We live in a global world. With the advent of modern technology, lines on a map no longer determine the parameters of our daily interactions. This increased capacity for global communication makes it more important than ever that we increase our understanding and respect of the world's diverse cultures. Studying a foreign language is a good way to begin developing such an appreciation. 

By learning how its speakers think and form their ideas into words, foreign language study provides keen insight into how another culture operates. Additionally, learning a second language provides opportunities to make new friends; to travel to distant places; to enjoy a different culture's songs, plays, and poetry; to improve the knowledge of one's own language through comparison and contrast with the foreign language; and, finally, to build practical skills for potential future use.

Places To Go

Little Explorers English-French Picture Dictionary
An English-French Picture Dictionary for kids. Also links to related web sites for many of the words. 

Little Explorers English-Spanish Picture Dictionary
This English-Spanish picture dictionary helps learn some basic words in Spanish.

Little Explorers English-German Picture Dictionary
This picture dictionary can help youngsters learn some new words in German.

Little Explorers English-Portuguese Picture Dictionary
This English-Portuguese picture dictionary will help younger students learn some Portuguese, the language spoken in Brazil. 

American Sign Language Browser
American Sign Language (ASL) is a rich language of gestures and hand symbols. Each gesture represents either a concept, a word or a letter. At the Michigan State University's American Sign Language (ASL) Browser Website, you can look up video of thousands of ASL signs and learn interesting things about them.

ASL Fingerspelling 
The ASL Fingerspelling site has a number of tools for novices and experts alike to help develop proficiency at fingerspelling. The site features a standard dictionary to learn the basic finger shapes and a fingerspelling converter where you can type in a word and have it graphically spelled with signs. Practiced fingerspellers can work on their receptive skills by using the interactive quiz feature.

Ethnologue
The Ethnologue tries to bring together the best information available on the languages of the world.

The Human-Languages Page
The Human-Languages Page is a comprehensive catalog of language-related Internet resources. The more than 2000 links in the HLP database have been hand-reviewed to bring you the best language links the Web has to offer. Contains links in the following categories: Languages & literature, schools & institutions, linguistic resources, products & services, organizations, jobs & internships, dictionaries, and language lessons.

YourDictionary.Com: Language Dictionaries
This site serves as an index to online language dictionaries for over 200 different languages.

ePals
E-mail Classroom Exchange (ECE) helps classrooms to meet, correspond, and interact with other classrooms through the Internet. Users can search, browse and contact classrooms listed in the online database or submit a profile of their own classroom.

Our Experiences Learning English
Meet international students and find out about their experiences learning English.

The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Language
Join other foreign language teachers at the official American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Language website. This is the only national organization dedicated to the improvement and expansion of the teaching and learning of all languages.

Cindy's Homepage
Cindy (no last name provided) is an educational sign language interpreter in Florida. In her well-organized site, she discusses American Sign Language (ASL), interpreting, and introduces Deaf (capital "D") Culture versus the mainstream definition of deafness (small "d") as a disability. 

Internet Public Library: Say Hello to the World
Learn foreign languages and about the different world cultures.

Language and Culture Pages
Learn commonly used phrases in more than 30 different languages. The site also includes sound files.

Travlang's Foreign Languages for Travelers
This site provides basic vocabulary terminology for over seventy different languages. Simply indicate the language you speak and then click on the flag of the country whose language you would like to learn about. You can even download RealAudio files to make sure you get the pronunciation correct.

Foreignword.Com: Tools
With this site, you can search in 178 dictionaries on the Internet and translate from 63 source languages into 64 target languages-over 300 language combinations.

International Proverbs: Simple Truths
In each country, proverbs and sayings provide insights into simple truths and beliefs of the people. At this website, some learners of English share the meanings of proverbs from their own countries.

LinguaWeb
Online language learning resources for students and teachers.

First International Collection of Tongue Twisters
The English language has its rubber baby buggy bumpers and packs of pickled peppers. Practice your language skills with tongue twisters from other languages.

Le Cirque: A Global Simulation
In this simulation, students take on the identity of a circus performer as they visit ten French cities with their troupe of acrobats and animals. 

Language Learning & Technology
A free On-Line journal for second and foreign language educators.

Educator's Reference Desk Foreign Language Lesson Plans
Online lesson plans for foreign language instruction.

Internet Activities for Foreign Language Classes
This site contains a number of sample lesson plans for Spanish (mainly), French, and German--all involving the Web. There are also foreign language and education links.

Foreign Language Teaching Forum
This site features a number of general foreign language resources. Additionally, it lists information about a few language-specific sites.

A Communications Technology Module for the Foreign Language Methods Course
An outline of technologies that can be used by teachers of foreign language courses.

WebQuests

• Le Cirque
• Famous Francophones
• Bon Voyage
• Chasing Carlos and Cristina Cruz
• Eva Duarte Peron : Worthy to Celebrate?
• Open the Door to Equador
• Our Vacation to France
• Quiero Viajar a España

• Blaz, Deborah. Foreign Language Teacher's Guide to Active Learning. Eye On Education, Incorporated, 1999.
• Cary, Stephen. Working with Second Language Learners: Answers to Teachers Top Ten Questions. Heinemann, 2000.
• Collins, S. Harold, et al. Songs in Sign. Garlic Press, 1995.
• Curtain, Helena Anderson and Carol A. Pesola. Languages and Children, Making the Match: Foreign Language Instruction for an Early Start Grades K-8. Longman Publishing Group, 1994.
• Degalan, Julie and Stephen Lambert. Great Jobs for Foreign Language Majors. NTC Publishing Group, 2000.
• Flodin, Mickey. Signing for Kids: The Fun Way for Anyone to Learn American Sign Language. Berkley Publishing Group, 1991.
• Kramsch, Claire. Context and Culture in Language Teaching. Oxford University Press, 1998.
• Krashen, Stephen D. Foreign Language Education the Easy Way. Language Education Associates, 1998. 
• Littlewood, William. Foreign & Second Language Learning. Cambridge University Press, 1990. Rivers, Wilga M. Teaching Foreign Language Skills. University of Chicago Press, 1981.
• Sternberg, Martin L. A. Essential ASL: The Fun, Fast, and Simple Way to Learn American Sign Language. HarperCollins, August 1996.
• Tokuhama-Espinosa, Tracey. Raising Multilingual Children: Foreign Language Acquisition and Children. Greenwood Publishing Group, 2000.
• Wren, Christopher S. The Cat Who Covered the World: The Adventures of Henrietta and Her Foreign Correspondent. Simon & Schuster Trade, 2000.