How Adult English Language Learners Differ from Adult Basic Education (ABE) Learners
Although adult English language learners share many of the same goals as native English speaking learners-- such as work advancement, family concerns, high school diploma, academic study--their first need is to learn sufficient English to function day to day in U.S. society. English language learners differ from ABE learners – native English speakers enrolled in adult basic education courses – in a number of ways that affect instruction.
- While native English speaking learners typically have strong speaking and listening skills, adult English language learners often need to concentrate on speaking and listening skills. This may be especially true in beginning level classes.
- While most ABE learners have not finished secondary level education, adult English language learners’ level of education varies widely from no formal education to graduate or professional degrees
Whatever their level of reading or writing ability, native speakers typically have a vocabulary in English from 10,000 to 100,000 words while an adult ESL student may have a vocabulary of only 2,000-7,000 words when beginning academic studies (or when beginning to study on the college level or when beginning post-secondary education) Because English language learners need to acquire more English vocabulary for all aspects of their lives, here are suggestions for instruction that may differ from typical ABE instruction:
- --Pre-teach the vocabulary in a reading passage.
- --Limit the number of vocabulary items that must be pre-taught, select reading passages that are only slightly above what learners can read independently.
- --Teach high-frequency words first.
- --Provide learners with multiple exposures to specific words in several different contexts.
- --Provide learners with lists of words for intentional learning.
- --Avoid presenting synonyms, antonyms, or words in the same semantic set together.
- --Teach learners to use both monolingual and bilingual dictionaries.
