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ERIC ED384256: Hands-On English: A Periodical for Teachers and Tutors of Adult English as a Second Language, 1994-1995. PDF

102 Pages·1995·3.2 MB·English
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DOCUMENT RESUME FL 800 855 ED 384 256 Hands-on English, 1994-1995. TITLE Hands-on English, Crete, NE. INSTITUTION ISSN-1056-2680 REPORT NO PUB DATE 95 102p.; Published bimonthly. For volumes 1-3, see ED NOTE 374 686. Hands-on English, P.O. Box 256, Crete, NE 68333 AVAILABLE FROM (subscription, $16, $10 for volunteers and teacher's aides). Serials (022) Collected Works PUB TYPE Hands-on English; v4 n1-6 May 1994-Feb 1995 JOURNAL CIT MF01/PC05 Plus Postage. EDRS PRICE *Adult Basic Education; Adult Literacy; Book Reviews; DESCRIPTORS Class Activities; Classroom Research; *Classroom Techniques; Cultural Education; *English (Second Language); Games; Grammar; *Instructional Materials; *Literacy Education; Multilevel Classes (Second Language Instruction); Second Language Instruction; Student Research; Teaching Methods ABSTRACT This document consists of the six newsletter issues published during the 1994-1995 volume year. Intended for teachers and tutors of adult English as a Second Language (ESL), issues contain articles, book and materials reviews, letters, classroom techniques and activities, and announcements concerning the teaching of adult ESL. Articles address these topics: multilevel classes; student research; testing; online professional discussions; and literacy education; and a variety of classroom activities and techniques, including student "thought cards," closed-captioned video, lesson design for tutoring, creating an instructional idea file, question-asking, sentence combining, cultural awareness, classroom design, student minute-taking, famous quotations, and creating a class textbook. Reports of teacher mini-grant projects are also presented. A crossword puzzle for classroom use is included in each issue. (MSE) (Adjunct ERIC Clearinghouse on Literacy Education) *********************************************************************** * * Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made * * from the original document. *********************************************************************** Hands-on English May/June 1994 Volume IV, Number 1 July/August 1994 Volume IV, Number 2 September/October 1994 Volume IV, Number 3 November/December 1994 Volume IV, Number 4 January/February 1995 Volume IV, Number 5 March/April 1995 Volume IV, Number 6 U.S. DEPARTMENT Of EDUCATION Othce of Educational Research and improvement THIS PERMISS,ON To kEPRODUGE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION BY MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED CENTER (ERIC) 31.is document has been reproduced as wool-stair°. received Irom the person or ougmafing or to improve o Minor changes have been made reproduction oualrtv this docu points of view or opinions stated in official ment do not necessarily represent RESOURCES OERI posmon or policy 10 THE EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION CENTER ;ERICi BEST COPY AVAILABLE May/June 1994 Volume IV, Number 1 Hands-on E glish A periodical for teachers and tutors of adult English as a second language On the market Reviews of useful ESL materials should be used as supplemental material to the Vocabulary text other, more content-based materials your stu- "Developing Vocabulary Skills, Second Edition" dents are working on. by Dennis Keen (1994, Heinle & Heinle Pub- The glossary in the back of the books gives lishers, 1-800-354-9706). $12.00 (Teachers some word history and related vocabulary for Manual $4.00) ISBN 0-8384-4672-8. each word element studied. If we were teaching One of the hardest things to do in ESL is to from this book, we would probably emphasize find books that are appropriate for the needs of this material, and perhaps expand on it, be- the particular students you have. That's why cause we think it is useful for students to make we try to present a variety of materials in this connections between new words and words they column. already know (whether in English or in another The students who need this book are high language). intermediate to low advanced, with future aca- The exercises in this book are clear, useful, demic goals. If we were teaching a class of "pre- well-organized and even fun for the students. academic" studentsin an intensive program, We predict that working through them will give say, or a community collegewe'd make sure your students more control over the new vocab- each student had their own copy of this book ulary they will be meeting in the years ahead. and work through the entire book from cover to cover over the course of a semester or two. Aquiring English vocabulary is an over- whelming task, and you can't do it by Letters 3 memorizing lists. Stephen Krashen (author of From the field: many books and articles on reading and -Multi-level classes can work! 4 learning language) says you aquire new vocab- -Student research: inventions 7 ulary by reading a lot and recognizing new Tools & techniques: words in their context, and we agree with this -Thought cards 5 principle. -Closed-caption video for ESL 6 But we still believe it will help advanced -Getting online with TESLIT-L 8 studen ; if they are able to analyze new words Put the learner in the drivers' seat 9 Tutors, too: and put. some of the roots, prefixes and suffixes, Minigrants award winner: etc., into categories of meaning. The exercises -"A Plan for My Future" 10 in this book provide students with many of the Career Categories Crossword puzzle: 11 tools they need to analyze new words. 12 Hints & tips There are some nice readings in the book, Categories for sorting idea cards Idea tile: 13 but don't expect most of the material to be pre- News & notes 14 sented "in context" with "whole language" -an ESL cartoon "Nightschool" 16 activitiesthis is not its purpose. The book 1 3 g) Hands -on Englishicg. Volume IV, Number 1 May/June 1994 About the publication Hands-on English (ISSN 1056-2680) Hands-on English is a small, independent is published six times a year (Jan./Feu., publication that was started in 1991. The editor March/April, May/June, July/Aug., Sept./Oct., is a former ESL teacher who has taught ESL in Nov./Dec) by Hands-on English, P.O. Box 256, many settings, including adult education Crete, Nebraska 68333 USA. programs, a refugee program, community Printed by Precision Printing, Crete, Nebraska. college, and a university intensive English Copyright © 1994 Hands-on English program.. and survived to write about it! Subscription rates: $16 for regular Articles and ideas are contributed by subscribers, $10 (discounted rate) for volunteers experienced teachers and tutors, including our teacher's aides, $22 (multi-user rate) for readers. If you have an article or teaching libraries oi institutions. Postage & handling: suggestion you would like to share, we welcome Canada and Mexico add $4; outside N. America your input! add $10. Single copies of back issues are $4 each. About the Minigrants program Permission to photocopy: This periodical is Hands-on English awards a few small copyrighted. However, we invite teachers and grants (of $100 each) annually for practical tutors with a paid subscription (or whose classroom projects. Applications are due April institution has a paid subscription) to make as 30, and are available upon request. ok many copies as they need for their own classroom use. (Please don't make copies for On the road colleagues! We survive on subscriptions.) with Hands-on Editor: Anna Silliman English! (M.A.,Teachers College Columbia U.) (The editor, Consulting Editor: Karen Campbell heading off to Cartoonist: Michael Capurso the March Grants Manager: Peter Dowben TESOL Address correspondence to the editor at: conference in Hands-on English Baltimore, P.O. Box 256 MD.) Crete, NE 68333 USA Or: Fax/phone (402) 826-5426. Toll free call-in: 1-800-ESL-HAND E-mail: [email protected] Subscribe today! 11 Send this form with your check or money order (U.S. funds only) to the above address. Please send me a subscription to Hands-on English for one year (6 issues). I enclose: Name: $16 Regular teacher rate Permission to photocopy for teacher's own class(es) Address: $10 Discounted rate for volunteers or aides Permission to photocopy for your own student(s) $22 Multi-user rate for organizations Institution: Permission to copy for multiple teachers/tators Position: Postage/handling: Canada/Mexico add $4. Countries outside N. America add $10. Renewal Check one: New subscription . Lyrical letters Need holiday activities Here are two more poetic commentaries from "Dear Editor, our unstoppable readers: You're doing a great job!! Nevertheless I would like to see activities for the holidays, ie. "Hands-on English is really the best! St. Patrick's Day, Halloween, Valentine's Day. It really beats all of the rest! This wouk be most useful. Sincerely, With grab-bags and puzzles and Diana Kohl games, to add zest! Victoria, B.C., Canada We can all pick and choose, what we If any of our readers have holiday activities will put to the test! they'd like to share we'd be delighted to present It's marvelous, yes?" them in Hands-on English. Cathy Forsythe, Lewistown, PA Puzzler solved "Not much money at our house Debbie Weger, Sal Parlato, and Dorothy Maybe we can get it out of spouse Holmes, among others, all contacted us to say Love each volume that you send "Have a nice day." They weren't just being So cost of next year friendly thoughthey had decoded the message We'll certainly spend!" we printed in our last issue from a Spanish- Char leen Lyngstad, LVA Volunteer speaking student: Jabanaisde. Any more Kalispell, MT puzzlers out there? Poetry for students? More about coining Roumy Boukova in Santa Ana, California "Concerning the article: 'Coining, Aspirin wrote to ask if we know of any poetry books with and ESL,' (March/April '94 issue) it is important poems adapted for ESL students at the to note that using aspirin in conjunction with a beginning and intermediate levels. Do you know viral infection (ie., the flu) is not advisable. See of any? If so, please contact us and we'll pass the the warning section on any aspirin bottle. word along. "As teachers, most of our students look to us as advisors, almost the same as doctors. With and calls the potential of litigation so high, I would not recommend the use of any medication but would recommend the students to see a doctor. "In Phoenix, the Child Protective Services is New refugees aware of the practice of coining. The Vietnamese community and the Refugee resettlement We recently spoke with Beth Easter, who teaches adult students in Minneapolis. She programs have informed them About the practice. However, individiv mentioned that her program has a group of new doctors or school studentssome Bosnian refugees. Their principals may not be aware of it." stories, she says, "would break your heart," but Phil Allred, Lutheran Social Ministry they are excellent language learners and highly Phoenix, AZ motivated students. She also reported that some of the Bosnian students speak Russian or Polish in addition to their first language (Serho-Croatian), and get along very well with the Russian and Polish students in the program. flands-on English, Vol. IV. No.1 :3 From the field: they can work! Multi-level classes have stayed in my class while working on the We received this inspiring letter from Betty GED and have passed it. Others have gone Darden in Texas, and thought you would find it straight from my clas3 to regular classes in useful: junior college and have done well. Still others Dear Ms. Silliman, have been able to find a better job, which was I am writing to request the free combined their original goal all along. But the most index and also to tell you how much I have encouraging trend to me is the continuous enjoyed your newsletter. Since my ESL class is stream of former Intensive English "college" multi-level, I have used your multi-level puzzles students who hear about this class and come to and activities the most. Please continue to improve their listening-speaking skills. These provide as many of these as you can. students with very different educational backgrounds and levels somehow find what they I remember reading sometime back in your need in a multi-level class. editorial that you did not feel that multi-level classes were the best format for teaching ESL. Realities Five years ago when I was teaching single-level I agree that ideally single-level classes classes on the college level, I would have agreed should be the most successful at teaching with you. Now upon completing my fifth year as English in the shortest amount of time. a fulltime ESL teacher in an adult education However, given the case that around the world class, I have changed my opinion. more ESL teaching situations involve small numbers of students than not, I suggest that Time is key multi-level classes can be successful. Because our school is small, and I am the only ESL teacher, by necessity I teach a Thank you for helping me to be the best morning and afternoon multi-level class. These teacher I can be by sending me a first class classes meet for three hours a day, five days a periodical full of ideas and activities that I can week. Having this much time with the students actually useeven in a multi-level is the key I think for the success of the multi- environment. I look forward to having the index level class. so that now I can find those activities faster. Some ideas Sincerely, Since a reader had asked for suggestions for Betty J. Darden such a class, I will share with you what has Cassata Learning Center worked very well for me. My students study at Fort Worth, Texas their own pace for half of each class period in Book I, II, or III of Practical English (published by Harcourt Brace ESL, Further resources 1-800-742-5375 for information). The lase half of the class is devoted to group, pair, and Looking for more help with multi- various other communicative activities. level classes? Many teachers have recommended this book: I base the class activities on the vocabulary Teaching Multilevel Classes in ESL lesson for that week from the Basic Vocabulary Builder (by Dorothy Lebowitz, National by Jill Sinclair Bell Textbook Co., 1-800-323-4900). Whatever (Available from Dominie Press, $14.95. activities I can find that correlate to the 1-800-232-4570) vocabulary, I use them. I am continually adding The book includes many suggestions view activities and tossing out old ones as find for activities and exercises, practical better materials. Thus, each year is basically teaching suggestions and examples. the same but different enough so that some students who stay a year to two years are still challenged. Nothing succeeds like... The best indication to me that this class is meeting the needs of ESL students is the success of those who have left the class. Some 6 Hands-on English, Vol. III, No. 5 4 Tools tst techniques: "Thought cards" for writing and speaking them focus on one thought and discuss it, or by Denise &Heck, instructor at City College of have them give advice (written or oral) about an San Francisco, Alemany Campus. Her students issue. Another approach is to have them choose are adults in an open-enrollment, non-credit one thought that is the most important to them program. and have them write a response to it, or relate a Thought cards are a wonderful way for similar experience they may have had. ESL students to generate topics to write and When the next week's thought cards roll talk about. I learned about them from a friend around, many people will make comments who teaches health education to native-lan- about something they discussed the previous guage high school students. week, or they will respond to someone else's A thought card is a 3x5 card on which stu- thought. This provides some continuity in the dents can write anything they want to: their discussions. beliefs, interests, goals, fears, a joke, an obser- I kept all the cards until the end of the se- vation, a poem, a quote, a drawing, the weather, mester, and then returned them to the students politics, sports, or religion. I used them in a low- to reread and comment on any patterns they intermediate conversation/writing class, but saw in their own writing. they could probably be used in any class from high-beginning on up. Why it works Thought cards validate our students' How to do it feelings of self worth, because their own feelings Set aside one day each week when students and thoughts are being read aloud and dis- must turn in their cards. You can have them do cussed by others. Thought cards are good from a it for homework if you want to, and use the card pedagogical point of view because students are as a "ticket" into class. Or, give them 15 minutes working on vocabulary, conversation, writing or so to write at the beginning (or end) of the and reading while expressing themselves. class period. Everyone must turn in a signed and dated card. If they can't think of anything to To correct or not, that is the question say they can write "I have nothing to say this The first half of the semester, 1 did not week." correct the grammar on the thought cards be- After collecting the cards, select a few to cause I felt that since it was the students' type up. I usually had six or seven each week. personal writing I should leave it be. Midway Try to vary the subjects and students you select through the semester, however, some students each time. I also think it's important to keep the started saying they wanted me to correct them writers anonymous so the students can feel free What I did then was to clean up the grammar to write about anything. just on the handouts. On a second sheet I also typed up individual sentences from the cards The next day or later that week, distribute a which were grammatically incorrect and had sheet with that week's thoughts, which you students correct them in pairs. Used this way, have selected and typed up. Read them aloud (or the cards are a good grammar teaching tool. have students do it) and discuss any vocabulary they don't understand. Some sample student thought cards: The first week may be difficult because stu- feel very sad When I was in mu ,ountrti. dents aren't sure about the process and are thought that I I I was wrung was a heaven, but nervous about sharing. I gave a few personal can't find a 1,.21/ When I I C Vallery.t? examples that got them started (ie., / am very itv,t any place, then e451- me, To you I It,: have been here for 3 month,' I haven't done any p 4? 1. .). By the second week, stu- worried because. . I really worm for mil Ide [Jaw I can I have experience? .. dents will be comfortable enough to confide -1...11.1 live --s personal things on their cards. Lnow where I Or heaven hell? Follow up You can have students discuss all or some of fast, !eat-ft Encil,sh veal My little wn st.tidies in school He but the thoughts in pairs or in small groups. I often he cart I tea ;h li.n, a word a (4,14 Chinese words L.(1,,W I r. Lade up two or three discussion questions to go ,,ma day th. recTIC laucjh .at I row why he v., r.onf-tt,s'oi M 4`.11'7C with each thought. You can do many other tr4'1 110 rl't Art (4 f:111,05, Why things depending on the nature of your class and the abilities of your studentsyou can have BEST COPY AVAILABLE Tools & techniques: Closed-caption video for ESL Jeorgette Knoll from the Metro North ABE Helpful readers Learning Lab, Coon Rapids, Michigan, had The request from Jane Bailey for great success with a TV program called Rescue information about closed-caption videos we 911, a William Shatner docu-drama. She wrote: printed in our last issue brought us a flood of "The students read the TV story sentence by responses! Rather than devote an entire issue to sentence as the picture is paused on the TV. this exciting technology, we decided we had to Tutors and students like the pace, the summarize for you what we learned. vocabulary, and the real life situations. The Beneficial technology tutor often will preview the tape to pre-teach Closed captioning was developed by a non- some of the vocabulary or idioms. It takes about profit organization, the National Captioning an hour to read and explain line by line about 5 Institute, primarily for the purpose of providing minutes of TV. This means that one TV program access to television for deaf and hearing- can be used for a part of several tutoring impaired people. The educational value of sessions." written captions for television benefits not only Sal Parlato tells us that if you have a deaf the deaf a mmunity, though, but illiterate and student in your class you can benefit from the functional,y illiterate adults, children learning government's program of Captioned Films and to read, and of course ESL students of all ages. Video for the Deaf (CF/VD). They lend captioned Because all televisions made after July 1, videos or films free of charge to those qualifying. 1993 will have this technology built in, To apply, phone Modern Talking Pictures at eventually many more people will have access to 1-800-237-6213, or write them at 5000 Park the captions that are broadcast with most TV Avenue North, Saint Petersburg, FL 33709. shows and can be switched on or off as desired. For a short summary of all the latest To get these captions with older equipment, you techniques in using closed captions with adult need the original "TeleCaption Decoder," a ESL students, contact the National black box you hook up to your system. These can Clearinghouse on Literacy Education (NCLE), be purchased for about $125 where video Attn: Fran Keenan, 1118 22nd Street NW, equipment is soldfor example, Sears carries Washington, DC 20037. Send them a self- them. addressed, stamped envalope and ask for the "Open captions" are the same captions but ERIC Digest on Closed Captioned TV. The can't be switched on or off. With the right digest is free of charge. equipment you can record something with Several people have told us that the best book captions onto a video tape, which can then be for ideas on teaching with videos is: played on any VCR, whether it has a decoder or not. For classroom purposes, this might be a Video in Action: Recipes for Using Video in the more inexpensive approach. Language Classroom by Susan Stempleski and Barry Tomalin ($19.95 from Prentice Hall Resources International, 1-800-947-7700). For information about where to get a decoder As we get more information from our readers in your area, and for more information about about what works, we'll pass it along to you. using closed captions with ESL students, write: National Captioning Institute 5203 Leesburg Pike B Falls Church, VA 22041 A A 111 or call: (703) 998-1530 Special thanks to Jeorgette Knoll of Metro Video tapes with closed captions are available North ABE, Peggy Camp, D.EA.F. in St. Paul, commercially, from libraries and video rental Minnesota, Sal Parlato in Rochester, New York, stores . Many ESL teachers have commented, Joe McVeigh and the other nice folks on TESL-L, though, that the best teaching material is likely and Morgan Bramlet of NCI for providing the to be short TV segments that you have recorded information for this article. yourF el f. 6 Ilands-on English, Vol. IV, No.1 From the field: report Student research: the invention proud of. The reports are then posted about the -by Eleanor Mills, ESL teacher at Memphis City provides good class roor.i. The second worksheet Schools, Memphis, Tennessee. has to movement and interactioneach student It is always difficult to introduce ESL stu- list all the inventions, inventors and how they dents to research materials. Even the most improved the quality of our lifestyle. basic book or encyclopedia is a challenge be- Each student is also responsible for pre- reading English. cause of their limited skills in senting an oral report about their invention, This worksheet was designed for even the using the written sheet as reference. tk lowest level of ESL student, and can be easily adapted for other reports as well. Editor's note: Enlarge this worksheet on your for copier, leaving plenty of room at the bottom Working in groups under teacher super- the students' drawings. vision, every student can produce a report to he Date Name INVENTION REPORT Name of invention: This invention (Tell what the invention does and how it has improved our lifestyle.) Name of inventor: Date of death: Inventor's date of birth: Tell three more things about the inventor. Draw a picture of the invention: Inventor Invention What does the invention 2nd worksheet, for do to improve our way of life? group work when the reports are finished: Hand -nn English, Vol. IV, No, I 7 Tools & techniques: Getting online with TESL1T-L by Carl Grove, Seattle, WA possibility is to connect to a "statewide technology network" that is available in many I "talk" to people all over the world about U.S. states at a very reasonable cost, or free. issues in adult ESL almost every day from my (Ask about this at your public library.) computer, and you can too. It's easy, it's informative and it's really fun. Joining up Once you are able to send messages to On Ii ternet there are probably thousands of Internet, you will need to subscribe to a list groups of people connected (or "subscribed") to called TESL-L (this the main list). To do this what are called lists. A list is a distribution you send an e-mail message addressed to: system that sends my message to everyone else [email protected] (this is the who is subscribed to the list. Internet address for the computer that runs Issues in common TESL-L). In the message you should write only: One list I am hooked up to is called TESLIT- SUBSCRIBE TESL-L. Soon you will get an e- L. All the people who subscribe to this list are mail message back welcoming you to the list, interested in issues of literacy and adult ESL and giving you some instructions for using the education. We frequently talk about teaching list. ideas, teaching situations (facilities, pay, Next, you should send another message to policies, etc.), articles and books we have read or [email protected] that says: conferences we have attended. Lately our SUBSCRIBE TESLIT-L. This is the Adult discussions have centered around how to get Education and Literacy sub-list of TESL-L, and adult educators (including ESL) connected in the one you want to join to talk with other adult order to create a more unified group of people in ESL educators. If you later feel you are getting this field. too many messages by being on both lists you We (those of us on the list) would like to hear can turn off TESL-L but leave TESLIT-L on. many more voices. What are your frustrations? Your instructions from TESL-L will explain how What aspects of your working conditions to do this, as well as other techniques for negatively affect your ability to teach? What controlling the number of messages that come to aspects of your working conditions positively you. affect your ability to teach? What are your If you need more information on how to get successes? How can we act to counter the hooked up to the list, send me a message. My marginalization of Adult Educationboth of the address is: [email protected] teachers and the students? (remember to type in the address exactly as it Getting involved appears). I hope to hear from you soon. If you would like to participate in this --Carl Grove, Seattle, Washington ongoing discussion, you need to subscribe to this NB: There are many publications that explain list. It's really quite easy. All you need is an how Internet works. A couple of the best are electronic userlD (also called an e-mail "Zen and the Art of Internet" by Brendan Kehoe address), either on Internet itself or through a and a magazine called "Boardwatch." private service to hook you into Internet. If you want to connect from home, you need a computer, a modem, and your telephone line. You also need to subscribe to a private service like CompuServe, Prodigy, America Online, or a local version of these services, usually for a monthly fee. Any of these services will allow you to send and receive e-mail messages through Internet, although their fees vary depending on Editor's note: Hands-on English is a regular how much you use the service. participant both in TESL-L and TESLIT-L, and we are also happy to answer any questions we If you work at a university, college or can for you about getting 'connected.' Our e-mail community college, you can probably get an address is: [email protected] Internet account free. Ask your local computer department about Internet access. Another If you're feeling isolated, this is the cure! 8 Hands-on English, Vol. IV, No.1 10

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