For the final two classes (11/16 and 11/23), I would like you to research ONE key area in the field of adult ESL education. Please let me know by Friday Oct. 30 which area you want to research–lst and 2nd choices please). You can also suggest any additional area for research. I would prefer that you work with a partner (maybe 2 partners), but if you want to work alone, that’s o.k.

I have posted the internet link to the Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL) ESL Practitioner Toolkit. It has excellent information on each of these areas and lots of additional links to get you started on choosing a topic and doing research.

Format: 20-30 minute interactive presentation to the class on either 11/16 or 11/23. (the amount of time will depend on the number of presenters and the number of different topics. I will assign you to a specific day.)

Possible topics:

1. Initial assessment. How do you find out what your students already know, what they want to know, how they learn, their previous experiences and interests? What commercially produced materials are available for initial assessment? Where can you find teacher produced materials? What classroom activities can you use to assess your students?

2. Literacy: How is literacy defined? How do you teach non-literate students? Activities? Materials? What happens when you have a multi-level class? What is family literacy? Are there any L1 literacy programs that prepare students for L2 literacy? How does the Participatory Approach fit with teaching literacy?

3. VESL (Vocational ESL) and Workplace ESL: What programs are available to help students learn the language of employment, both in general and specficially for different jobs? What materials are available? Are there VESL textbooks? How has the Participatory Approach been used in VESL classes?

4. Final assessment: How do you assess students’ progress in your course? Are there required government tests? How do students move from level to level? Is there a limit to the amount of time students can study in government programs? What is the politics of assessment for adult ESL?

5. A topic of your choice.