Word Power Reading initiatives are springing up all over America. Julia Louis Dreyfus and Rosie O'Donnell are just two of the latest celebs to hitch a ride on the literacy bandwagon.

Features:

Foreign Languages: LinguistiCAL writer Kathleen Marcos stresses the benefits of second language acquisition. Plus Arkady Zilberman shows adults a new way to learn foreign languages.

Special Report: Jon Reyhner outlines moves to preserve and protect America's native languages.

Testing: There are many placement tests on the market. Christa Hansen and Christine Jensen help educators decide which one will best fit their institutions. Beryl Meiron and Nick Charge introduce the IELTS test.

Students: Public speaking is a great way for students to gain confidence in a second language. Helen Huntley explains.

Young Learners: Toby Brody assesses ESL programs for children in North Carolina schools.

Teaching Overseas: Getting a job in Brussels. Wendy B. Schatzmann reports.

Immigrant Programs: Refugee students are often scarred by traumatic experiences; Eugenio Rothe discusses the warning signs. Judith Gordon details ESL programs for "Green Workers."Gordon Rich interviews a bilingual educator working to educate prisoners about AIDS.Gail Weinstein explains citizenship programs in San Francisco are thriving.

Electronic Education: Barry Bakin schMOOzes with the founders of an online community. Project-based learning using the Internet. Miriam Burt and Carol van Duzer set out some guidelines.