A questionnaire was designed to elicit what adult learners disliked most about learning English. Seven dislikes were identified, including the following: textbooks in English only, role plays, drills, textbooks with no reading material or with artificial texts, homework, inflexible teachers, and audiotapes. (Author/VWL)

Reports on a case study of a technique designed to increase adult English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) students' communicative competence by exposing students to real audiences in authentic settings. In the approach, students learn the subtle influence of cultural and social factors of speech in a manner difficult to duplicate in a classroom. (four…

Qualitative study examined issues and events that led 221 women to an urban commuter campus of 16,000 students. Role exit theory was used to explain why the majority of these women stated past experiences played a major part in determining academic major and level of involvement in campus activities. Includes questionnaire. (JBJ)

Demonstrates the ways in which dialog journal communication can benefit both teachers and students. The trauma of migration and resettlement related in the dialog journal is discussed briefly, the methods of the study are outlined, and the journal communication with one student is analyzed. (22 references) (CK)

Focuses on the literacy problems of deaf people who are seeking employment. The article argues for the provision of adequate English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) literacy skills training, makes programming recommendations, and suggests employment strategies that deaf people need. (12 references) (Author/CK)

Responds to the preceding article, "Just Add Power." The article maintains that many English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) students urgently need to find employment and may not wish to spend class time investigating the issues in the preceding article. The article then argues that educators can redirect learners, through education, to make…

Demonstrates how students can be involved in designing a curriculum to meet their needs. The article shows how part of an ESL (English-as-a-Second-Language) program for displaced factory workers turned into an experience for social activism. (CK)

Describes the Ontario Training and Adjustment Board (OTAB), of which the goals are to improve labor force training and adjustment services to English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) learners. The Board's programs include needs assessment, funding for literacy programs, on-the-job and in-school training, vocational counseling, and funding for child…

Examines whether second-language (L2) learners' interaction with other L2 learners can address their input, output, and feedback needs for L2 learning in ways interaction with native speakers (NSs) had been shown to do. Results indicate interaction between L2 learners can address some of these needs, but it does not provide as much modified input…

Examined the persistence of students (n=937), 24 years of age or older, studying in two- and four-year degree programs by combining data from a survey questionnaire and institutional records. The structural equation model of Cabrera et al. (1993) was adapted for this older population, with identification of three additional variables: career…

Describes a study that developed a predictive model of adult learners' satisfaction in a Web-based distance education course and their intent to participate in future courses. Examined computer self-efficacy, academic self-concept, age, gender, academic status, years of computer use, computer training, and participation in a workshop for a…

This article examines the potential of personal storytelling as a pedagogical method. When incorporated into the educational experience, autobiographical stories serve as a primary and fruitful link between lived experience and curricular content, a connection integral to adult learning. These stories enable learners to identify congruencies and…

Well-educated Korean women are returning to higher education in unprecedented numbers. The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand the motivations of these women for returning to higher education. In-depth interviews were conducted with 13 Korean full-time housewives aged 25 to 45 who already had a bachelor's degree and who enrolled as…

This overview of the adult degree movement since World War II focuses on factors of creation before 1970, the adult degree revolution of the 1970s, the post-baby boomer enrollments in the 1980s, and globalization and technology-based distance learning in the 1990s.

This chapter serves as a review of the nature of transitions confronting adult learners and points to applications and strategies for anticipating coming changes.