Adult ESOL in Theory and Practice (1 of 14, Boston)

Description: This is a 14-week UMass course taught by Professor Elsa Auerbach, open to a limited number of teachers at ABE programs at no cost (unless credit is desired). After briefly exploring several approaches to teaching adult ESOL, participants focus on the participatory approach in depth, examining its theoretical basis, curriculum development processes, and tools for classroom practice. We will work through the steps of participatory curriculum development for adult ESOL students, engaging in activities which model classroom practice, and exploring issues that arise from practice. Course participants will engage in practice with tools for context analysis, identification of themes, thematic curriculum and materials development, and assessment. In addition, we will examine strategies for addressing classroom problems.

Learning Objectives:

As a result of attending this course, participants will be able to: 1) Identify and compare several approaches to teaching adult ESOL students. 2) Critique about ESOL learning materials and textbooks. 3) Engage in a participatory curriculum development process including: conducting a context analysis; identifying themes or topics around which to build curriculum; designing learning activities based on these themes; and designing assessment materials and activities. 4) Develop strategies for addressing classroom problems.