Hello, all. 

		There will be a focused discussion on the electronic
list for those working with adult English language learners next week,
January  26- 30.  It might be of interest to some of you on the
assessment list. 

		The topic is Working with Adult English Language
Learners with Limited Literacy. 

		Background: 
		Some of you work with learners whose native language is
not English.  In many situations, learners with limited literacy in
their native language must study with other students with more
educational background and literacy experience in high-beginning and
intermediate ESL classes. The obstacles to effective learning persist at
these levels, but most textbooks they receive assume a certain level of
literacy, and use complex print to teach primarily language acquisition.
In addition, instructional approaches can often privilege print literacy
skills over oral language strengths.

		This discussion will explore the issues of working with
those with limited literacy and preferences for learning through the
oral modes. How can strong oral skills be used to promote literacy? Are
there promising methods for focusing on literacy development for
learners with limited print literacy? And how do teachers plan lessons
when a class has vastly different prior experience with formal schooling
and different strengths across literacy and oral language skills?  

		 The guest facilitator is Martha Bigelow.  Dr Bigelow
teaches in the Second Languages and Cultures Program in the Department
of Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Minnesota. She has
studied how English language learners (ages 16-28) with low print
literacy make use of oral feedback, and has examined the strengths and
challenges that older students with limited formal schooling and low
literacy bring to oral language development in English. She has also
studied the Somali and English literacy skills of young Somali women
(ages 17-21) who are newcomers to the United States and have had limited
formal schooling.  

		
		 
		In preparation:
		If you would like to do a little pre-reading before the
discussion, you can read a brief article on Dr. Bigelow's work with
Somali women; it's on a Web page of the University of Minnesota at  
		 
		 http://cehd.umn.edu/Pubs/Research/Bigelow/default.html
<http://cehd.umn.edu/Pubs/Research/Bigelow/default.html> .  
		 
		 
		You can also read a brief synthesis of recent research
and promising practices for working with adult English language
learners; it's on the CAELA Network at
		 
	
http://www.cal.org/caelanetwork/pd_resources/literacy.html
<http://www.cal.org/caelanetwork/pd_resources/literacy.html> 
		 
		 
		
		For more information, including a bio of Dr. Bigelow,
see the full announcement at 

	
http://www.nifl.gov/lincs/discussions/englishlanguage//09programs.html
<http://www.nifl.gov/lincs/discussions/englishlanguage//09programs.html>


		  
		To sign up:
		  For those of you not already on the adult English
language learners discussion list, here's the link to join: 
		http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/englishlanguage
<http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/englishlanguage>  

		Hope you can participate with us there next week. 
		Thanks. 
		Miriam 
		************* 
		Miriam Burt, Moderator, Adult English Language Learners
discussion list 
		mburt at cal.org 

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