Tag: 2009

Allow Schools to Succeed As we near the end of President Obama’s historic first year in office, we can reflect upon the changes that have already been implemented, and imagine the possibility that the unprecedented federal investment of $100 billion in education may provide the impetus to close the achievement gap. However, 2009 also saw the passing of one...

Two is Always More Than One As we near the end of President Obama’s first year in office, we are reaching a crucial point for the future of language education in the U.S. Federal education funding is at an all-time high and there is a general consensus that a revamped Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) needs to...

Expert Investment Advice Any suggestion that we should be spending more on education right now is usually met with derision as state and local governments struggle to maintain services. However, when the recommendation comes from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), even the most fiscally conservative hardliners should take notice. Founded in 1961, the OECD grew out...

The Assessing Situation September 2009 Cover The confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Judge Sonia Sotomayor are affording the American people an invaluable insight into the ingrained prejudices that prevail in our society, as well as the procedural anomalies that assist in their continuance. Beneath the disturbing questioning of the validity of being a “wise Latina” and Oklahoma Senator...

Suckering the Supreme Court August 2009 Cover The confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Judge Sonia Sotomayor are affording the American people an invaluable insight into the ingrained prejudices that prevail in our society, as well as the procedural anomalies that assist in their continuance. Beneath the disturbing questioning of the validity of being a “wise Latina” and Oklahoma...

Searching for the Silver Bullet Everyone seems to have the solution to improving public education and closing the achievement gap. More rigorous standards and even more testing are touted by some as the keys to success, while others seek salvation in technology, results-based teacher pay structures, universal preschool, or charter schools. Like most things in life, there is not a...

All Abroad During these difficult economic times, the idea of the government spending $800 million to help Americans study abroad may seem unrealistic. However, the benefits of a million Americans traveling abroad every year far outweigh the cost which, when compared to the bailouts, seems like a bargain. Last month, the Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Foundation Act was introduced by...

IN THIS ISSUE: Links to PDF documents online. For more, please click here to subscribe. The World as We Speak Our forum for changes in world language The White Stuff Stephen Krashen questions neuroscientific support for a meaningless theory of reading French Immersion à la Canadienne Kate Sommers-Dawes explores Québec’s destinations for French language learners French Fluency Daniel Ward recommends France’s Rhône-Alpes region for French immersion English...

IN THIS ISSUE: Links to PDF documents online. For more, please click here to subscribe. The World as We Speak Our forum for changes in world language The President's Priorities As we celebrate the historic inauguration of America’s first minority President, Language Magazine asks five experts what the new administration should do for languages and literacy The Profits of Language Brokering Charise Pimentel and Tessara Sevin chart...