A need to be needed: The intersection between emotions, apprenticeship, and student participation in an adult ESL literacy classroom

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Abstract

Adult immigrants bring rich experiences to the English as a Second Language (ESL) literacy classroom, and these experiences, which are often fraught with emotion, can influence how they participate in the learning process. In community-based classrooms, where teachers typically have the flexibility to create their own curriculum, there are many opportunities to develop innovative ways to harness students’ emotions and promote student participation. One adult ESL literacy class, offered through an organization on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, takes an approach that offers students a variety of leadership roles. Findings from this study show that a teacher’s consistent encouragement of students permeated throughout the classroom; when a student took on a leadership role, she, too, became an encouraging force, not only because of the mentoring she received, but also as the result of complicated experiences beyond the classroom context.

Citation

Relevant Evidence Summaries

The evidence was reviewed and included in the following summaries: 

What strategies are effective for English language acquisition in newcomer populations?

This evidence summary, authored by Switchboard, provides an overview of the current evidence on the effectiveness of various interventions for English language learning among newcomers. It addresses two crucial questions: Are there specific elements of English language acquisition programs for newcomer populations that are more effective or efficient than others? What role does technology play…

About this study

AGE: Adults

FULL TEXT AVAILABILITY: Free

HOST COUNTRY: United States

HOST COUNTRY INCOME: High

OUTCOME AREA: Education

POPULATION: Immigrants

REGION OF ORIGIN OF PARTICIPANT(S): Multiple Regions

STRENGTH OF EVIDENCE: Suggestive

TYPE OF STUDY: Suggestive evidence

YEAR PUBLISHED: 2015

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