Approaches to Adult ESL Literacy Instruction. Language in Education: Theory and Practice 82.

This book focuses on functional and holistic approaches to English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) literacy, including competency-based education; whole language, language experience, and Freirean or participatory; and writing-based programs that result in published materials to be read by other adults. Chapter 1, "Literacy Through a Competency-Based Educational Approach," by K. Lynn Savage, provides an overview of a functional approach that emphasizes life skills and evaluates mastery of those skills according to actual learner performance. Chapter 2, "Whole Language in Adult Literacy Education," by Pat Rigg and Francis E. Kazemek, discusses the whole language view of teaching and learning. In chapter 3, "The Language Experience Approach," Marcia L. Taylor describes the approach as a whole language approach to instruction that promotes reading and writing by transcribing a student's experiences with the transcription then used as reading material for the student. Joy Kreeft Peyton uses chapter 4, "Listening to Students' Voices: Publishing Students' Writing for Other Students To Read," to present the rationale for using the writings of adult ESL students as material for teaching literacy to other ESL adults. She outlines the steps involved in implementing a writing and publishing program and gives sources of materials written by adult literacy learners and descriptions of student publishing programs. David Spener gives an overview of "The Freirean Approach to Adult Literacy Education" in chapter 5. (Author/AB)