Reports results of a study of adult students over the age of 24 at one community college in New York State. Explores (1) the reasons the mature person takes a life-step once confined to the young; (2) the difficulties and satisfactions they experience; and (3) what colleges can do to respond to their needs. (SR)

Reviews the history of the University Without Walls concept of continuing and adult education from its inception in 1981 to the current activities of the International Council for Innovation in Higher Education (ICIE). Identifies current issues, including technology and improving access to continuing education for adults throughout the world. (DB)

Interviews were conducted with university students aged 24-79, including 12 African-American females, six African-American males, three Hispanic females, and two Hispanic males. Responses identified motivation, access issues, and their needs as minorities and as adults, resulting in recommendations for improving the campus environment, support…

In response to a study of functions of first-language usage in the second-language classroom, it is suggested the findings extend the scope of sociocultural theory by complementing studies in which language is seen to mediate the learning of concepts, in this case the second language, and gives insight into issues currently under vigorous…

Examines the communication strategies used by adult second-language learners of English when performing contrasting pedagogic tasks. The article suggests that existing descriptions of communication strategies ignore the pragmatic function of such devices in interactive discourse and offers a reclassification that differentiates strategies…

Presents the results of a study carried out in Sweden to investigate the promotion of self assessment and reflection in the adult second language classroom. Proposes a method in which the computer is used to record a writing session and later to replay the entire text production in retrospective peer sessions. After using the method, all writers…

A study examined language transfer among low-intermediate English-as-second language students in an academic English development course at a California community college. Thirteen adult immigrant students who had higher first-language proficiency made better progress in academic English than did nine students who immigrated at a younger age and…

Teacher candidates with mature life experiences offer the strongest potential for connecting with at-risk students, and alternative certification can bring them into the classroom. This paper discusses the following: how mature teachers provide needed supports to at-risk students, who comprises this group of teachers, and how mature teachers can…

Describes a university-school collaboration that prepares education paraprofessionals for careers as teachers of the deaf and yields insights and recommendations concerning adult learners. Discusses the contributions adult learners' experience bring to the course, the role of mentors in merging practice with theory, the adult learner's need for…

Analysis of a national Moroccan literacy and numeracy campaign aimed at adult farmers found that despite the farmers' strong motivations to learn, the initiative had little impact due to irrelevant content, inappropriate teaching methods and poor teacher training, failure to take account of students' expectations and needs, and the top-down nature…

The author qualitatively examined adult learners' experiences on a study tour to South Africa and assessed the effectiveness of the tour as a tool for enhanced multicultural awareness. The findings may be of interest to counselors/educators who teach about multicultural issues or wish to enhance their personal growth in multiculturalism.

Disadvantaged adult students need special support and clear pathways to economic self-sufficiency. Programs that support them require clear data and information about their success to move forward.

This paper recounts the process by which a severely reading-disabled adult student taught himself to read and write Ancient Greek, and in so doing, improved his ability to read and write in English. Initially, Keith's reading and writing were slow, difficult and inaccurate, accompanied by visual disturbance. However, motivated by a strong interest…

This article explores the experience of adult learners and their perceptions of learning using computer-based learning materials, mainly Learndirect packages. The findings are based on focus group interviews with learners in a range of settings, including centres in community-based organisations, further education colleges and private training…

The article argues that Norton Peirce's (1995) concept of a language learner's investment should figure centrally in how instructors address the needs of adult learners in ESL classrooms. Investment is discussed in relation to second language acquisition research that addresses the role of social factors in second language acquisition. The article…