[NLA] Focus on instruction for adult English language learners

[Miriam Burt]

English language learners make up a significant segment of the adult education population in the United States. 

In program year 2001-2002, 42% of the participants in state administered adult education programs were enrolled in English as a second language classes. This percentage does not include adult English learners who are being served in other segments of the system, such as GED, adult basic education (ABE), and adult secondary education (ASE).  To meet the large demand for English language instruction, existing adult education programs are expanding, and new ones are being established.

Who are these English learners? Where do they come from? What kind of instruction is being provided them? What kind of instruction should be provided them? 

To answer these questions, read Adult English Language Instruction in the 21st Century. This 40-page document, published by the National Center for ESL Literacy Education (NCLE) at the Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL) provides an overview of the field of adult English as a second language (ESL) instruction in the United States today. First, it places adult ESL in the broader context of the U.S. education system, and then it describes trends and issues in the areas of program design and instructional practice, assessment, teacher training and professional development, integration of research and practice, and technology. 

The document, on line at NCLE’s Website, can be found at http://www.cal.org/ncle/languageinstruction.htm

It is available both in English http://www.cal.org/ncle/languageinstructionEng.pdf

and in Spanish http://www.cal.org/ncle/languageinstructionSp.pdf

Miriam Burt
Associate Director, National Center for ESL Literacy Education (NCLE)
Center for Applied Linguistics
4646 40th Street NW
Washington, DC 20015
(202) 362-0700 (phone)
(202) 363-7204 (fax)
miriam at cal.org
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Visit NCLE's Web site at www.cal.org/ncle
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