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 Within
the last thirty years, Adult ESOL programs throughout the
U.S. have moved away from traditional English as a second
language (ESL) approaches to language teaching, where teachers
taught isolated English language skills in decontextualized
environments. These outdated methods have been replaced
with context-rich, competency-based instruction using topics
critical for immigrant adults to become better informed,
fully participating members of the U.S. economy.
ESOL competency-based instruction or competency-based
education (CBE) includes topics such as workplace literacy,
job skills, food and money as contexts for language learning.
Health-related topics have also been a recommended component
of competency-based Adult ESOL programs for several decades.
With any competency-based instructional environment it
is important for teachers to get feedback from the students
regarding topics of importance or interest to them. Teachers
of adult English language learners (ELLs) must remember
that although their learners' language skills might be limited,
as adults these students bring a lifetime of knowledge,
experience, and their own special interests and needs to
the classroom. And if adult ELLs are to gain communicative
competence, they must be actively involved in the learning
process with strategies and activities that are engaging
and meaningful.
To assist you as participants of this training in your
classrooms, numerous printable lesson plans and activities
are included throughout, as indicated by the link labeled
From Web to Classroom. Additionally, Strategies
That Work introduces effective ESOL strategies used
in specific applications related to teaching health literacy.
Finally, there are numerous internet resources available
on the web for students and teachers alike. This web-based
training will provide links to some of these valuable resources.
Your collaboration with other creative teachers is important, so bulletin board activities
throughout this training invite you to consider these classroom lesson plans, activities, and
strategies in the context of your own classrooms and to share your own ideas and classroom teaching
success stories.
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