Beginning with three anecdotes that illustrate problems with current assessment practices in English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL)/literacy programs, this paper reports a study that involved feedback from both programs and their funders. Literature is cited to show the opposing positions of proponents of standardized tests and those who search for…

From August 1988 to June 1989, Rock Valley college, in cooperation with a local literacy council and the English Language Study Center, administered a project whose goal was to recruit, provide tutoring to, and provide English-as-a-Second-Language classes to employees at their place of employment. The project functioned well, with each partner…

The Refugee English Language Training (ELT) Task Force, convened by the California State Department of Social Services, collected and reviewed records of refugee ELT programs statewide, conducted site visits and public input meetings, and reviewed literature concerning adult basic education and refugee literacy education. The study and results are…

In response to high demand for English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) instruction among the community's Chinese-speaking population, the Quincy School Community Council (Massachusetts) developed the Take And Give (TAG) program, in which graduates of the highest-level ESL classes were trained as peer tutors for students at the lowest instructional…

The reports presents findings of a formative evaluation of "Crossroads Cafe," an adult-level distance learning program designed to teach English to speakers of other languages (ESOL). The study focused on how 22 programs were implemented in 6 different regions of New York State. The program is a collaborative efforts of the Department of…

This study investigated the needs of low-literate students participating in a Human Resources Administration/City University of New York (HRA/CUNY) program offering English-as-a-Second-Language and employment-related training to low-income Hispanic women receiving welfare. It identified participants in need of literacy instruction based on grade…

A study of the State Legalization Impact Assistance Grant (SLIAG) program in Illinois, federally funded under the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, is presented. The program assists the state in providing English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) and civics instruction to help undocumented immigrants meet legal residency requirements. Data were…

Activities and results of the Greenville (South Carolina) English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) and literacy program for limited-English-proficient community members are described briefly. The cooperative program involves the local literacy association, school district adult education program, and technical college, and offers ESL placement and…

This handbook capsulizes the many steps in developing, implementing, and evaluating a workplace literacy program, and is written from the perspectives of both the educator and the employer. The handbook has been written for business leaders and for adult basic education and English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) educators. While the suggestions in the…

The report describes results of interviews with 18 workplace literacy education providers across the United States. Respondents include program directors, curriculum writers, teacher trainers, teachers, and consultants to programs serving a range of learners. An introductory section summarizes study methodology, workplace literacy program types,…

The report describes and assesses an adult literacy program for Hmong immigrant adults in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The overall approach was to assist students in developing a new communication system using principles of intercultural communication and community networking. The instructional model had four components: native language literacy…

The research agenda for English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) teaching and learning summarizes issues identified for further study by ESL professionals over the period of 1996-1998. The document is designed to provide funding agencies with clear priorities for research suggested by leaders in the field, provide researchers with support for proposing…

An 8-week English in the Workplace course was conducted by Portland Community College (Oregon) at Leupold & Stevens, Inc. for workers with limited English proficiency (LEP). The curriculum for English as a Second Language focused on job-related support skills and not primary job skills, since job performance was not a concern. Objectives were…

The report summarizes results of an evaluation of "The Cutting Edge," a workplace education program operated by El Paso Community College (Texas) with funding from the National Workplace Literacy Program. The project had tow main goals: to field test and refine curricula at a number of workplace sites, and to prepare products and…

The Houston Community College (Texas) program (TOTAL ACCESS) designed in response to the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, is described and evaluated. The program offers classes to eligible aliens (97% Hispanic Americans from Mexico, El Salvador, and Guatemala) wishing to pursue the educational program required for legalization. Program…