The 6 Principles for Exemplary Teaching of English Learners: Adult Education and Workforce Development

Overview

TESOL International Association has defined a core set of principles for the exemplary teaching and learning of English as a new language. This exciting new book applies these principles to adults learning English in adult education and workforce development settings. The 6 Principles and their recommended practices are targets of teaching excellence that provide teachers with the knowledge to improve instruction and assessment. Instructional techniques are illustrated with a multitude of classroom examples and vignettes. The 6 Principles will help educators develop English language instruction that directly serves learners’ needs and goals; respect, affirm, and promote learners’ home languages and cultural knowledge and experiences as resources; implement engaging and relevant lessons that build 21st-century workplace skills; support learners in their acculturation to a new country; and teach learners strategies that can sustain their language learning outside the classroom. The book highlights important aspects of second language learning to help teachers create beneficial conditions for productive English language development. Further, it presents a valuable overview of challenges that adult learners face and offers potential solutions to obstacles that affect their acquisition of English. Sample tools (e.g., charts, techniques, activities) are ready to use in the adult English language classroom.

Author Biography

Andrea B. Hellman, Ed.D. is Assistant Professor of TESOL/Linguistics at Missouri State University, where she directs the iELT-Ozarks Project, a National Professional Development grant. A recipient of the Christopher Brumfit Award, her research focuses on second language vocabulary attainment and the preparation of mainstream teachers for English learners. She is a Hungarian-English bilingual, an adult immigrant to the U.S.

Dr. Amea Wilbur is an instructor at the University of the Fraser Valley. She holds an Ed.D from the Department of Educational Studies, UBC. Her practice and research are focused on creating inclusive learning spaces and supporting marginalized learners in English as Additional Language and Adult Education.

Kathy Harris, PhD has been interested in adult learning for over 20 years, especially adults learning English as a second language and digital skills for work, health, and education. Harris is the director of the Literacy, Language and Technology Research group at Portland State University in the Department of Applied Linguistics.