According to a January 11, 2012, article in "Education Week," the omnibus federal spending bill for fiscal 2012 eliminated $27 million for the Foreign Language Assistance Program, in operation for the past twenty years. Some foreign language programs that received multi-year funding will even lose 2012 funds previously approved.

Washington Learning Systems is making available, at no cost, activities to support the literacy of young children (0-5) in English, Spanish, Vienamese, Mandarin, Somali, Burmese, and Russian. Each activity includes a desription and hints for making the activity fun and developmentally appropriate. An activity checklist helps family members, caregivers and teachers observe skill development. Read on to access these free and reproducible materials.

LOS DESAPARECIDOS: A forum in panel format will be held at the NATIONAL MUSEUM OF MEXICAN ART, 1852 West 19th Street, Chicago, on Saturday, December 3, 2011, 12:30 to 3 p.m. This event is free and open to the public.

WHAT IS IT ABOUT? Hear five human rights advocates bear witness to the time when paramilitary groups in Latin America carried out brutal raids on tens of thousands of children, peasants, workers and students who vanished and were never heard from again.

Approximately 20% of the U.S. population speaks a language other than English. Some see linguistic diversity as a problem. Dr. Kim Potowski will make the presentation, WHEN "FOREIGN" LANGUAGES AREN'T FOREIGN: HERITAGE SPEAKERS IN THE UNITED STATES. Dr. Potowski, Associate Professor of Hispanic Linguistics at UIC, is the editor of the book, lANGUAGE DIVERSITY IN THE USA. She discusses the myths regarding language uses which are fairly prevalent in the U.S.even today.

During a recent Republian Presidential debate, candidate Rick Perry announced that, in Texas, students who were brought into the United States illegally by their parents when they were children are entitled under Texas law to pay the same in-state tuition rates as other students. What Perry actually said was, "If you say that we should not educate children who come into our state for no other reason than that they've been brought there through no fault of their own, I don't think you have a heart" (CNN website).However, for whatever reasons, Texas Governor Rick Perry does not support the Federal Dream Act, which would make the right to an education for these undocumented children, a law across the United States.
The state of Illinois recently passed its own version of the Dream Act, which Governor Quinn signed on August 1, 2011.This new Illinois law allows immigrant students, both legal and undocumented, to have access to scholarship funds to use for college.

Language occupies a central position in life. It is the most important medium of thought and the key component of culture. It is the window into the culture of any given group. It is also an individual's identity card. People are judged by how they speak.
- Dr. Lev Soudek, Northern Illinois University
Midwest Conference, November, 1976

What value do YOU place on language? Leave your thoughts at the Forum.

Are you ready to reflect on specific social, cultural, economic, political and ongoing educational administration and leaderships issues of today's education? Then prepare to attend a free and open forum especially designed for school leaders, teachers, LEAD alumni, ELAD graduate stuents and community leaders.
Where? Northeastern Illinois University, main campus
When? Monday, June 27, 2011, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Cost? Donation: a K-12 bilingual book
How? RSVP: A-Serafin@neiu.edu or 773-442-5525
Perks? Free Parking and Food, 06 CPDUs

Multilingual Chicago presents IS THERE A FUTURE IN BILINGUAL EDUCATION? on Saturday, June 4, from 8:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. To begin the forum, a panel of specialists will make brief presentations on the present state of Bilingual Early Childhood, Bilingual Special Education, Heritage Language and Dual Language Education, Bilingual Education and Parent Advocacy.Then you get to choose a break-out room to discuss your ideas, hopes and concerns. St. Augustine College,1345 West Argyle, Chicago, will host this event. Teachers. you may earn CPDU's for your participation.

Have you seen the latest news on TV, the Internet and in the newspapers? Researchers are now reporting that being BILINGUAL may actually delay the onset of Alzheimer's disease by four or five years, as compared to being monolingual. Even those who take up a second language later in life may have an advantage.
The more proficient you become the better, but "every little bit helps," said Ellen Bialystok, a professor of psychology at York University in Toronto.

For those who missed the first opportunity to hear the story of "Winning the Peace", there will be a second opportunity at DePaul University's John T. Richardson Library (Lincoln Park campus) from January 17th through February 18th. "Winning the Peace" tells how Japanese-language specialists contributed to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations during and after World War II. The Library is open seven days a week and admission is free. Please call the Japanese American Service Center at 773-275-0097, ext 222.for more information.