English Literacy programs are designed to help individuals of limited English proficiency achieve competence in the English language. Individuals of limited English proficiency are those who have a limited ability in speaking, reading, writing, or understanding the English language; whose native language is a language other than English; or who live in a family or community where a language other than English is the dominant language.

Research and Evaluation

• The Center for Adult English Language Acquisition (CAELA) focuses on building the capacity of states with emerging English as a second language (ESL) populations to provide systematic training and effective, ongoing technical assistance to teachers and administrators in adult English language acquisition programs. CAELA also provides and disseminates research-based resources and promising practices at the national level for more effective adult English language acquisition instruction. Also, review the latest briefs related to adult ESL instruction.

• CAELA created a new ESL Resource Database that contains dissertation abstracts, academic journals, technical government papers and reports, literature reviews, monographs, and other annotated documents of interest to teachers, administrators, students, and researchers interested in adult ESL.

• The Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL) announces BEST Plus, the newest addition of CAL's language testing products. BEST Plus is an adaptation of the Basic English Skills Test (BEST) oral interview. The BEST Plus assesses interpersonal communication using everyday language.

• What's New? Reaching Working Adults with English for Speakers of Other Languages Instruction (ESOL) A Best Practices Report PDF (107 KB) details two important models that have the potential to assist working immigrants who want to learn English, but find it difficult to attend ESL classes.

Noteworthy Practices

• The Practitioner Toolkit: Working with Adult English Language Learners was published by the National Center for Family Literacy (NCFL) and the Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL), December 2004. The Toolkit, divided into five parts, was designed to give support to adult education instructors and programs that lack the infrastructure to serve the immigrant population in rural areas, faith-based organizations, and smaller publicly funded projects.

• The Tennessee Adult ESOL Curriculum Resource Book PDF (1.8 M) provides facts on student learning plans as defined by Tennessee levels 1-6, multi-level classes, materials and resources, student portfolios, and general information for new ESOL teachers.

• Learn English with Project Connect creates supplemental Web-based instruction for intermediate adult ESL learners. The self-paced Web site, developed by PBS, is now with KET of Kentucky, and first time users need to register.

• ESL Special Collection LINCS: English as a Second Language. California Literacy, Inc., operates the ESL Special Collection. LINCS provides information on mini-grants, new proposals, family Literacy, etc. The LINCS Special Collections are one-stop electronic gateways to high-quality literacy practices/materials for use in adult education and literacy programs.

Additional Links

• ESL Lesson Plans and Resources, prepared by California State University, Northridge, offers an array of adult education lesson plans, materials, activities, interactive quizzes, phonic games, and teaching tips using video in the classroom.

• The Jones Library offers various independent study tools for learning English: videos, interactive practice with grammar, simple techniques for tutors, as well as "The Rosetta Stone" series.

• Verizon Literacy University (VLU) is designed to help literacy volunteers, program staff, and community members build a more literate nation. VLU offers free online courses, volunteer orientations, training resources, and resources for adult and ESL literacy programs. (Produced and managed by the National Center for Family Literacy and ProLiteracy Worldwide with support from Verizon Communications)

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