Surveyed adult college students regarding their motivation for attending college and the relative importance of college choice criteria. Getting better jobs, gaining general knowledge, and enhancement of self-esteem were most frequently mentioned. Availability of desired programs, days/times of needed classes, locations of courses, cost, and…

Describes the development of a language assessment instrument to be used across Canada to place adult newcomers in instructional programs appropriate for their level of English proficiency. Describes field testing and rating of the instrument, and discusses work in progress on the ongoing validation of the instrument. (31 references) (Author/CK)

Discusses impending demographic changes in the 21st-century college-student population, addressing implications for athletic training education programs and the profession. The paper discusses multicultural diversification and nontraditional student status, noting that 21st century higher education must offer multicultural training, flexible…

Examines internal and external factors which affect the way women reentering higher education learn and write. Finds several constant internal factors: sense of inferiority among peers; inability to concentrate; sense of guilt; feeling out of place among younger students; fatigue; and doubt. Finds that positive internal factors outweigh negative…

Discusses a study in which specific practices from current literature on adult higher education are applied to the University of Massachusetts at Amherst to "map" usage of and receptivity to those practices and to assess adult student satisfaction. Illustrates an effective, data-rich method of assessing responsiveness to adult…

Considers the pedagogical and subject matter needs of students in an adult labor education course. Notes that students are motivated working adults, with little time for study, attending the course for assistance in dealing with workplace problems. Teachers need to adjust their approach and rethink economic theories from the students' perspective.…

Describes the author's experience of taking two creative writing courses. Stresses the values that are taught: self-investment; avoidance of premature closure; seeing revision as discovery; experimentation; and trusting your own creative power--all necessary for good writing, whether academic or creative. (RAE)

An approach to the teaching of English to part-time adult students in a course in China aimed at opening up and developing the vocabulary of the students through a variety of text-related activities. Wall posters were used as a basis for an extended session of fluency-focused activities, through which students became independent users of English.…

Describes a survey of library personnel, faculty, and students that examined issues related to the role of libraries in the future design and delivery of distance education. Recommendations are made in the areas of program and course planning, services marketing, resource development, data access, technical communications, services and materials…

Evaluation of a pilot attempt to introduce records of achievement in adult language courses received 96 replies from students, many of whom did not see their relevance to their own objectives. Most hostile were students in advanced conversational courses. Tutor enthusiasm diminished due to student resistance. (SK)

Focuses on understanding the problem of students who are particularly resistant to acquisition of English language skills and on developing effective strategies to overcoming difficulties in the acculturation process. An experience of loss is part of the process of immigration; counseling can provide support during the transition period. (14…

Describes China's policies for lifelong education in the 1980s and 1990s undertaken as part of the country's modernization program. Reviews policies related to primary and secondary education, vocational education, workers' inservice training, continuing education for specialists, expansion of evening and correspondence courses, gerontology, and…

Argues that the use of biography in adult education is not a therapeutic process from learning to healing, but has the capacity to change in response to both the individual and the educational environment. Suggests that biographical approaches give learners control over material in a way that conventional education does not. (61 citations) (MAB)

This article aims to outline business people's characteristics as adult learners regarding motivation, experience, and self-directedness in learning; to describe advantages and problems that arise from these when teaching foreign language vocational courses; and to explore the implications of this situation for foreign language adult educators.…

Discusses adult learner characteristics, explains events of instruction, and describes how the characteristics of adult learners can be merged with these events of instruction to help facilitate instruction in software use. Highlights include gaining attention; motivation; stimulating recall of prerequisite material; feedback; performance…