It's an old story: new immigrants try to hang onto their old culture, while their children embrace America and the English language. In this hour of To the Best of Our Knowledge, the boom in Latino immigration and the prospect of a bilingual country. Also playwright Ariel Dorfman on becoming American.

Writer Ariel Dorfman was born in Argentina, emigrated to New York as a child, fled to Chile during the McCarthy era and was almost killed in the coup that toppled Salvador Allende. He lives now in Durham, NC and teaches at Duke. He talks with Steve Paulson about his memoir "Heading South, Looking North." Also, Carolyn Lei- lanilau grew up in Hawaii where her Chinese-Hawaiian family insisted she speak only English. She talks about language and identity with Judith Strasser. Lei- lanilau's book is "Ono Ono Girl's Hula."

Claire Chow is a marriage and family counselor in San Ramon, CA and the author of "Leaving Deep Water." She talks with Jim Fleming about the special challenges faced by Asian American women who are trying to straddle two cultures.

Luc Sante was born in Belgium and lives now in Brooklyn. He is the author of a memoir - "The Factory of Facts." Sante talks with Steve Paulson about his research into the forces that formed him, including his native country.

Distribution dates:

• week of 07/26/98 - hour 1
• week of 08/22/99 - hour 1