About Us

1 of 16 language resource centers funded by the U.S. Department of Education, the National Resource Center for Asian Languages (NRCAL) was established in 2014 to improve the nation’s capacity for the teaching and learning of Asian languages, including Vietnamese, Korean, Mandarin, Japanese, and Khmer.

Cultivating plurilingualism in the classroom enhances students’ cognition, employment opportunities, and cultural competencies - all of which lend a vital advantage in a 21st century global economy. Through partnerships with school districts and community-based organizations, we strive to increase access to teaching materials for Asian languages and to a larger extent, address inequities in language education on a local and national scale.

Housed in California State University, Fullerton (CSUF), an institution located in the heart of the largest Vietnamese and Cambodian heritage language community in the United States, NRCAL has served diverse student populations and educators alike through programs dedicated to second language acquisition and biliteracy. With a focus on less commonly taught languages, NRCAL continues to: 1) conduct and disseminate research on dual language immersion; 2) develop and disseminate resources and teaching materials to support dual immersion and world language teachers in K-16 settings; 3) provide professional development opportunities for teachers that focus on effective teaching strategies, assessment, and educational technology; 4) develop, verify, and disseminate assessment tools and practices; and 5) operate intensive summer abroad language institutes for pre-service, in-service teachers, and community college instructors.

In response to educational needs, these efforts have cultivated lasting relationships with students, parents, teachers, and families in Orange County and beyond.

Our Programs and Resources

Professional Development Opportunities

We offer workshops, conferences, intensive institutes abroad, and other networking opportunities for current and student preK-12 teachers. Through such events, we hope to expand educators' knowledge of language, culture, and histories in teaching, instructional design, and educational practices.

NRCAL Community Literacy Project

We host an Annual Vietnamese Book Writing Competition, whose winning stories are illustrated and published for distribution. Most of our children's books are written by children themselves. All entries must be written in Vietnamese.

Virtual Vietnamese Language Program

We provide online classes for Vietnamese language learning on a semester basis for children and adults alike. Lessons incorporate Common Core Standards and Social Emotional Learning (SEL) fundamentals, ensuring an inclusive and creative environment for learners of varying levels of fluency.

Support for Dual Language Immersion Programs

With our community partners, we have developed instructional materials to support literacy development for K-12 language courses. This involves curriculum aligned with Common Core standards, materials for distance education, and instructional support for LCTL (Less Commonly Taught Language) educators.

Our Team

Connect with us

National Resource Center for Asian Languages

California State University, Fullerton
2600 Nutwood Ave., Suite 610
Fullerton, CA 92831

Email: nrcal@fullerton.edu
Phone: (657) 278-4335

Podcast: Voices in Education Today (VIET)