The English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program assists students in learning English as a second language. Formerly the English as a Second Language (ESL) program, the goals of the program are still the same to teach students English and assist in the adjustment of living in the United States.

English is more than just a language. It involves pronunciation, vocabulary in context, understanding, speaking, listening, reading, and writing the English language. The program not only utilizes small classroom sizes to allow for individual attention, but emphasizes and utilizes real world learning opportunities. Classroom instruction utilizes individual instruction, the latest in learning methods, and encourages student use of the English language such as listening to English speaking radio, watching English speaking television programs, reading English newspapers, writing notes and papers in the English language. Even though the full learning and comprehension of the English language takes approximately 7 years, the goal of the ESOL program is to provide the student with the most learning opportunities in the least amount of time.

Features of the ESOL Program:

• Small class sizes to aid in instruction and provide a comfortable environment for the student.
• Provides a real-world learning environment to assist in student learning and understanding.
• Rosetta Stone, a computerized English language program, is available to provide an additional aid in student learning. Students have found working with Rosetta Stone has helped reinforce, understand, and monitored their learning progress. Using word recognition, grammar patterns, spelling, sentence structure, and speaking practice as a tool to self assess, Rosetta Stone has been a valuable asset to the ESOL Program.
• Student Involvement. Students have the opportunity to contribute to the local Hispanic newspaper, El Heraldo, which provides a public service and contributes to the community’s Hispanic awareness. El Heraldo is comprised of community volunteers and students in the ESOL classroom and is distributed monthly to areas within and surrounding Great Bend. Students have the opportunity to serve as reporters, photographers, proof-readers, translators, and delivery personnel. El Heraldo features information about Center for Adult Education programs, Hispanic issues, news, and happenings, and will often have articles published in the Great Bend Tribune.
• Monitoring student progress. CASAS tests are given as pre-tests followed by additional testing after 60-90 hours are completed to monitor a student’s progress. CASAS tests are essential in providing not only an assessment of the student’s progress but more importantly provides a source of encouragement and motivation to the student’s continued learning.
• Field trips. Field trips also provide additional information to aid in student learning. Having been well planned and designed, these field trip opportunities not only reinforce classroom instruction, but provide students the opportunity to make new friends in the community and beyond, experience life learning opportunities, and experience undiscovered opportunities in life.

 

English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)

To aid the student in the program, ESOL is taught in four different sessions: Basic English, Intermediate English, Advanced English (Transitional English), and Evening Classes.

Basic English
The Basic English sessions involve the introduction to the English alphabet, basic survival words, basic reading through easy stories, basic listening through class time reading, and writing skills from spelling on to basic sentences. These skills are taught in the context of everyday subjects in units. Some of these basic units involve Personal Identification, Family Members, School, Food, Body Parts, Clothing, Health, Transportation, Money exchange, Animals, and Household Items. The Curriculum includes the latest books which demonstrate up-do-date vocabulary, photos, and concepts. Pertinent local and national news and health items are interjected into the classes so that students are aware of their surroundings. Ex: Tornado Safety, West Nile Virus, Weather Conditions, Medical Information, etc. Students must be made aware of dangers in the weather and their environment to be safe in their new environment.

Intermediate English
The Intermediate English sessions focus more on speaking and reading of true life stories. Paragraph writing takes the place of sentence writing. The program also offers assessment tests after each reading session to help evaluate the student’s comprehension of the material. Vocabulary is strengthened with each new story and is introduced into the writing. This class becomes a whole language session introducing grammar to improve the writing skills.

Advanced English (Transitional Session)
The Advanced (transitional) class helps to prepare students for college and provides pre-college grammar review, writing practice, reading opportunities, and translation practice.

Evening Classes
Evening classes are available for those who work during the day. These include multilevel classes and are usually taught with the help of an aide.

Click here to go to the Center for Adult Education web site. Go to Sidebar Content