INTRODUCTION TO ESOL

The English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) curriculum supplement is intended to be a fluid document which can be adapted in response to changing needs and interests of the student and to changing requirements of the community. The strategies and goals are designed to be descriptive rather than prescriptive, and educators should select from among the varied options provided. ESOL is most effectively taught in context, not isolation. Therefore, curriculum should be both contextualized and customized to meet the needs and interests of individual learners.

This curriculum supplement consists of three components:
  • Suggested learning goals, objectives, and examples. The examples reflect a range from beginning to more advanced levels, so as to assist users in choosing appropriate activities based on the skill levels of their individual learners.
  • Exit criteria or competencies which provide useful assessment and intake information.
  • Suggested content areas and contexts which can be the focus for contextualizing the curriculum.

Underlying Assumptions

The assumptions upon which this work has been based are as follows:
Learning does not take place in isolation, and curriculum elements are interrelated.
Teaching and learning ESOL is a joint effort involving the individual, the school, the family, and the community in an ongoing commitment to achieving improved communication. Listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills should be taught in an integrated fashion whenever possible throughout the entire curriculum.

The learning process should involve the adult student as an active participant.
Since learners are the center of the learning process, the process should be defined with learner input. As this process evolves, the learners are enabled, through improved communication ability and greater cross-cultural understanding, to deal with requirements and challenges of home, school, work, and community more effectively. The purpose of learning ESOL is to realize individual student goals, which may relate to one or more personal, family, work, or educational objectives. English is the medium for exploring diverse content areas which are relevant to the learners’ daily lives.

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