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Resources for Multilingual Families

Print Materials

If Your Child Learns in Two Languages: A Parent's Guide for Improving Educational Opportunities for Children Acquiring English as A Second Language (www.ncela.gwu.edu/ncbepubs/parent)
Author: Nancy Zelasko and Beth Antunez
Publisher: National Clearinghouse for Bilingual Education, 2000
This informative guide describes the benefits of learning two languages and characteristics of effective schooling for children learning English as a second language. A comprehensive listing of additional resources is also included. This pamphlet is available in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese, and Haitian Creole online.

Two or More Languages in Early Childhood: Some General Points and Practical Recommendations (www.cal.org/ericcll/faqs/raising.html)
Author: Annick De Houwer
Publisher: U.S. Department of Education, ERIC's Clearinghouse on Languages and Linguistics, 1999
This ERIC Digest discusses how learning two languages affects children's reading ability and provides recommendations for raising bilingual children. This article is available online.

Helpful Web sites

Center for Applied Linguistics (www.cal.org/earlylang/faqben.htm)
This non-profit organization's FIRST STEPS program offers a range of information and materials for parents related to second language learning.

ERIC Clearinghouse on Languages and Linguistics (www.cal.org/ericcll/faqs/rgos/benes.html)
This organization offers books, Web sites, and Listservs about second language learning.

National Clearinghouse for English Language Acquisition and Language Instruction Educational Programs (www.ncela.gwu.edu/links/parenting.htm)
This national organization offers helpful language and education links for bilingual parents, including Web sites, print materials, and parent networks.