Harnessing Technology Web Page

ESOL/ESL
Problem: Students' need for ESOL practice at home

"My ESL students want more practice in listening and speaking English at home. They want to listen to native speakers using basic conversational English and to practice these expressions."

Solution 1: Television broadcasts and videocassette tapes

  • Public Television broadcasts Connect with English and  Crossroads Cafe  These are 26 part half hour broadcasts designed for intermediate level students.

    • Cheryl Tondreau, a Literacy Specialist with Literacy Volunteers of Northern Rhode Island's Project LEARN in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, says this about Crossroads Cafe: "I have used the Crossroads Cafe Video and accompanying work texts and worksheets for the past few months.  My students (who are at different English Literacy levels) enjoy this program and are excited about learning new vocabulary and grammar each week." 11/12/99
     
  • A new T.V. video magazine program,  TV411,  called by some a "Sesame Street for Adults," might also be useful for this purpose.
    •
    Solution 2: Web sites

    There are several WorldWide Web sites which have streaming or downloadable audio. Included among these are:

    Solution 3:  Audio- and videotapes

    Public libraries in North America, and perhaps elsewhere, often have audio- and videotapes for English learners.  And some public libraries, such as the Boston Public Library in the city where I teach, also have ESL books and English language conversation groups.

    Solution contributed 8/9/99 by:
    Maryana Huston
    Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center
    Adult ESL Program
    Boston, MA

    Solution 4: Telephone

    "One way that our students do this is to call each other for five to 15 minutes a night.  They exchange telephone numbers and then call at a convenient time. They also are encouraged to call instructors and leave messages on tape recorders if they are going to be absent from school. "

    Solution contributed November 6, 1999 by:
    Tommy B. McDonell
    Executive Director and Co-Founder
    Learning English Adult Program, Inc., of NYC
    New York, NY 10001

    Solution 5: Telephone

    Stimulated by the above solution, a colleague sent me a 1991 New York Times article in which a recent immigrant to New York City described how -- to practice his English -- he called toll-free retail outlet phone numbers and requested catalogues.  He got to practice his English listening and speaking, and got lots of  English reading materials in his mailbox.  A follow-up Times article mentioned that his phone was now ringing off the hook with people who wanted to talk with him in English. This strategy, however, might not work for all students.

    Solution contributed November 10 by:
    Roger Hooper
    Massachusetts Corporation for Educational Telecommunications
    Cambridge, Massachusetts

    Problem: A way for ESL/ESOL and low-level literate adults to look up definitions and get pronunciations quickly with a portable technology aid

    Solution: Reading Pen

    My library purchased two Quicktionary Reading Pens, one English only and one Spanish/English.  We keep them at the Reference Desk and patrons may use them in-house, just as they would use a calculator or magnifying glass to access information more readily.  The pens work to help intermediate ESL students read on their own.  It takes less time to scan than use the dictionary and the pronunciation is a help.  Some dyslexic readers also can move through material with less frustration.

    The Quicktionary Pen was developed in Israel and has been available in the U.S. for nearly a year.  (They are still quite expensive. )  The reader scans a word and the pen displays the dictionary definition.  The pen also pronounces the word in English.

    References to pages describing the pen:   http://www.dyslexic.com/qttrans.htm

    Problem and solution contributed on 7/25/99 by:
    Sandra Gustafson, Coordinator
    Adult Literacy Program
    Hutchinson Public Library
    Hutchinson, KS

    Problem:  Web pages for ESL/ESOL students who are far below the college level.

    Solution 1: Rebecca's EZ Page http://alri.org/ltc/ezpage/

    Solution 2:  Colorful Clothesline http://Hub1.WorldEd.org/docs/clothing/index.html
    This Web page is a simple lesson created to introduce level 1 ESL students to clothing, colors,
    and color patterns. Students can test their knowledge of colors and clothing, then take a quiz to  what they learned.

    Problem contributed  on 8/2/99 by Betsy Cohler.
    Rebecca's EZ Page solution suggested by David J. Rosen
    Colorful Clothesline solution suggested 10/15/99 by Steve Quann, Boston, Massachusetts

    Problem:  Information about Immigration
    Where can teachers and students find answers to their questions about immigration laws in the U.S., about the experience of being an immigrant, about myths, stereotypes and facts concerning immigrants?

    Solution: Web pages
    Good links to Web pages on immigration will be found at  http://www2.wgbh.org/mbcweis/immigrants.html

    Problem:  How to teach in a multilevel classroom
    The multilevel classroom in adult ESL/ESOL is a frequent, chronic and tough problem for teachers and students.

    Solution:  Web Pages of a journal on this topic
    Several Boston area teachers write about how they address this problem in an online version of Connections, the Journal of the Adult Literacy Resource Institute in Boston on the EasternLINCS Website at 

    http://alri.org/pubs.html#connect

    Problem: "I am working to develop a specific, leveled curriculum for our quickly expanding adult ESL program.  Does anyone have any website suggestions or a curriculum they would be willing to share?"

    Solution: CD-ROM
    "DynEd's New Dynamic English, which builds competency in reading, listening and speaking, is a 4 level multimedia program designed for adults. The program comes with an Instructor's Manual and features Placement Testing, Mastery Testing and a sophisticated Records Manager System.  Prentice Hall Regents has created a leveled textbook curriculum to compliment the multimedia.  CD Demos are free of charge - just send your address."

    Problem posted on the NIFL-ESL E-list on 9/7/99
    Claire Russell
    La Comunidad Hispana
    Kennett Square, PA

    Solution posted on the NIFL-ESL E-list on 9/7/99
    Christine M. Whelan
    DynEd
    <cwhelan@dyned.com>

    Problem:  "I have beginning readers mixed in with people who already know the sounds of the Roman alphabet.  They need drill time just memorizing the sounds of the letters so they can learn new words with the rest of the class.  And tutors don't know enough about what the students do know to build on their strengths and help them move quickly.  Phonics software seems to be a good solution but I've never seen any that uses language appropriate to adults."

    Solution: Web Page

    Try Rebecca's EZ Page at  http://alri.org/ltc/ezpage/ .  Click on Sounds for Somalis -- Phonics for Beginning Readers.  It was written specifically for Somali adults who speak some English but have no formal education (though it would also be useful for other populations).  A learner can use it on her own once someone helps her get started.

    Problem and Solution contributed on November 12, 1999 by:
    Rebecca Pomerantz
    Jamaica Plain Community Centers Adult Learning Program
    Boston, MA

    Problem: Pronunciation practice

    Solution: CD-ROM
    "American Speech Sounds (CD Rom software) is what we use specifically for
    pronunciation in our computer lab.  I like this program's ability to focus
    on specific vowel and consonant sounds."

    Solution posted December 7, 1999 on the NIFL-ESL list by:
    Jennifer Jozwiak

    Problem: Phonological Awareness
    "Are there any programs for developing phonological awareness in adult English language learners ?"

    Solution 1: CD-ROM
    "I use Wilson Reading System which, to me, is a lifesaver.  The whole system includes methodical, organized strategies and resources that teach phonological awareness in a fun, step-by-step way.  It was designed for dyslexic adults and children, but the beginning level, where phonological awareness is built, would be useful for ESL  learners.  Contact:

         Wilson Language Training
         175 W. Main St.
         Millbury, MA  01527-1441

         1-800-899-8454.

    http://www.wilsonlanguage.com/

    Problem posted December 6, 1999 on the NIFL-ESL List by:
    SRMigdail

    Solution posted December 7, 1999 on the NIFL-ESL List by:
    Sherri Cartee
    Springs Industries

    Solution 2: CD-ROM

    "...the Language Tune Up Kit available from JWOrby and associates www.jwor.com ...includes a CD and is highly interactive.

    We also have used the Phonetic Reading Chain by Ruth Worden Frank.  It is a bit archaic, but sound.  Our institution has a set of tapes that accompanies it.  You may want to contact my colleague, Gary Miller at garym@kwantlen.bc.ca for more information on the tapes he has developed to accompany it and for more information about it."

    Solution posted December 6, 1999 on the NIFL-ESL List by:
    Bev Krieger
    Kwantlen University College
    ACP Department
    Langley Campus
    12666-72 Avenue
    Surrey, BC Canada V3W 2M8

    Problem: Is it possible to teach ESL and computer skills at the same time?

    Solution 1: Book

    Solution 2: Website

    Word Plus for ESL Curriculum
    http://www.americaconnects.net/research/wordplusESOL.asp
    Free, Web-based ESL?ESOL curriculum which integrated computer skills

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    Page last updated 2/7/04 by David J. Rosen