Get to know Liz Murphy: Expanding UW–Madison language learning for adults

Liz Murphy leads a course on food insecurity, one example of the community-centered work that shaped her path to language program development.

Last fall, we were excited to welcome Liz Murphy to the Division of Continuing Studies as our new program developer for Continuing Education Language learning. She now oversees our diverse portfolio of online and in-person language courses, programs designed to spark curiosity and support adult learners pursuing personal and professional growth.

Liz brings a strong background in program development, adult education and community engagement, along with a proven ability to create innovative and inclusive learning opportunities. She’s fluent in French and proficient in Spanish and Mandarin Chinese, and she has taught language learners from more than 50 countries. Below, she shares more about her path into language education, why adult learners connect so deeply with our programs and what her team is excited to build next.

Tell us a bit about how your education and professional experience help inform your work as the Languages program developer.

Language learning has always been a huge part of my life; I love traveling, and after spending a semester in France at the age of 15, I knew that I wanted to work in a field that allowed me to facilitate connections through language and cross-cultural communication. That passion led me to pursue a degree in international relations with a focus on modern languages, and I spent additional time living in Morocco and India.

Multiculturalism closer to home became a theme of my professional life; I worked at an adult literacy center, managing programs and teaching English and digital literacy skills to immigrants and refugees. I continued my work with diverse populations during my time at the UW–Madison Division of Extension, where I collaborated with nonprofits and community organizations to facilitate access to nutrition education for populations with limited income. 

My current role with Continuing Education is a dream come true, and I’m so excited to continue to carry out the Wisconsin Idea by sharing language learning with students across Madison, Wisconsin, and wherever language learners live.

What do you want others to know about the reasons learners take continuing education language classes and how our courses cater to their needs?

One of my favorite things about working with adult learners is having the privilege of hearing their stories. We have learners who have been taking courses with us for decades, and so many of them have reached out to welcome me and share why the program is important to them. 

The stories are as varied as the students who take our classes. We have high school seniors who want to learn a language not offered by their school, people reconnecting with their heritage, retirees studying languages to be better volunteers and everyone in between. The flexibility and rigor of our classes means that even students who come to our courses with very different goals are able to connect, laugh and learn together as they gain skills in a new language.

What are some of the outcomes of learning a language on our learners, their families and their communities?

Studies show that learning a new language does amazing things to your brain — everything from increasing neuroplasticity to slowing cognitive aging — so it’s no surprise that our learners benefit immensely from taking our classes. Our students consistently tell us about traveling and using their newfound language skills; enjoying media in other languages; becoming better employees, neighbors and friends; and learning about parts of their own communities that they’d never interacted with before.

As an alumna of our Spanish program, I experienced firsthand how language learning can make a tangible difference. While on vacation in Chile last spring, I happened to be present during a medical crisis and was able to act as an interpreter for the patient and his family to stabilize his condition and facilitate an evacuation.

Our classes also become community spaces for our learners. Language learning can be a vulnerable experience, especially for adults, and our world-class instructors foster connection and facilitate learning by building warm, inclusive and fun spaces where learners can make mistakes and grow in their abilities.

What’s been exciting to you in this new role, and what can we expect to see from the Languages program in the future? 

I’m excited to be part of such an innovative, learner-first team. We’re working hard to expand and refine our course offerings. Our team is developing exciting new ways for you to learn, including a full redevelopment of our French 1 and Spanish 5 courses as well as the introduction of additional book clubs and flexible, asynchronous courses. I’d love to hear from our learners and community members about their language needs and interests.

What do you like to do when you’re not working (or brushing up on your language skills)? 

I’m a theater and live music enthusiast with an ambitious goal of seeing a live performance of every Shakespeare play. (I’ve already made it to 30 of 37!) When I’m not at a show, I enjoy knitting, reading, baking and most recently, experimenting with micro-embroidery.