Developing Language Skills and Content Knowledge of Adult Learners

• In Event: 14.044 - Roundtable Session 2
  In Roundtable Session: 14.044-28 - Enhancing Skills of Adult English Language Learners

Abstract

Reading comprehension is the foundation for all aspects of adult education and workforce development. To comprehend complex academic content, learners need both a strong vocabulary and a rich conceptual framework of the content. Especially for ESL learners, language instruction cannot be divorced from academic content, because language learners need to understand complex information on topics such as health, finance, civics, law, that affect their lives. We describe the characteristics of an ESL program for adult learners that was developed to facilitate language development while covering American history and civics content. The evaluation data indicate that this program led to significantly stronger growth in vocabulary and comprehension compared to a control group.

Authors

• Aydin Durgunoglu, University of Minnesota - Duluth

• Anurag Sagar, Center For Literacy

• Kathy Fagan