ESOL Tutor Resource Pack

The ESOL Tutor Resource Pack includes resources for English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) tutors to use with learners who are in prison or who have had recent experience with the criminal justice system. 

Author(s) Organizational Affiliation
The Bell Foundation
Learning and Work
Publication Year
2018
Resource Type
Instructional Material
Number of Pages
161
Product Type
Target Audience
Abstract

Developed in the United Kingdom, this pack includes resources for ESOL tutors to use with learners who are in prison or who have had recent experience with the criminal justice system. It is based on the principles of the Learning and Work Institute’s Citizens’ Curriculum model, which promote flexible, local programs of study that are co-designed with learners and cover an interlinked set of skills and capabilities.

These resources cover three topics: civics, financial literacy and health literacy. Each topic consists of six ‘units’, each of which provides enough material for a three-hour ESOL class or session. The resources can be used to support the delivery of accredited learning leading to Skills for Life ESOL or Functional Skills English qualifications. They are mapped to the Adult ESOL Core Curriculum.

Each unit includes a set of tutor notes that provide a suggested approach, ideas for differentiation and learner involvement, and possible extension activities. They also include stimulus materials for tutors to use in these activities. The tutor notes are not meant to be prescriptive – they are only intended as guidance.

What the experts say

This is a fantastic resource for ESOL programs in correctional settings. There is great need in the field for tutor training materials and this resource is a valuable tool. American correctional facilities have significant populations of non-English speaking or English as a Second Langauge (ESL) students. Educational programs usually try to accommodate these learners by assigning bilingual inmate tutors, but there is usually little to no tutor training. This resource, though very basic, is a great introduction for tutors. 

It is also a highly useful and relevant resource for general adult basic education instructors. It contains content appropriate to young adult and adult learners both in and beyond incarceration settings, contains generous resource links as well as material to be used in classroom settings. Participatory educators will be grateful to add this content to their repertoire; those newer to participatory processes are supported by clear explanations, examples of classroom activities, and processes and strategies that ensure the usefulness of this resources as well as its potential for adaptation and expansion.

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