Organizations and Centres



American Association of Applied Linguistics
Founded in 1977, the American Association of Applied Linguistics (AAAL) is a professional organization of scholars who are interested in the multi-disciplinary field of applied linguistics. The site gives details of the organization's activities such as its publications, and annual conference.

American Association of Teachers of French (AATF)
An organization dedicated to encouraging and assisting in the teaching & learning of French in the U.S. through publications (most notably the French Review), conferences and other activities.

American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL)
ACTFL is dedicated to promoting the study of foreign languages and cultures as an integral component of American education and society. The page describes ACTFL's activities, projects, and services. Publishes the Foreign Language Annals.

Canadian Site: Association Canadienne de Linguistique Appliquee (ACLA) / Canadian Association of Applied Linguistics (CAAL)
L'association se propose de promouvoir au Canada la recherche, l'experimentation, l'enseignement et la diffusion du savoir dans tous les champs d'application de la linguistique et d'etendre son action a tout le domaine de la didactique des langues secondes et maternelle. L'ACLA est affiliee a l'Association internationale de linguistique appliquee (AILA) au sein de laquelle elle represente le Canada. Publie Revue de l'ACLA/Journal of the CAAL.

Canadian Site: L'association canadienne des professeurs d'immersion / The Canadian association of immersion teachers (ACPI / CAIT)
Une association qui, par la réflexion, la recherche et l'intervention, soutient l'action des professeurs en cherchant à promouvoir l'immersion et à contribuer au développement de la pédagogie immersive au Canada. Publie Le journal de l'immersion.

Association internationale de linguistique appliquée / International Association of Applied Linguistics (AILA)
AILA is an international federation of national associations of applied linguistics. It pursues the following objectives: (1) to promote & coordinate research in applied linguistics, (2) to disseminate information about applied linguistics, and (3) to organize an international congress every three years.

Canadian Site: L'Association québécoise des enseignantes et enseignants de français langue seconde (AQEFLS)
A pour but d'associer l'ensemble du corps enseignant aux développements théoriques et pratiques de la pédagogie du français langue seconde au Québec. Organize un congrès annuel et publie régulièrement la Revue.

The British Association for Applied Linguistics (BAAL)
BAAL is a professional association based in the UK, which provides a forum for people interested in language and the applications of linguistics.

Canadian Site: British Columbia Association of Teachers of Modern Languages (BCATML)
The BCATML is the Provincial Specialists Association (PSA) of the BCTF for second language teachers. Its objectives are to improve the quality and conditions of second language teaching in British Columbia. The site also provides many worthwhile language links for French, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese etc..

Canadian Site: British Columbia Teachers of English as an Additional Language (BC TEAL)
BC TEAL advances the profession of teaching English as an additional language in British Columbia through professional development, promotion of standards, advocacy and representation. Publishes the BC TEAL newsletter.

Canadian Site: Canadian Association of Second Language Teachers (CASLT)
This site offers information about the activities of CASLT: the publication of Réflexions (the CASLT newsletter), conferences, research, and publications.

Canadian Site: Canadian Heritage Official Languages Support Program
The goals of this branch of Canadian Heritage are to promote French and English in Canadian society and to encourage the development of francophone and anglophone communities in minority situations. The site provides information on the teaching/learning of French and English in Canada, publications on Canada's official languages, as well as links to related sites of interest.

Canadian Site: Canadian Parents for French (CPF)
A national network of volunteers dedicated to creating and promoting French second language learning opportunities for young Canadians. The CPF page provides links to activities and publications, as well as a set of links for young learners of French.

Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL)
A major private non-profit organization involved in language related issues including language policy, foreign language education, testing, ESL, and refugee affairs.

Canadian Site: Centre AlphaPlus Centre. The Literacy and Language Training Resource Centre
A resource centre and information service for professionals involved in adult literacy and adult immigrant language training. Open Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Canadian Site: Centre de recherches en enseignement et apprentissage des langues (CREAL) de l'Université d'Ottawa
Main objectives: research on language teaching and learning, interdisciplinary contacts and the organization of professional activities.

Canadian Site: Centre for Canadian Language Benchmarks (CCLB)
The mission of the Centre for Canadian Language Benchmarks (CCLB) is to promote the coherence, effectiveness and consistency of adult English as a second language instruction across Canada by linking all adult ESL stakeholders, maintaining standards in ESL training, and facilitating the implementation and use of the CLB and the CLBA. The CCLB is a non-profit, federally incorporated organization.

Canadian Site: Centre international de recherche en aménagement linguistique (CIRAL)
Le CIRAL est un centre de recherche qui regroupe seize chercheurs et soixante-dix étudiants qui partagent le même approche aux questions de langue en les abordant du point de vue d'une linguistique de l'usage qui associe l'étude d'une langue aux conditions de son usage.

The Computer Assisted Language Instruction Consortium (CALICO)
An American professional organization for computer assisted learning and instruction, with a particular interest in modern language teaching and learning.

Federation internationale des professeurs de francais (FIPF)
La FIPF rassemble plus de 70,000 enseignants, regroupes dans plus de 150 associations. Partenaire des Ministeres francais, canadiens, et belges, la FIPF contribue par ses actions et ses subventions a la diffusion du francais et des cultures francophones.

International Association for Language Learning Technology
IALL is a professional organization for the promotion of the effective uses of media centers for language teaching, learning and research. This site provides an extensive foreign language software database.

Canadian Site: Institut des langues secondes / Second Language Institute, University of Ottawa (ILS / SLI)
The ILS/SLI is responsible for teaching and testing English and French as second languages at the University of Ottawa, and conducting applied and theoretical research in areas pertinent to second language teaching.

Modern Language Association of America (MLA)
The MLA, which was founded in 1883, "encourages the study and teaching of the modern languages and literatures and strives to ensure the highest standards in teaching and scholarship in the field."

Canadian Site: Modern Language Centre, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education / University of Toronto
The Modern Language Centre of OISE/UT is concerned with the theory and practice of second and minority language teaching and learning. The main functions of the Centre are graduate studies, research, development and field services. The page describes the MLC's courses, faculty, research and development projects, publications, special events, etc...

National Association for Bilingual Education (NABE)
An organization concerned with the education of language-minority students in American schools, whose activities are research, professional development, public education and legislative advocacy.

National Centre for English Language Teaching and Research (NCELTR)
Established in 1988, NCELTR at Macquarie University in Sydney is the Commonwealth's key centre for English language teaching and research in Australia. It offers post-graduate courses, ESL courses for adults, and conducts research on issues related to se cond language education.

National Clearinghouse for Bilingual Education (NCBE)
The NCBE is operated by George Washington University and funded by the U.S. Department of Education to collect, analyze, and disseminate information relating to the effective education of linguistically and culturally diverse learners in the U.S. NCBE provides information through its web site and produces the news bulletin, Newsline.

National Clearinghouse for ESL Literacy Education(NCLE)
The NCLE is an adjunct ERIC Clearinghouse at the Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL) which focusses on providing timely information on literacy education for adults and out-of-school youths learning English as a second language.

National Foreign Language Resource Centers

The following seven NFLRCs are funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education to improve and enrich foreign language education in the U.S.

National Capital Language Resource Center. Joint project of Georgetown University, George Washington University and the Center for Applied Linguistics
The focus of the National Capital Language Resource Center is on the training of teachers on the use of effective teaching strategies and foreign language performance tests.

Michigan State University Center for Language Education and Research
The objective of MSU/CLEAR is the promotion of collaboration in foreign language research and teacher education.

National K-12 Foreign Language Resource Center at Iowa State University
Their mission is to improve student learning of foreign languages from K to 12.

The Ohio State University National Foreign Language Resource Center
The OSU/NFLRC explores ways to enable foreign language learners to develop and maintain advanced language skills.

San Diego State University Language Acquisition Resource Center
The focus of the SDSU-LARC is on research, development and training to improve language testing, increase understanding of other cultures, and to improve language performance, all through innovating uses of technology.

University of Hawaii National Foreign Language Resource Center
Established to improve and enrich foreign language education nationwide. Engages in research, materials development, summer institutes and publications.

University of Minnesota Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition (CARLA)
CARLA is the co-ordinating office for a number of grant funded programs devoted to research and program development in second language teaching, learning and assessment.

The National Foreign Language Center at the Johns Hopkins University
An American institution committed to research, policy development, and programs in response to a national need for foreign language competencies.

Canadian Site: Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages
OCOL provides a range of services, products and information to promote better relations between English-speaking Canadians and French-speaking Canadians.

Canadian Site: The Official Languages Programs
The Official Languages Programs are administered by the Council of Ministers of Education of Canada. They consist of the Official-Languages Monitor Program, and the Summer Language Bursary Program. Both of these programs provide teaching and learning opportunities in English as a second language and French as a second language for Canadian postsecondary students.

Canadian Site: Ontario Modern Langage Teachers' Association (OMLTA)
The OMLTA is an organization of teachers of modern languages for the Province of Ontario whose goal is to offer professional development, to promote the benefits of language learning, and to provide leadership and advocacy for language educators.

Canadian Site: Society for Educational Visits and Exchanges in Canada
A national non-profit organization which organizes educational visits and exchanges for students of all ages. Visits and exchanges are organized for individuals or for groups and are usually interprovincial and interlingual (French/English).

Canadian Site: TESL Canada
TESL Canada is the national federation of English as a second language teachers. It organizes an annual conference and publishes the TESL Canada Journal.

Canadian Site: TESL Ontario
TESL Ontario is an affiliate of TESL Canada, and a non-profit provincial organization of educators in the field of English as a second language. It presents an annual conference and publishes the newsletter Contact.

Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)
TESOL's mission is to develop the expertise of its members and others involved in teaching English to speakers of other languages through a wide range of services, publications, and programs. Best known as the publisher of the TESOL Quarterly.


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This page is updated and maintained by Alice Weinrib, Education Commons, OISE/UT Library.