Resources Requested at ORTESOL 2022 Virtual Spring Workshop

Civics Lessons for Adults  https://eslbrains.com/lesson_category/global-issues/

Lower level adult reading https://sites.google.com/a/plaea.org/plaea-at/reading/text-to-speech

Listen and Read  https://esl-bits.net/

ESL/EFL Teaching/Learning Resources: Reading  http://academics.smcvt.edu/cbauer-ramazani/Links/esl_reading.htm

Especially to Tutors and Volunteers

by Linda Rasmussen, Adult Ed SIG Chairperson

Like ORTESOL, the American Federation of Teachers, provides information and training for Members, both non- and professional educators. For example, the Volunteer Tutor Training of Portland Literacy Council is reinforced by webinar speaker Adam Strom of the organization Re-imaging Migration. Although focused on grade-school stud Strom presents what is also relevant for Adult Education Many more videos are available from AFT's “Share My Lesson Virtual Conference,” through free, public registration.

In “What Every Teacher Should Know . . . ,” Mr. Strom includes simple graphics, showing why he emphasizes that we “have their [e.g. our students’] backs.” Viewers clearly see the Hierarchy of Needs on one slide and, on another, Strom’s immigrant’s “Unrecognized Strengths and Values.” All training and education in ESOL teaches to build relationships that reassure and invite learning. As direct social-emotional learning (SEL) increases for children, we concentrate on positive interactions in Adult Ed. Mr. Strom lists “five things we can do:”

1. Understand perspectives.

2. Inquire about human migration with care and nuance.

3. Communicate and build relationships across differences.

4. Recognize power and inequities in the human experience and migration.

5. Take action to foster inclusive and sustainable societies.

Adults deserve high expectations and deep learning experiences, just as Mr. Strom reminds us that school children do. For example, students are interested in topics of current world issues and events.

Consider these resources resources on Re-imaging Immigration’s website and their YouTube Channel: 

• immigrant experiences in Teaching Moving Stories from The Reimagining Migration Toolkit.

• a great form for reflection, on page 5 of the “Culturally Responsive Teaching Checklist”

• techniques similar to some in Portland Literacy Council’s Volunteer Tutor Training: Teaching Moving Stories  and Cultivating Learning: Connecting Through Family Stories, techniques similar to some in Portland Literacy Council’s Volunteer Tutor Training.

• 15-minute on-demand webinars, such as Perspectives on Anti-Immigrant Prejudice for Educators, in the on-demand professional development library.

AFT’s Share My Lesson videos for Adult Ed. ESOL include:

• 30 Clues for Predicting the Pronunciation of Words in English

• Free, Educational Road to Racial Justice "Board" Game

• Understanding the Refugee Experience: Welcome to the New World