Web Resources Related to Latinos and the Spanish Language
Topical Resources on Latino and Community Issues
Websites for the Public in Spanish
Resources for Adult Learners
Books in Spanish
Information about Bilingualism and Language Diversity
English Language Learning Activities on the Web
Educational Materials, Teaching Ideas, and Classroom Connections
Topical Resources on Latino and Community Issues
Citizens Committee for NYC http://www.CITIZENSnyc.org
Resources on all things NY, including detailed information about neighborhoods,
Latin American Network Information Center http://lanic.utexas.edu/
A well-researched site that hosts a compendium of resources on Latin America and the Caribbean, including education, economy, computing, government, media, recreation, science, society and culture. An excellent starting point for all things Latino!
Latin Issues Forum http://www.lif.org
Latino Issues Forum (LIF) is dedicated to advancing new and innovative public policy solutions for a better, more equitable and prosperous society. LIF focuses on an array of issues and serves as a clearinghouse to assist and provide the news media with accurate information and sources in Latino community for fair and effective coverage of issues. LIF addresses public policy issues from the perspective of how they will affect the social and economic future of the Latino community.
National Immigration Forum http://www.immigrationforum.org
National Immigration Forum seeks to uphold America’s tradition as a nation of immigrants. The Forum advocates and builds public support for policies that welcome immigrants and refugees and that are fair and supportive to newcomers in the U.S.
LULAC (League of United Latin American Citizens) http://www.lulac.org/
LULAC aims to advance the economic condition, educational attainment, political influence, health and civil rights of the Hispanic population of the United States. Its projects include ones on technology, citizenship, literacy and education.
Hispanic Scholarship Fund http://www.hsf.net/
NY Self-Help Guide http://www.nyselfhelpguide.org/
A series of how-to guides on improving life in NYC. Topics include community technology, diversity and immigrants, youth, environment, health, etc.
Websites for the Public in Spanish
Center for Disease Control Spanish Language Site http://www.cdc.gov/spanish/
The general public, policymakers, media and public health professionals around the world rely on CDC’s website for credible information to enhance health decisions. Now, Spanish speakers will have access to that resource. The Spanish language website is not a translation of the English language website (at www.cdc.gov) but is tailored to Hispanic and Latino populations.
Social Security Website for Women in Spanish http://www.ssa.gov/espanol/mujeres/
Recognizing the special importance of Social Security to women and the need for Hispanic women to have access to timely, accurate information about their rights to benefits under the program, the Social Security Administration (SSA) has developed “Para la Mujer” (“For Women”). The site provides basic Social Security program information on retirement, survivors, disability and Supplemental Security Income benefits pertinent to Hispanic women. The site also provides guidance on how to find an interpreter, a link to SSA’s English-Spanish glossary of terms and information on how to obtain a Social Security card.
The Leadership Conference on Civil Rights http://www.civilrights.org Civilrights.org is a project of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, a coalition of 180 organizations working side by side in the fight for equality and justice. Together, these organizations provide a depth and breadth of knowledge and experience that is unparalleled. Civilrights.org provides a home for the policy perspectives, strategies, and research of our coalition. It also offers an opportunity for activists around the world to add their voice to the chorus.
Resources for Adult Learners
The Beehive http://thebeehive.org
Developed by One Economy Corporation, a nonprofit organization based in Washington, DC, the Beehive has information and resources on topics such as money, health, jobs, school and family.
First Find http://www.firstfind.info/
A new online library providing easy-to-find and easy-to-use information (in English) for low-to-intermediate level adult readers. This website can be used by anyone looking for a wide range of information relevant to the well being of individuals and their families. Subject areas range from housing and jobs to family matters to history and government.
Books in Spanish
Barahona Center http://www.csusm.edu/csb/
An academic center at California State University San Marcos that promotes literacy in English and Spanish, Barahona Center endeavors to inform current and future educational decision-makers about books centered around Latino people and culture and about books in Spanish and their value in education of English-speaking and Spanish-speaking children and adolescents.
List of Bilingual and Spanish Language Publishers and Distributors http://www.ncela.gwu.edu/links/publishers/spanish.htm
Spanish New York http://www.spanishnewyork.com/spanish-novels-in-spanish.html
Spanish language books, Spanish novels, Spanish literature, Spanish classics, popular New York Times Spanish books, Spanish stories by Spanish and Hispanic authors.
Information about Bilingualism and Language Diversity
Myths about Language Diversity and Bilingualism http://www.ed.gov/databases/ERIC_Digests/ed407881.html
An informative overview that lays out a series of commonly held myths and uses evidence to debunk them. A must read for anyone living or working in linguistically diverse settings!
Language Policy Website and Emporium http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/JWCRAWFORD/
Created by well-respected journalist and education writer James Crawford, this site provides information on topics such as the English Only movement, bilingual education, language learning and language policy.
Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL) http://www.cal.org
CAL has projects in a number of areas, including ESOL education, bilingual education, literacy, and more. Digests and on-line resources are aimed and teachers and professionals.
Raising Bilingual Children http://www.cal.org/ericcll/faqs/rgos/bilingual_children.html
To help parents decide whether to raise their children bilingually, as well as to provide information about how best to proceed once they have made that decision, this Resource Guide lists publications, Web sites, conferences, listservs, and other information, followed by a search of the ERIC database to guide further research.
English Language Learning Activities on the Web
Action Mazes http://ucs.orst.edu/~healeyd/ups/actionmaze.html
English Learner http://www.englishlearner.com/
Randall’s Listening Lab http://esl-lab.com/
Dave’s ESL Café http://www.eslcafe.com/
American Memory http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/ndlpedu/index.html
English Club http://www.englishclub.net
English Town http://www.englishtown.com/master/welcome/default.asp?buffer=true
Educational Materials, Teaching Ideas, and Classroom Connections
Project Fresa http://www.clmer.csulb.edu/gln/fresa/index.html
Project Fresa is the work of bilingual educators in Oxnard, CA. While this site, which is a portfolio of the activities and some student work, is not in Spanish, activities were carried out bilingually; examples of interview questions students used in Spanish and some poetry and Internet exchanges are in Spanish. The thematic integration of content areas around farmworker life and issues may be of interest.
La Ciudad Encantada http://www.whittierfifthdimension.org/
The Latina Telementor parents played a leadership role in developing this after-school program based on the 5th Dimension model of play, computer use, peer interaction, mentoring and school-university collaboration. This description of the project is in Spanish. The site also provides theory and background on 5th Dimension projects, though in English. The project-based aspect and the ability to create a Spanish language implementation like “La Ciudad Encantada” may be of interest.
Global Learning Network Projects http://www.clmer.csulb.edu/gln
For the past several years the Center has collaborated with “De Orillas a Orillas” on offering and developing English/Spanish K-12 Global Learning Network projects with themes of social justice.
Orillas http://www.orillas.org
A global networking project with English and Spanish resources, how-to guides and examples of exemplary projects
RETA http://reta.nmsu.edu/main/modules_list.html
The RETA Project mission is to establish a human infrastructure of teachers, administrators and higher education faculty who are familiar with educational technologies and their uses. RETA’s Spanish-language curriculum addresses the language-learning needs of K-12 Spanish-speakers.
OpenWorld Learning (OWL) http://www.openworldlearning.org
This Denver-based nonprofit operates community technology centers in the primarily Latino neighborhoods of North and West Denver.
Telecentros http://www.tele-centros.org
A global networking project entirely in Spanish. Participation and resources are free, but you must register to enter.