May is Asian Pacific American (APA) Heritage Month

A celebration of Asians and Pacific Islanders in the United States. Much like Black History and Women's History celebrations, APA Heritage Month originated in a congressional bill. On October 5, 1978, President Jimmy Carter signed a Joint Resolution designating the annual celebration.

In May 1990, the holiday was expanded further when the first President Bush designated May to be Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. May was chosen to commemorate the immigration of the first Japanese to the United States on May 7, 1843, and to mark the anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869. The majority of the workers who laid the tracks were Chinese immigrants.

Asian Pacific American Heritage Month is celebrated with community festivals, government- sponsored activities, and educational activities for students.

How can you learn more about Asian Pacific American Heritage Month? Just "Google" it.

Listed first in Google is the very popular and useful website, InfoPlease.com.

There you will find:

• Mini-bios of notable Asian Americans-including actresses, politicians, writers, athletes, architects, film directors, musicians, and an astronaut.
• A timeline of Asian-American History-starting in the 1600's when the Spanish brought Chinese and Filipinos to Mexico.
• The histories of Tea, Fortune Cookies, Chopsticks & Feng Shui.
• Look for "13 Feng Shui Tips", and much more.

See this U.S. Census Page for 2009

Dear Reader: An interesting story, with linguistic, social, health and cultural elements throughout. Remember to download the report at then end of this article.

"Editor's Note: The story of migration is no longer a man's story.

"It is increasingly becoming a woman's tale, according to "Women Immigrants: Stewards of the 21st Century," a new poll by New America Media.

"The survey of 1,002 female immigrants from Latin American, Asian, African, and Arab countries, found that immigrant women are taking charge in keeping their families together.

"At a time when more than one-third of families in the United States are single-parent households, 90 percent of women immigrants interviewed report that their families are intact, writes NAM Executive Director Sandy Close."

Read the rest of this New America Media story here >>

View the entire NAM Immigrant Women Poll here >>

Inside Toronto: EMS recognition necessary, but also inspirational

"Recognition of actions and deeds that go beyond the call of duty is important.

"By doing so, we convey a strong sense of appreciation, of gratitude, and, while those being honoured often shy away from such public praise with an all-too-characteristic modesty, the fact remains that we value those special contributions to our lives."

"As the times have changed, so have emergency preparedness and response. Toronto's a large, growing city with a diverse population.

"Consider, for example, the Language Line Service, which Toronto EMS subscribes to and members of which were singled out at the ceremony."

Please read the rest of this "Inside Toronto" editorial here >>

Though not named in this article, Language Line Services UK-based interpreter, Seyedeh Khorsen, was honored by the Toronto Emergency Services.

Congratulations to Seyedeh, and a sincere thank you to all of our talented and professional interpreters around the world.

New Interactive Demonstration and Videos

Featuring American Sign Language (ASL), Spanish (over video) and Mexican Sign Language (LSM). On Demand!

Attention, health care and law enforcement professionals. You and those you serve who are deaf or limited English speaking can now easily communicate through the Language LineŽ Video Interpreter Service.

Learn more from this Interactive Demonstration.

And, these brief Medical and Police videos.

For more information, write to video@languageline.com

Language Line Services, the leader in over-the-phone interpretation, is seeking to increase its interpreter team in many languages.

If you have excellent proficiency in English, with strong listening and comprehension skills as well as good customer service skills, you can become an interpreter for Language Line Services.

Visit www.languageline.com/careers.

View the "How to Become an Interpreter" Video.

Then, click on "Apply Today" under "interpreter Careers" OR "Corporate Careers" and follow the directions.

Here's what a valued client said just today (5/28/09) about one of Language Line Services' excellent interpreters:

"...interpreter #6100 for Farsi was awesome fantastic and amazing. I am speechless as to how good the interpreter was. We have a very difficult client that he made so easy for me. Thank you..."

Join Us, Will You?

Selected News of the Month

• Industry Leaders Announce Major Progress at Third Annual National Medical Interpreter Certification - Open Forum National Meeting Solidifies Milestone Agreement on Medical Interpreter Certification and Unveils Results of National Job Analysis Survey.


• Testing for National Medical Interpreter Certification to Enter Pilot Phase "Accurately assessing an interpreter's knowledge and skills is essential..."


• Prescription Information in More than 175 Languages Rite Aid Launches National In-Store Language Access Program with Language Line Services.


• Language Line Services Announces Introduction of On-Site Interpretation Service in New York Available to Hospitals, Government Agencies and Legal Businesses in New York Metro Area.

Read more Language Line Services news here >>

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