Mayor Daley, Chicago Public School Officials Announce Expansion Of Arabic Language Program

Mayor Richard M. Daley and Chicago Public Schools officials today announced plans to expand the CPS Arabic language program using an $888,000 U.S. Department of Education grant.

Since its launch three years ago, the Arabic language program has grown to serve 2000 CPS students in 10 schools citywide.

The three-year Foreign Language Assistance Grant (FLAP) will fund expansion of the program to three additional schools, professional development for teachers and technology-based instruction using SAFARI-Blackboard technologies.

"Our vision is to give all of our students the kind of education that prepares them to compete in tomorrow's global workforce," Daley said at Durkin Park Elementary School, 8445 S. Kolin Av., where kindergarten through fifth-grade students are taught Arabic daily.

"We all know the economic future of our city depends on our willingness to seek opportunities in the Arab world, the Americas, Asia, Europe and around the globe," Daley added.

Daley noted that with this grant, the school system has received state, federal and other funds totaling $1.6 million for building Arabic language instruction.

Among the other grants CPS has received is the U.S. State Department's Startalk Arabic Summer Language Institute grant each of the last three years.

It provides funding to send 30 CPS high school students to the University of Chicago to study Arabic language and culture for four weeks during the summer break.

Students also take field trips to Chicago area businesses, cultural organizations and community resources, to apply the languages in real life.

CPS also invested $1 million in its Critical Languages Program in 2008 to help build up a K-12 pipeline of students studying Arabic, Chinese or Russian.

CPS officials said they had not yet selected which schools will get the expanded Critical Languages opportunities. The goal is to expand opportunities to schools that wish to grow their critical language options.

* Agassiz Elementary * Belding Elementary * Durkin Park Elementary * LaSalle Language Academy II * Marquette Elementary * Peck Elementary * Volta Elementary

Daley said the key to building a strong and secure economic future for Chicago is providing every public school student with a quality education that allows them to fulfill their potential in life.

And additions to the curriculum such as the teaching of Arabic, Chinese and Russian recognize the need to better engage with other nations and businesses around the globe, he said.

"Without an educated workforce capable of filling the jobs of the global economy, Chicago won't succeed in this century," the Mayor said.

"We must remember that although we're in a recession now, it's our responsibility to position Chicago to reap the benefits of the better times to come," he said.

Our Startalk Czar - Gary Locke, Secretary, U.S. Department of Commerce -

Already the largest economy in the region and a key member of the G20, Saudi Arabia is undergoing an extraordinary economic boom. Massive public investment, rapid private-sector growth and new sector initiatives are driving an expansion projected to offer more than $1 trillion in trade and investment opportunities over the next decade.

This two-day Forum will highlight the U.S.-Saudi commercial and trade relationship and how U.S companies can more fully participate in Saudi Arabia’s expansion. It will also provide a unique platform for American and Saudi executives to establish new and lasting business ties.

In keeping with the highly successful U.S.-Saudi Business Opportunities Forum held in Chicago in April 2010 – attended by over 350 Saudi and 750 American businesspeople – this event will feature Davos-style panels, keynote addresses, and concurrent breakout sessions. Opportunities for small and medium sized companies will be a priority focus. Networking events and one-on-one matchmaking initiatives will help facilitate new business relationships.
http://www.us-saudiforum.com/speaker/honorable-andre-winston-lewis/

Partners and Organizers -
http://www.us-saudiforum.com/?page_id=10

We’re doing BIG business with the Wahhabi Cartel - people who hate Christians, kill Christians if they’re found with a Holy Bible, one is not permitted to being The Word into that pagan country, persecute Christian Missionaries, kill anyone who wants to convert to Christianity, treat women like cattle, kill homosexuals and forget about building a Church. One wonders how many of them are in the Muslim Brotherhood. Don’t have time to check but would be worth doing some digging.

The first Conference was held in Chicago...it almost always comes back to Chicago especially the University of Chicago...it would pay us well to do some serious digging into a city which is intent on teaching Arabic to it’s students. A city overflowing with thousands of Muslims. A city run by Mayor Daley, brought this Saudi brigade to Chicago, most likely after his chat with the Emir of Quatar and sold to the highest bidder with the usual kickbacks (his ?brother now chief advisor to Ali Obaba). A city that introduced ShoreBank, ShorePacific, ShoreCap, Shore Bank International etc, and micro-financing to the world in coordination with Grameen Banking. Bill and Hill Clinton knew Mayor Daley well (Hillary met Alinsky in Chicago - did Mayor Daley?). Bill brought ShoreBank to Arkansas with funding from Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation - Surgeon the CEO of ShoreBank went there to implement it (Surgeon recently stepped down following the big scandal). And they also changed their name...and now we’ve got Big Oil swindlers doing business in Chicago...

More here - will be updating it soon - time permitting -
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2514423/posts?q=1&;page=1

Thanks thethirddegree.

SunkenCiv - An Arabist -
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2257097/posts

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