Sponsors

University of Hawai'i National Foreign Language Resource Center (NFLRC) Michigan State University Center for Language Education and Research (CLEAR)

Co-Sponsor

Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL)

The Center for Applied Linguistics is a private, nonprofit organization that promotes and improves the teaching and learning of languages, identifies and solves problems related to language and culture, and serves as a resource for information about language and culture. CAL carries out a wide range of activities in the fields of English as a second language, foreign languages, cultural education, and linguistics. These activities include research, teacher education, information dissemination, instructional design, conference planning, technical assistance, program evaluation, and policy analysis. Publications include books on language education, online databases of language programs and assessments, curricula, research reports, teacher training materials, and print and online newsletters.

Major CAL projects include the following:

* The Center for Adult English Language Acquisition

* The Cultural Orientation Resource Center

* Pre-K-12 School Services

CAL collaborates with other language education organizations on the following projects:

* Improving Foreign Languages in the Schools Project of the Northeast and Island Regional Laboratory at Brown University

* The National Capital Language Resource Center

* National K-12 Foreign Language Resource Center

* National Network for Early Language Learning

News from CAL

The Center for Adult English Language Acquisition (CAELA) was established in October 2004 with funding from the Office of Vocational and Adult Education (OVAE), U.S. Department of Education. The primary mission of CAELA is to assist states that have emerging ESL populations. CAELA staff will help states build their capacity to promote the English language learning and academic acievement of adults learning English. Resources available on its Web site include the Practitioner Toolkit: Working with Adult English Language Learners developed with the National Center for Family Literacy. It provides needed support and resources to adult education and family literacy instructors who are new to serving adults and families learning English. Also available are a new series of briefs, beginning with one on reading, and a newsletter, CAELA Currents, which includes information on how to subscribe.

The Cultural Orientation Resource (COR) Center continues to provide materials that inform refugee service providers about refugee cultures and help newcomers understand fundamental aspects of life in the U.S. Culture Profiles provide short introductions to the cultural background of refugee populations. The latest Culture Profiles include Liberians, The Hmong, and Muslim Refugees. Also, a new edition of Welcome to the United States: A Guidebook for Refugees is now available as well as the Welcome to the United States: Refugee Guide to Resettlement Orientation Video, which reinforces key points from the guidebook.

CAL is pleased to support 2005: The Year of Languages in the United States. We will provide updates on our Web site with helpful information and news about activities throughout the year. Please visit www.cal.org/yol for more information.

New Publications From CAL

* Literacy and Language Diversity in the United States, 2nd Edition

* Creating Access: Language and Academic Programs for Secondary School Newcomers

* Language by Video: An Overview of Foreign Language Instructional Videos for Children

* What's Different About Teaching Reading to Students Learning English?