CATESOL24

Adult education demands expansion outside of traditional classrooms. So how can we create more spaces for adult L2 learners to learn in? This presentation is a call-to-action for ESL professionals who want to step out of the traditional settings and use their expertise to build ESL programs within their communities.

Explore the long-standing collaboration between an adult school and community college, aimed at enhancing career pathways through specialized English for Specific Purposes (ESP) programs in childcare and food careers. This session examines initiatives to equip learners with industry-specific language skills and cultural competencies crucial for success. Highlighting program and curriculum design, instructional strategies, and student outcomes, it showcases models of integration and partnership that help students transition from noncredit to credit coursework leading towards degree attainment. Gain insights into the impact on workforce readiness and best practices for preparing diverse adult learners for gainful employment in childcare and culinary professions.

How can language teachers best facilitate this win-win situation: students improve their language skills and increase their knowledge of community issues, social justice strategies, and U.S. culture, while community-based organizations gain from the time and energy of student volunteers? Whether called service-learning, community-based learning, or community-engaged education, this practice has a long tradition in language classrooms. Learn strategies for crafting effective community-based learning projects that are respectful of the diverse backgrounds, needs and goals of all involved. A case study from a noncredit community college class will be described, as well as lessons learned from two semesters of implementation.

Educate our world through Peace Corps service. Education and English-teaching specialists are needed to address global education and training needs at grassroots levels. Learn how you can collaborate with teachers overseas to bolster a community's education levels, teaching methods, and language competencies, while gaining transferable skills for your career.

Identity labels can be confusing for international student writers, even at the university level of academic writing programs in the United States. This presentation highlights teacher and student experiences with a collaborative podcast writing project on identity labels. The multimodal writing project was designed to help students explore the intersections between identity and language via a critical language awareness lens. Come learn how to empower and guide your students toward accurate and effective language to discuss identity, power, and social justice. The assignments and rubrics will be shared and presenters will share future goals and adaptations of this project.

Explore the innovative and free USA Learns Citizenship course, developed by the Sacramento County Office of Education, and designed to prepare students for the U.S. Citizenship test and interview. This presentation will be a quick dive into the course's comprehensive curriculum, interactive online tools, and student/teacher-friendly design that empower learners with essential knowledge and skills. Discover how this accessible resource supports teachers and guides adult learners in achieving their American dream.

Translingual approaches to service-learning in first year writing courses have the potential to leverage institutional community engagement frameworks in ways that empower the voices of students and community partners and decenter language hierarchies in the classroom and community. This presentation will focus on a Writing Partners @ Sac State course design that aligns with the CSU's Community-Engaged Learning Initiative, centers students' diverse writing practices, and facilitates meaningful collaboration between college and K-12 students. Attendees will have the opportunity to consider how a translingual approach to service-learning might inform community-engaged work at their institutions.

It is possible to create an effective citizenship course using free, easily accessible digital resources. Teaching with these materials empowers students to take control of their study and preparation and be self-directed and self-resourced learners. Participants in the workshop will leave with resources for teaching and studying all aspects of the US naturalization interview as well as a suggested course outline and examples of online assignments and activities.