Native speakers take pride in teaching languages in California
Native speakers are taking pride in teaching their languages at universities in California.

Angelina Torres grew up speaking Mixteco in Mexico. She didn't think anyone wanted to learn the language in the U.S. but she now teaches at San Diego State University.

"Through the students, I've learned to value my culture, to know my identity," Torres told The Los Angeles Times.

Felipe Lopez, a speaker of Zapotec from Mexico, used to feel the same way about his language. Now he teaches it at the University of California Los Angeles and developed the first Zapotec, Spanish, English dictionary.

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Trying out indigenous languages (The Los Angeles Times 10/11)