multilingual

Raising Multilingual Children: Foreign Language Acquisition and Children
$76.95
I read How to Raise Multilingual Children and Multilingual Minds in less than a month. I just couldn't put the books down. They're filled with so much interesting, helpful and innovative information. I've learned so much about being and becoming a multilingual individual in such a short period of time thanks to Tracey Tokuhama-Espinosa's books!

The information in her books has literally blown me away! I'm especially impressed by the effects of learning multiple languages in the brain, creativity, intelligence, having a flexible mind, self-esteem and identity. Soon, I'll submit an application to graduate school of clinical social work. However, since my main interest is working with immigrants families, women and children, I've just became interested also in the effect of lacking a bilingual education in the academic performance, identity, self-esteem and quality of life of immigrant children (and children of immigrants) living in the U.S. All these questions started to pop up in my head as I started to read her books. Now, I have to think how I can incorporate this new interest in my social work career.

The author is so interested in helping multilingual families that she has answered my multiple questions about raising my own multilingual child. My child is 14 months old and will be soon speaking Spanish, English and French (he already says a few words in Spanish and English). Neither my husband nor I speak French (I'm a Spanish native speaker and my husband is American). However, we've learned and still are learning so many strategies to give our son the gift of becoming a multilingual child. Now we know that it's possible to help our child learn an additional language that his parents don't speak.

The case studies and stories about the author's own experience raising her three multilingual children who speak four languages are also very inspiring and informative. It's amazing how much one can learn from other people's examples, experiences, methods and even mistakes.

Great books, great researcher!

SStar Wars: Episode 1 > Ammo Wagon and Falumpaset (Multi-lingual Packaging) Vehicle
$29.99

Igrafx Flowcharter 2006 Upgrade Multilingual (eng/ger)
$525.69
Marketing Information: iGrafx FlowCharter is a powerful, easy-to-use process mapping tool that provides a foundation for organization-wide process excellence. iGrafx FlowCharter reduces the time it takes to document processes and business systems, and helps you communicate and achieve a clearer understanding of how tasks, activities and processes must be carried out. It not only promotes compliance and best practice, but also provides a foundation for better management.
Product Information
Software Sub Type: Process ManagementSoftware Name: iGrafx FlowCharter 2006 - UpgradeFeatures & Benefits: Intelligent Swimlane Diagrams:Experience an ROI by minimizing time to create and edit process mapsCustomizable Data Fields:Improve model comprehension and ownership by linking closely to organizational data standardsVisio Import:Reduce development time by leveraging legacy content Dynamic Page Size:Lack of barriers enables greater focus on capturing process knowledgeHierarchical Process Maps:Improve readability and comprehension through logical designLean Tools:Improve manufacturing and transactional processes using state-of-the art techniquesBPM Tools:Bridge gaps from business to IT through standards and "execution ready" diagramsIn-line Analysis:Instantly understand process capability and the impact of changesInstant Web and Microsoft Office Publishing:Improve visibility and compliance through easy knowledge sharingSeamless Integration with the iGrafx Family:Leverage and share organization-wide efforts and maintain central data managementLanguage Support: MultilingualPlatform Support: PC
License Information
License Type: Product UpgradeLicense Pricin

Casio Men's Multilingual Databank Watch #DB36-1AV
$29.95
I bought this watch to replace my aging but fully functional Casio DB31 ( I have also owned a much older DB2000) because the case broke where the watch band pins connect. I have lived with the DB36 now long enough to say that it is no improvement over the older DB31 and the DB31 outclasses the DB36 in many ways.

Pro:
The DB36-1AV keeps good time so far. The bright LED back-light is excellent. Most functions are equivalent to the DB31 and work well. The long battery life remains to be proven. Press of the "Reverse" button displays the Dual Time setting. Press of the "Forward" button displays the last telememo viewed.

Con:
The display functionality of the DB-36 is grossly inferior to my old DB-31. The large font on the first (top) line (day of the week, name of telememo, and other headings) is so big it allows only 3 characters at a time to be displayed. In the database function, any remaining characters of the 8 allowed must scroll by to view. The second line that typically displays the time of day or the beginning of the telephone number in the database also has a large font except for the first character that is small and the last two characters that are medium size. This is fine for the time of day but for a telephone number it presents a strange combination of sizes that means it is useful only for the area code. Then the remaining part of the telephone number is relegated to the third line that uses a miniature tiny type font and is difficult to read unless you are under age 40. (As I write this, the DB36 just reset itself to factory defaults wiping out all of the 21 telephone numbers that I put in.)

Other thoughts:
The telememo database feature is the primary (and perhaps only) reason for purchasing this watch but the display font sizes largely defeat this purpose. The display fonts are a strange mixture of too-large and too-small. The selection of font sizes by Casio for the DB36 represents a step backwards from the DB31. The older DB31 will show 6 characters in the first line, 10 characters in the second line, and 6 characters in the third line. This is compared to the newer DB36 that shows 3 characters, 7 characters, and 8 characters respectively. These are important differences where it counts.

This means that you must wait for the display to scroll to see the entire name in the telememo and you cannot assign a name to any of the five alarm settings like you can with the DB31. You must remember what number the alarm means.
Conclusion: Casio laid an egg with this one. You would have to be legally blind to need the large font in the first line but then you could not read the third. Bring back the DB31 but with an LED light!