English as a second language. Developing non-credit courses for adults

Resource Guide. — Ontario: Ministry of Education, 1990. — 52 p. — ISBN 0-7729-4719-8.Ontario is a multicultural province whose people have come from all over the world. Many of those arriving today have little or no knowledge of English or French and need assistance in acquiring one or both of the official languages. The purpose of this document, accordingly, is to provide school boards with direction and assistance in the development and implementation of Englishas-a-second-language (ESL) non-credit courses for adults. The adult ESL classroom should provide a supportive environment for the community members who are its students. This means that it should encourage interaction that enables participants to understand and appreciate one another’s experiences and backgrounds. Indeed, this type of interaction should become a major means of language learning. The adults should be encouraged to share ideas, attitudes, and feelings about topics relevant to their daily lives. Participants can consider how these thoughts and feelings vary from culture to culture and, in so doing, develop appreciation and respect for one another.