feeding the chickens; munching on sushi and edamame with her Japanese colleagues; and searching out the best chocolate croissants in Paris with her French amis.

When Anneke became a mother, she wanted her sons to experience the same joys and benefits of early language learning. She also felt it was her responsibility to teach them to respect, play and work with people of all cultures and communities.

…And the real experiment began!
…And they had fun in the process!

How? In part, by reading entertaining stories in other languages that the kids wanted to hear over and over. By listening to great multilingual music. And by sharing (age-appropriate) books which include illustrations of various ethnicities and characters dealing with issues of diversity.

After researching available materials, Anneke decided to make the most creative, effective and fun language products readily available to other parents and teachers. Products that expose children not only to other languages, but also to other cultures and traditions.

… And so, in 2005, Anneke created Language Lizard.

Some more details about Anneke’s life prior to establishing Language Lizard…

A first generation American with Belgian parents, Anneke worked in Japan and the US in consulting, ethnic marketing and international business development positions. She has an undergraduate degree from Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School of Public & International Affairs and an MBA-MA in International Business from the Wharton School and the Joseph H. Lauder Institute of International Studies at the University of Pennsylvania.

Anneke has studied children's writing and graphic arts and has experience teaching English to non-native speakers. She is a member of the National Network for Early Language Learning and the Society of Children's Book Writer's and Illustrators. She has written articles related to early language and culture learning and is a frequent contributor to Multilingual Living Magazine.

Carol Holland, Newsletter Editor
Carol Holland is an educator and a mother. Originally from Canada, she has a BFA and MA in theatre and a BEd. Carol taught English, Theatre and Social Studies at the Middle School and High School levels as well as Theatre at the University of British Columbia before becoming a stay-at-home mom. Carol speaks English and French, and has also studied German, Japanese and Sign Language. She also edits the New Jersey Astronomical Association's monthly newsletter. She is enthuisastically introducing French to her two children, ages 4 and 1 1/2.

Terri Sherman, Customer Relations Manager

Tze-Mai (Mai Mai) Wong, Cultural Marketing Manager
Mai Mai has a background in sales and marketing for a global chemical company. She speaks Cantonese and some French. A first generation Chinese-American, she keeps her children learning about their cultural heritage through travel, summer camp, and classes. The whole family enjoys learning about other cultures through food: expanding their palates at restaurants of different ethnicities and trying to cook some at home. Mai Mai has a B.S. from Rensselaer and an MBA from the University of New Haven.

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