ESL/ELL

This Companion Learning Resource provides a synthesis of the main ideas in several seminal resources from the adult English language learner (ELL) resource collection. It also extends and expands upon these resources by offering many practical ideas and techniques that practitioners can use and adapt in order to increase rigor in adult ELA classes. Highlights of key concepts and practical strategies include:

• The need for instruction and accompanying professional development that support the language demands of rigorous college- and career-focused content
• Engaging learners in increasingly complex texts, especially informational texts, while building students’ content knowledge

• Expanding project-based learning into academic subjects
• Enhancing the rigor of reading instruction for adult English language learners

Although this Companion Learning Resource can be used as a stand-alone document, it also complements the other resources in the suite of materials, “Meeting the Language Needs of Today’s Adult English Language Learner.”  Other resources in this suite are the Issue Brief, and the Professional Development Modules.

This Companion Learning Resource provides a synthesis of the main ideas and practices in several existing seminal resources from the adult English language learner (ELL) resource collection. It also extends and expands upon these resources by offering many hands-on ideas and techniques to help practitioners integrate digital literacy instruction into adult ELA classes.  . Highlights of key concepts and practical strategies include:

• The variety of technology integration options in ESL instruction
• The role of digital literacy instruction in reducing the digital divide
• The role technology can play in problem-based learning
• The benefits of using technology to support learner-centered instruction at all levels of ESL and in various learning environments

Although this Companion Learning Resource can be used as a stand-alone document, it also complements the other resources in the suite of materials, “Integrating Digital Literacy into Adult English Language Instruction.” Other resources in this suite are the Issue Brief, and the Professional Development Modules.

Observing classroom instruction delivered by experienced teachers is a good way for teachers and tutors to acquire classroom management techniques and learn new activities. Because finding time to do in-person classroom observations can be difficult, the Minnesota Literacy Council developed the Classroom Activities for Adult ESL Learners video series. The 17 videos feature professional teachers leading adult ESL classes through common classroom activities. Teachers and tutors can use the videos to develop their teaching practices and become more comfortable introducing new activities to students. Each activity includes:

• a PDF version of the lesson plan;
• a full version of the video ranging in length from 8 to 35 minutes that shows the entire activity from beginning to end; and
• a shorter 3- to 16-minute version that gives an overview of the activity and highlights the instructions and teacher-led transitions.

The activities featured in these videos were selected from the Minnesota Literacy Council’s Pre-Beginning ESL Curriculum and Beginning ESL Curriculum. The site also features a Classroom Video Observation Form to analyze and reflect on what users see in the videos.

This study circle is a professional learning activity for teachers of low-literacy adult ESL students, i.e., learners with little or no first-language literacy. With a special focus on balancing instruction to meet the complex needs of these learners, teachers explore relevant research and its implications for best practices in the classroom. Participants engage in at-home reading and reflective classroom tasks that inform and deepen discussions and allow for maximum professional growth. The study circle is designed to be delivered in a total of nine hours, delivered through three, 3-hour meetings spread over six to eight weeks. The study circle objectives are that participants will:

1. Identify the varied roles teachers play in order to cover the wide range of content taught in low-literacy adult ESL classrooms.
2. Become familiar with frameworks and strategies for building balanced instruction into big picture planning and daily lessons.
3. Become familiar with frameworks and strategies for building balanced instruction into big picture planning and daily lessons.

Clear objectives are also identified for each topic. Additionally, ways in which the study circle exemplifies the core featrures of effecrive professional develop are presented as well as the expectations of the facilitator and participants.

Specifically, online training addresses the following questions:

• Why were ELP standards identified for adult education? Who identified them?
• How were the ELP Standards for Adult Education identified? Who is their audience?
• What do the ELP standards entail and why?
• How do the ELP standards correspond to states’ academic content standards?
• How can adult educators begin to use them?

The Florida Literacy Coalition Health Careers Guide is a targeted resource for adult learners interested in exploring the wide range of career opportunities in health care. Written in plain language, the guide is suitable for learners at a 5th grade reading level or higher as well as for English language learners at an intermediate level or higher. The guide focuses on careers requiring two years or less of training. Providing beneficial information about preparing for a health career, it can be used as a curriculum or a stand-alone resource for students. In addition to providing job skill and training resources, the guide highlights 30 health occupations in four areas: 1) patient care, 2) imaging and diagnostics, 3) administration and support services, and 4) health information and records.

We Speak NYC (formerly We Are New York) is New York City’s English Language Learning program that provides civic-focused instruction through videos, web and print materials, and free community classes. The videos and materials highlight City services and have been used extensively in both formal and informal ESL classrooms as well as for self-study by English Language Learners (ELLs). The first season of the We Speak NYC videos addresses issues such as education, health, emergency preparedness, and domestic violence. Each of the Season One videos are accompanied by a 36-page full-color workbook containing storyboards and exercises for intermediate learners to practice English at home and in the classroom, a short reader for high beginners to practice reading skills, and multilingual magazines providing in-depth information about City services that are highlighted in the videos. The second season focuses on workforce development, worker rights, mental health, elder care, social services, early childhood education, and immigration legal help. Season Two videos have closed captioning in Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, English, Russian, and Spanish. Users can also download the video's script in order to practice their reading. An evaluation of the We Speak NYC program reported that immigrants learning English found the videos especially helpful because the production values (e.g., actors speaking clearly and slowly directly into the camera, repetition of key vocabulary, and subtitles) make the content accessible in ways unlike any other English language TV show. Viewers reported that they want to watch the show because they can understand the English; the storyline is filled with topics that are relevant to their everyday lives; and the cast reflects the demographics of the City’s immigrant population.

The English Learner Family Toolkit was created to help families choose education services that meet their child’s needs. U.S. educators, elementary and secondary school teachers, principals, and other school staff can also share the toolkit as a resource for English learners and their families. The English Learner Family Toolkit consists of 6 chapters, and each chapter contains 5 sections - an overview, family and student rights, questions to ask schools, tips, and resources.