About CAL
Announcements
Understanding Assessment: A Guide for Foreign Language Educators
CAL has developed an online tutorial designed to act as a companion piece to the FLAD, helping educators choose the most appropriate test for their needs. A Moderated User Review capability for the FLAD is also now available. Learn more.
November 2008
Introducing COPI -
the next generation of the SOPI
Now available in Arabic and Spanish, the Computerized Oral Proficiency Instrument (COPI) is a computer-based, semi-adaptive test of Arabic and Spanish oral proficiency. Learn more.
November 2008
National K-12 Foreign Language Survey Update
CAL conducted a national survey of public and private elementary and secondary schools to identify current patterns and shifts in foreign language education over time. Learn the latest news about the survey.
November 2008
Institutes on Teaching Reading to English Language Learners
CAL is offering four institutes in 2009 featuring our What's Different? professional development curriculum. The first Institute will be held in February 2009. Learn more or register now.
November 2008
TIRF Call for Proposals for the 2008 - 2009 Doctoral Dissertation Fellowships
TIRF (The International Research Foundation for English Language Education) is pleased to announce the opening of the 2008 - 2009 competition for the Sheikh Nahayan Doctoral Dissertation Fellowships.
These fellowships support doctoral candidates who have been advanced to candidacy, and whose research focuses on issues of specific relevance and importance to educators in the Arab world
The application deadline is midnight, Mountain Standard Time on Wednesday, January 28, 2009. Please visit TIRF's Web site for the specific research priorities and more informaiton about applying.
October 2008
Register Now for Upcoming SOPA Online Training Courses
A Moderated Introduction to SOPA online course is set to begin in mid-November 2008. A Rating the SOPA course is set to begin in January 2009. Learn more.
October 2008
CAL50 Anniversary Web Site Launched
CAL's 50th anniversary will be observed from October 2008 through
December 2009. We have created a special CAL50 Web site devoted to
information about CAL's history, new resources, and special anniversary
events. Learn more.
October 2008
CREDE Web Site Retooled
As part of our 50th anniversary activities, CAL has created an easy-to-use complete archive of information and resources that were developed as part of CAL's work with the Center for Research on Education, Diversity & Excellence (CREDE) from 1996–2004. Many of the resources, including research reports newly available as PDFs, can be downloaded for free. Visit the Web site.
October 2008
ERIC/CLL Resources Archive
For nearly 30 years, CAL housed the ERIC Clearinghouse on Languages and Linguistics (ERIC/CLL). As part of its 50th anniversary year efforts, CAL recently reorganized numerous ERIC/CLL resources to provide easy access to the variety of resources developed by ERIC/CLL, many of which are still relevant and useful today.
Visit the archived pages.
September 2008
Teaching Spanish to Native Spanish Speakers (SNS) Web Site Relaunched
The newly revamped and expanded SNS Web site provides information about the Spanish speaking population in the United States and resources for working with Spanish speakers in Spanish language programs. Visit the Web site.
September 2008
New Discover Languages Spotlight on Spanish
In support of the Discover Languages campaign, CAL presents Spotlight on Language, a regular Web series that focuses on specific languages and CAL's related work.
The fourth Spotlight on Language, Spanish, is available now.
August 2008
New CAELA Network Brief Now Online
A second CAELA Network brief, Facilitating Adult Learner Interactions to Build Listening and Speaking Skills, is now available online. The brief examines the research on learner interaction and summarizes the positive effects of classroom interaction on language learning. Read the brief online.
August 2008
New Overseas CO Program Highlight
This Program Highlight focuses on the provision of CO to Iranian religious minority refugees in Vienna, conducted by HIAS Vienna. It includes information on CO participants and their situation in Austria, as well as on the CO curriculum and considerations for domestic resettlement. Visit the COR Center Web site to learn more.
August 2008
BEST Literacy Technical Report Now Available
The BEST Literacy Technical Report has been released. This new technical report describes the development of BEST Literacy, including the field testing, equating, and standard setting studies. This report also provides technical information and results concerning the validity, reliability, and measurement precision of BEST Literacy. The BEST Literacy Technical Report is available in either PDF or print format. Learn more at the CAL Store.
July 2008
New CAELA Network Brief Now Online
The first CAELA Network brief, Working with Adult English Language Learners with Limited Literacy: Research, Practice, and Professional Development, is now available for free online. This brief focuses primarily on the needs of preliterate, non literate, and semiliterate learners. Read the brief on the CAELA Network Web site.
July 2008
New CO Overseas Program Highlight
This Program Highlight focuses on the CO program for West Africa, conducted by Church World Service at the Overseas Processing Entity in Accra. As with previous CO highlights, this covers caseload characteristics, information on the CO classes, and considerations for domestic service providers. Learn more at the COR Center Web site.
July 2008
CAL's SIOP Web Site Revamped
CAL has revised the SIOP Web site to provide easier access to information about research, projects, professional development services, and resources, such as publications, digests, and lesson plans. Learn more.
July 2008
Heritage Languages in America - Frequently Asked Questions
A seventh question, What is language loss?, has been added to the list of Frequently Asked Questions on the Heritage Languages in America Web site. In addition, the answers to the first six questions have been bundled together as a downloadable PDF for ease of reference. Learn more.
June 2008
Registration Now Open for the 2008 CREATE Conference
Math, Science, and Social Studies: A Focus on English Language Learners in Middle School to be held October 6 – 7, 2008 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Learn more at the CREATE Web site.
June 2008
BEST Literacy Test Manual (2008 Edition) Now Available
The 2008 edition of the BEST Literacy Test Manual is now available. The new manual contains updated National Reporting System (NRS) and Student Performance Level (SPL) scale score ranges, additional background and technical information, and refinements to procedures for scoring the note writing section. Learn more.
June 2008
CAL Project List Updated
CAL has recently refreshed its projects list, updating progress on existing projects and adding new projects for 2008 and beyond. Learn more.
May 2008
Registration now open for CAL- CARLA Conference
Immersion Education: Pathways to Bilingualism and Beyond, a CARLA-CAL Conference Collaboration will be held October 16 – 18, 2008 at the
Crowne Plaza Hotel – St. Paul Riverfront in
St. Paul, Minnesota. Learn more or register online.
May 2008
Acquiring Literacy in English Web Site Now Online
CAL has recently expanded the resources available from its research project, Acquiring Literacy in English (ALE), a 5-year program of research in which the Center for Applied Linguistics and its collaborators studied the factors that predict success as Spanish-speaking children learn to read and write in English. Visit this newly expanded site.
April 2008
CAL to Offer Summer Training of Trainers Institute on What's Different About Teaching Reading to Students Learning English?
In response to growing requests from educators for training materials on teaching reading to English language learners, CAL is offering a three-day Training of Trainers (TOT) Institute in Washington, D.C., in late July 2008. Learn more.
April 2008
Two Adult ESL Resources Now Available In Print
The CAELA Guide for Adult ESL Trainers and Practitioner Toolkit: Working with Adult English Language Learners, two online resources created by CAELA, are now available for purchase as print publications for ease of use and reference. Learn more.
Both resources are still available for download free of charge on the CAELA Web site.
April 2008
CAL to Conduct New Research on Newcomer Programs
CAL is currently updating our contact list in preparation for conducting a newcomer research survey in spring/summer 2008. The results of this survey will be used to update CAL's Newcomer Database (2000). Learn more.
March 2008
CAL Collaborating with Great Lakes East Comprehensive Assistance Center
CAL is collaborating in the operation of this Center to provide capacity-building assistance to Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio in their efforts to raise student achievement. Learn more about CAL's involvement and view a page of ELL-focused resources from CAL.
March 2008
EL/Civics Online: Integrating EL/Civics Into Adult ESL Classes
Learn more about this free series of online courses designed to assist teachers in creating interesting and effective ESL lessons in the areas of U.S. history, U.S. government, civic engagement, and the naturalization process.
EL/Civics Online is developed by the Adult Learning Resource Center under a contract from CAL with funding from the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Vocational and Adult Education, and from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Office of Citizenship.
March 2008
CAELA Network Launches New Web Site
There is a vital need for high quality instruction for adult English language learners in the United States. Visit the new CAELA Network Web site, a portal to information focusing on effective professional development for educators working with adult English language learners. Learn more by visiting the CAELA Network Web site.
February 2008
Guidance on BEST Literacy Score Interpretation
CAL will make changes to the BEST Literacy score interpretation chart effective July 1, 2008. An informative flyer outlining these changes and providing helpful guidance was mailed to all users in January 2008. Read more.
February 2008
African American English Bibliography Now Available
CAL has amassed a bibliography of more than 650 print references related to African American English. Learn more.
February 2008
TIRF Call for Proposals for the 2008 Doctoral Dissertation Research Grants
TIRF (The International Research Foundation for English Language Education) announces the 2008 competition for doctoral dissertation grants. Grants of up to US $5,000 will be awarded for the highest rated proposals.
Doctoral students who have been advanced to candidacy may submit proposals for funding to support empirical investigations related to the following research priority topics:
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Students' age and effective English language education in schools
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Teacher English proficiency and effective English language education
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Optimal uses of technology in the delivery of English language instruction
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Effective grammar instruction for English language learners in primary and secondary education contexts
The deadline for submitting proposals is April 30, 2008.
Please visit www.tirfonline.org for further information.
February 2008
Free Webcast seminar on January 10, 2008 hosted by CREATE - Building Oral Language into the Basal
In Thursday’s free Webcast seminar, Building Oral Language into the Basal, Dr. Diane August, Senior Research Scientist with the Center for Applied Linguistics, will describe methods to develop the language proficiency skills of English Learners in the context of language arts, math, and science instruction in elementary and middle schools. Register now to participate in this presentation, co-sponsored by CREATE and West Ed's SchoolsMovingUp.
January 2008
Visit to the announcement archive to view past announcements from CAL.
