The 6 Principles for Exemplary Teaching of English Learners: Adult Education and Workforce Development

TESOL International Association has defined a core set of principles for the exemplary teaching and learning of English as a new language.

This exciting new book applies these principles to adults learning English in adult education and workforce development settings. The 6 Principles and their recommended practices are targets of teaching excellence that provide teachers with the knowledge to improve instruction and assessment. Instructional techniques are illustrated with a multitude of classroom examples and vignettes.

The 6 Principles will help educators develop English language instruction that directly serves learners' needs and goals; respect, affirm, and promote learners' home languages and cultural knowledge and experiences as resources; implement engaging and relevant lessons that build 21st-century workplace skills; support learners in their acculturation to a new country; and teach learners strategies that can sustain their language learning outside the classroom.

The book highlights important aspects of second language learning to help teachers create beneficial conditions for productive English language development. Further, it presents a valuable overview of challenges that adult learners face and offers potential solutions to obstacles that affect their acquisition of English. Sample tools (e.g., charts, techniques, activities) are ready to use in the adult English language classroom.

Andrea B. Hellman, EdD, is Assistant Professor of TESOL/Linguistics at Missouri State University, where she directs the iELT-Ozarks Project, a National Professional Development grant. A recipient of the Christopher Brumfit Award, her research focuses on second language vocabulary attainment and the preparation of mainstream teachers for English learners. She is a Hungarian-English bilingual, an adult immigrant to the U.S.

Kathy Harris, PhD, has been interested in adult learning for over 20 years, especially adults learning English as a second language and digital skills for work, health, and education. Harris is the director of the Literacy, Language and Technology Research group at Portland State University in the Department of Applied Linguistics.

Amea Wilbur is an instructor at the University of the Fraser Valley. She holds an EdD from the Department of Educational Studies, UBC. Her practice and research are focused on creating inclusive learning spaces and supporting marginalized learners in English as Additional Language and Adult Education.

Deborah J. Short founded and directs Academic Language Research & Training (ALRT), a consulting company, and provides professional development on content-based English, academic literacy, and sheltered instruction worldwide. She has directed many research projects and program evaluations related to English learner education and co-developed the SIOP Model for sheltered instruction. Publications include The 6 Principles books for TESOL, SIOP Model books for Pearson, ESL textbooks like Lift, Reach Higher, Edge and Inside for National Geographic Learning, and professional journal articles. She has taught ESL and EFL, in New York, California, Virginia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. She served as TESOL International Association's President from 2020-2021.