Return-Path: <nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id i24DknI02363; Thu, 4 Mar 2004 08:46:49 -0500 (EST) Date: Thu, 4 Mar 2004 08:46:49 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: <004501c401ee$2a84b180$0302a8c0@wtrbct.adelphia.net> Errors-To: listowner@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: "Bonnie Odiorne" <bonniesophia@adelphia.net> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-ESL:9983] RE: adult ed ESL requirements X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook CWS, Build 9.0.2416 (9.0.2910.0) Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Type: text/plain; Status: O Content-Length: 8866 Lines: 244 I work for a CBO which received a PIP (Program Improvement Project) grant through the Workforce Investment Act. That was at the beginning of the Act when (in CT) things were transferred to the State Dept of Education and there was explicit openness to CBOs and other innovative collaborations with targeted programming in the priority areas. Since then, we've had to follow the guidelines and regulations of any other CT adult ed entity: certification of teachers (ABE required, with an ESL endorsement), reporting of testing (CASAS) on the state database, demographics, outcomes etc. In CT, granted, requirements for ABE and ESOL are minimal (a Special Needs course, and a Methods and Materials course in ESL), but we do have excellent professional development through regionally organized travelling workshops directed by the Adult Training and Development Network through the Capitol Regional Education Center. Anyone is able to take these workshops free of charge. Because of my own transportation issues, I would seriously welcome online professional development. As for minimal qualifications: My first CBO was a literacy-related agency, and there were structured trainings with a lot of resources available. The training of trainers and of tutors was very regulated and I believe the content was/is solid. As lead trainer I constantly updated the workshops according to latest theories and best practices. My second CBO is more technology-related, and we benefited from CT's initiatives in technology instructional development. I am essentially instructor and administrator for our program. While there are CBOs who emphasize volunteers, I don't believe that that is any excuse for slipshod methodology, and while you have to put that to volunteers gently, program affiliation requirements on the national level made it mandatory and volunteers adhere to certain standards. In my second position my certification did have to be verified, but we weren't "allowed" to do any less because we're small. In fact to the contrary. I DO believe that there is still a place for CBOs in the adult education arena, providing targeted individualized programs that would burden larger adult ed departments. My classes have always been combined ABE/ESL which is a challenge but I believe ultimately benefits both groups. I believe that my training in reading instruction has served me very well for ESL. (No, not flash cards) Warmest Regards, Bonnie Odiorne Ph.D Program Faciliator Working Smart Computers 4 Kids Silas Bronson Library Information Technology Center Waterbury, CT Integrating Technology, ABE and ESL Instruction -----Original Message----- From: nifl-esl@nifl.gov [mailto:nifl-esl@nifl.gov]On Behalf Of Pecoraro, Diane Sent: Wednesday, March 03, 2004 12:42 PM To: Multiple recipients of list Subject: [NIFL-ESL:9978] RE: adult ed ESL requirements As the percentage of ESL learners in ABE programs grows, and with the addition of community-based organizations(CBO's) as service providers, the issue of qualifications is valid and raises questions. I will pose a few for discussion. What are acceptable minimal qualifications for an ABE/ESL teacher in a standard school district or community college-both of which are usually part of a larger bureaucratic system? And what about staff in CBO's ? What should be the minimum qualifications for these teachers? Should qualifications for all teachers be the same regardless of setting, or should/must the differences in mission and organization be taken into account? This should stoke a few comments. I hope so! Diane Pecoraro MN Department of Education 1500 Highway 36 West Roseville, MN 55113 651 582-8424 diane.pecoraro@state.mn.us Fax. 651 634-5154 -----Original Message----- From: Betsy Kubota [mailto:bkubota@comcast.net] Sent: Wednesday, March 03, 2004 9:59 AM To: Multiple recipients of list Subject: [NIFL-ESL:9974] RE: adult ed ESL requirements If you go to Common Qualifications for ESOL Teachers at http://www.tesol.org/careers/counsel/qualifications.html you will find the information the "other" Ms. Kubota was refering to. There are some states that have mandated standards for Adult ESL teachers but most still do not have any set requirements so it is up to the individual program. Betsy Kubota Harper College Palatine, IL -----Original Message----- From: nifl-esl@nifl.gov [mailto:nifl-esl@nifl.gov]On Behalf Of Frances Keenan Sent: Wednesday, March 03, 2004 9:42 AM To: Multiple recipients of list Subject: [NIFL-ESL:9972] adult ed ESL requirements Unless I missed it, I do not see anything on the TESOL site about requirements for adult education ESL teaching. I don't believe such a list is maintained at the national level. It would be a great resource for the field if it were developed! Fran -----Original Message----- From: nifl-esl@nifl.gov [mailto:nifl-esl@nifl.gov] On Behalf Of carol E. Kubota Sent: Tuesday, March 02, 2004 8:13 PM To: Multiple recipients of list Subject: [NIFL-ESL:9969] Re: question on intensity of instruction and Dear Diane, If you go to the website of TESOL, www.tesol.org,you will find information about the ESL certificate. Each state has different requirements, but the information on TESOL applies to almost all situations. Carol E. Kubota Director/Language and Culture Specialist Battle Creek Language and Culture Center 7 Heritage Oak Lane #4 Battle Creek, Mi. 49015 www.bclanguageculture.com > What is an ESL Certificate? > > Diane Pecoraro > MN Department of Education > 1500 Highway 36 West > Roseville, MN 55113 > 651 582-8424 > diane.pecoraro@state.mn.us > Fax. 651 634-5154 > > -----Original Message----- > From: kate.diggins [mailto:kate.diggins@slc.k12.ut.us] > Sent: Tuesday, March 02, 2004 12:43 PM > To: Multiple recipients of list > Subject: [NIFL-ESL:9963] Re: question on intensity of instruction and > teacher qualification > > Hi, Lisa! > > I'm with Guadalupe Schools in Salt Lake City. Private non-profit that > utilizes community volunteers on site to deliver instruction to small groups > > of low-income adult immigrants. We provide ESL and US Citizenship. > > Intensity: 4 hours per week, 48 weeks per year. > > Qualifications: Minimum would be an ESL Certificate, although an MA- TESL is > > preferred. On our staff of 6 persons, we have 4 with MA-TESLs, one with an > ESL Certificate, and one without qualifications who has been with the > program since its inception many years ago. > > Many thanks for your hard work! > > > > ---------- Original Message ----------- > From: "Lisa Soricone" <soricoli@gse.harvard.edu> > To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov> > Sent: Tue, 2 Mar 2004 13:21:05 -0500 (EST) > Subject: [NIFL-ESL:9961] question on intensity of instruction and teacher > qualification > > > Hello -- > > As some of you may already know, a team of researchers at the > > National Center for the Study of Adult Learning and Literacy (NCSALL) > > is currently developing an evidence- or research-based model for > > adult basic education programs. In the course of our work, two > > issues have come up, around which I would appreciate some feedback > > from people working in the field: > > > > 1) intensity of instruction > > What do your programs tend to look like, with respect to the > > intensity of instruction offered -- that is, how many hours are > > provided per week, for how many weeks in the year? > > > > 2) teacher qualification > > We are trying to move beyond simply saying that programs need to > > hired "qualified staff." What exactly does it mean to be a > > qualified teacher/administrator/counselor in ABE? More specifically, > > what do you consider the most essential qualifications for ABE > > instructors in general? GED instructors? ESOL instructors? ABE > administrators? > > ABE counselors? > > > > I appreciate your sharing your thoughts on these issues and look > > forward to hearing from you. > > > > Lisa Soricone > > Research Associate > > National Center for the Study of Adult Learning and Literacy > ------- End of Original Message ------- > -- CoreComm Webmail. http://home.core.com _________________________________________________________ Be more informed. Be more connected. Be more PBS. Become a member of your PBS station today. www.pbs.org __________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ This email may contain material that is confidential or proprietary to PBS and is intended solely for use by the intended recipient. Any review, reliance or distribution of such material by others, or forwarding of such material without express permission, is strictly prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please notify the sender and destroy all copies. __________________________________________________________________
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Thu Dec 23 2004 - 09:46:40 EST