Words aren’t just words.
When language is in focus, authentic and sustainable opportunities emerge. Students thrive, persist, and succeed. Faculty and staff lead with confidence, collaborate more effectively, and gain the insights that elevate their teaching, research, and leadership.
Language is everywhere — in how we design programs for multilingual learners, how we use AI in education, how we write policies, build curricula, support student retention, and communicate across cultures.
Language is more than grammar. It is the building block of trust, the keystone of belonging, and the connective tissue that enables educators and institutions to resonate with the communities they serve. Through language development consultation, English training, and professional development for educators in higher education, I help unlock the strategic potential of language to create lasting success.
Focus on Language Opportunity Connection Teaching Learning Equity Engagement Retention
What I Offer
At Focus on Language, I design language-focused professional development workshops and training, custom curricula, and self-paced courses for students educators in higher education. My services include:
English training for researchers and international scholars: academic English for writing, publishing, presenting, and professional growth.
Professional training for educators in multilingual universities and contexts: workshops on inclusive language, strategies to engage and retain students, and high-demand upskill training for international and educator training programs.
Language teacher training: research-based strategies for AI-inclusive instruction, program evaluation, and language acquisition effectiveness.
AI for education: tested practical guidance on integrating AI in research, language teaching, and writing ethically, without diluting expertise or sacrificing academic integrity and agency.
Client Reviews
Who I work with
I partner with educators, researchers, and institutions in multilingual and global higher education contexts. This includes:
My self-paced courses are tested first with my university partners and designed for individuals across the learner and career trajectory. From graduate students to junior and seasoned scholars, these courses provide digestible applications of the most in-demand insights and skills for research, language learning, and education - always with a focus on language.
Educators and leaders who want to strengthen inclusive practices in multilingual schools and higher education.
International scholars and researchers who need tailored English training for research, publishing, and professional communication.
Language teachers seeking professional development, training, and tools to enhance classroom practice and student outcomes.
Program and institution directors developing original or updated curricula that prepare global educators to strengthen language skills for teaching, research, and academic success.
Why language matters
Language is in everything we do: every interaction, every piece of communication, every policy, every classroom moment. It shapes belonging, trust, and success.
Through the curricula I design and trainings I lead, I help educators and scholars:
Build confidence in academic English for teaching, research, publication, and collaboration.
Leverage the use of AI strategically, ethically, and meaningfully to increase impact in scholarship and effectiveness in the classroom.
Use AI to support language learning for professional and personal goals.
Identify language ideologies and recognize their influence on belonging and performance outcomes.
Create inclusive language curricula, advising practices, and communication strategies.
Leverage multilingualism as an asset for professional and institutional growth.
When language is in focus, students thrive, faculty lead more effectively, and institutions grow stronger.
Let’s put language into focus.
English Development for Growth in Academic Careers
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English Language Development for Educators
Develop English language skills tailored to professional goals in research, leadership, and teaching. Designed for educators navigating diverse academic and international settings.
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English for Professional Networking
Learn to communicate your research, build collaborations, and strengthen your professional identity in English. Designed for global educators expanding their networks.
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Research Roadmaps & Publication Strategies
Gain tools for designing research trajectories, strengthening academic writing, and making progress toward publication and career milestones. Access individualized language development consultation to design strategic language learning that aligns with research and teaching goals
AI for Educators: Tools & Strategies
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AI Tools in Education & Research
Explore how educators are using AI tools for teaching, learning, and research. Participants learn to evaluate tools, use them ethically, and apply them strategically for impactful work in education.
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Using AI for Research & Writing in English
Learn how to use AI strategically and ethically to facilitate research and research writing. Gain insights and strategies that are anchored in ethical and productive considerations to support research and writing processes for career works.
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Popular AI tools used by Educators
Discover the AI tools most educators are using today to support teaching and learning, from K-12 to higher education. Explore practical applications, ethical considerations, and creative resources.
Language Matters
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Rethinking Our Beliefs About Belonging and Language
Discover how language, identity, and multilingualism shape belonging in education. Build more inclusive and reciprocal learning communities.
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Disrupting English Only Thinking
Challenge English-only assumptions in higher education. Learn strategies to foster belonging and academic success for diverse learners.
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Recognizing and Redirecting Exclusionary Language in Student Support
Identify and transform exclusionary communication practices in student support. Learn inclusive, strengths-based strategies to improve engagement and success.
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Words aren't just words: Language Awareness, Attitudes, and Ideologies
Explore how language beliefs shape communication and student success in academia. Learn practical tools to engage more effectively with diverse linguistic backgrounds.
My name is Marinka Swift, PhD in Linguistics, and I’m a passionate about the ways that language impacts the academic experiences, opportunities, and climate for educators and learners. With over 15 years of experience in higher education and multilingual contexts, I help educators, researchers, and institutions strengthen language teaching, academic English, and professional development through tailored workshops, curricula, and training programs.
As a trained researcher and language educator, I’ve designed and led programs that improve student retention, engagement, and belonging, while supporting faculty and staff in developing the skills and strategies needed to thrive in multilingual and global academic environments. I work closely with teams to design professional development workshops, English language training, and curricula that integrate practical language growth with research, teaching, and leadership goals.
Every institution, department, and team has unique objectives, learners, and challenges. I bring a strategic and flexible approach that blends evidence-based best practices with custom solutions, ensuring programs and trainings are relevant, impactful, and aligned with institutional goals.
If you’re looking to create meaningful change — in your teaching, in the professional growth of your staff, and in the experiences and outcomes of your students — we’ll work great together.
Why choose Focus on Language?
At Focus on Language, I help educators, researchers, and institutions put language at the center of meaningful impact. Working with me means more than improving English proficiency — it’s about strengthening teaching, learning, communication, and institutional outcomes in multilingual and global academic contexts.
Institutions and educators benefit from:
Tailored workshops and professional training designed to meet the specific needs of your teams, departments, and learners.
Curricula and program design that integrate practical language development anchored by research, teaching, and leadership goals.
Evidence-based strategies for student retention, engagement, and success, ensuring programs and initiatives resonate with diverse learners.
Practical, actionable insights that improve faculty effectiveness, cross-cultural communication, and institutional impact.
Every program, workshop, or consultation is grounded in 15+ years of experience in education, research, curriculum design, and professional development. I combine deep expertise with a flexible, collaborative approach, ensuring that strategies are not only effective but sustainable — helping institutions thrive and educators and scholars excel.
With Focus on Language, your teams and cohorts gain tools, strategies, and confidence to create inclusive, high-impact learning environments and professional communities — building trust, strengthening relationships, and unlocking opportunities for long-term success.
The Focus on Language Mission
The mission at Focus on Language is to bring language into focus at every stage of education — from curriculum design and research writing to policy development and professional training. Language is more than words and grammar. It is the building block of trust, the keystone of belonging, and the connective tissue that enables educators, staff, and institutions to be more impactful both in and out of the classroom.
At Focus on Language, I help educators and scholars unlock opportunities that are authentic, sustainable, and transformative — in the classroom, in research, and across academic communities worldwide.