2022

Presenters: Sarah Siddiq and Ebru Yenal, Queens Public Library Adult Learning Program    

In this workshop we will present easy-to-use and functional ways to teach hybrid classes featuring both synchronous and asynchronous teaching and learning. We will define and examine the terms "hybrid”, "synchronous" and "asynchronous" using real-life case studies from the Queens Public Library (QPL) Adult Learning Program to illustrate synchronous and asynchronous teaching methods and learning in hybrid classes. Workshop participants will meet in breakout rooms to discuss and share synchronous and asynchronous resources and experiences. We will provide participants with a toolbox of ideas to utilize in hybrid classes and a list of synchronous resources, including Kahoot and Google Docs, as well as asynchronous resources, including Google Classroom and Google Forms.

Category: ESOL

Presenters: Lindsay Messolin and Angel Romero, Collaborative Voices Initiative

As instructors of adult learners seeking an HSE diploma, we often feel pressure to focus exclusively on the academic skills they need to pass their exams. Much of the available published material to support this teaching and learning is of little intrinsic interest to our learners. While helping students to improve these academic skills is crucial, we must also make the effort to relate to and serve the identities of adult learners as members of racialized and marginalized communities. In this workshop we will share strategies for reorienting the classroom to center on and amplify the voices of our students. By taking some simple yet powerful steps, we can create engaging lessons of relevance to our learners. We will share knowledge of and experiences with exploring and developing appropriate materials and discuss how lessons supporting this inclusive approach are benefiting learners in the classroom and beyond. 

Category: HSE

Presenters: David Hellman and Sam Seifnourain, City University of New York; Kareema Hussein and Marissa Wikes, Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs

Shola’s Voice is a new episode in the Emmy-award winning We Speak NYC ESOL/civics drama series that addresses immigration, racism, bullying, and other critical topics and issues in a story about the meaning and practice of democracy. In this workshop, we model and practice inquiry-based pedagogy, visual-thinking strategies, and drama-based teaching strategies that build civic knowledge and the students’ own voices. Workshop participants will receive materials for implementing the methods and activities demonstrated and practiced in their programs.

Category: ESOL, Civics

Presenters: Caryn Davis, Dean of Academic Affairs at the Spanish-American Institute; Christina Marinelli, Adult Learning Program, Brooklyn Museum

In this interactive workshop, attendees will learn the elements of implementing a project-based learning initiative, fostering increased English language writing and speaking skills for adult ESOL learners. The model we will present is the Altered Book Project. In this project, adult ESOL learner "non-artist" participants reflected on works of art in The Brooklyn Museum’s Earth Love: Climate Change, Literacy, and the Immigrant Experience exhibit. The learners made personal connections, addressing the climate crisis in their own works of art created from recycled books and easy-to-find art materials. We will share a sample booklet of student journal entries and the results of our learning survey assessing the benefits students derived from their participation in the project. Through guided observation and discussion of a work of art used to generate writing in this project, workshop participants will create their own text and design for an altered book page.

Category: ESOL, Literacy, BE

Presenter: Kate Brandt, CUNY Adult Literacy/HSE Program 

With New York's transition from the TASC to the GED, teachers must adjust instruction. Both the TASC and the GED test are based on the CCR standards, but the GED emphasizes reading of complex text, reasoning, argumentative writing, and numeracy skills to a much greater extent than the TASC. In this workshop, teachers will review sample GED-type questions in order to analyze their own thinking processes, extrapolating from these the "mental moves" students must make to comprehend the texts and arrive at correct answers. We will share techniques to build these skills by breaking down complex texts. Teachers will have the opportunity to try these techniques out themselves as well as  to review and discuss the implications of sample student work.

Category: HSE

Presenter: Mary Carpenter, New York University

Students and teachers alike need to be able to identify their communication styles to build skills required for the culturally diverse situations encountered in today’s society. How we communicate is often as important as what we communicate and understanding the art of communication is essential for meeting teaching and learning goals. Despite the great importance of self-awareness of our communication style, neither students nor teachers typically have engaged in activities to acquire the reflective insights necessary to develop a conscious awareness of theirs. In this interactive workshop, participants will explore the use of communication inventories to identify their communication styles and those of their students. We will discuss how by building on these styles we can improve teaching and learning.

Category: ESOL, Civics, HSE

Presenter: Madeline Cohen, Symphony Space

Using online tools (easily transferred back to "in real life" tools), this workshop will use a selection of images taken from the internet to generate vocabulary. For example, participants will use virtual “post-it notes” to respond to each image, creating a word bank. We will then use word lists as the source for writing poems and stories. We will brainstorm additional academic and imaginative uses for these tools. Finally, we will experience the creative effect of everyone writing a story or poem inspired by the same image – but with a variety of prompts.

Category: ESOL, Literacy, BE/HSE

Presenters: Marguerite Brown, York College Learning Center; Eric Appleton, CUNY Adult Literacy Program

This workshop is intended for reading/writing teachers who would like to incorporate numeracy as well as for math teachers who would like to incorporate science and social studies content. The 2014 GED exam, unlike the TASC it is replacing, includes math and numeracy in the context of social studies and science on those sections of the exam in addition to the math section. Some assessed numeracy skills such as interpreting graphs, tables, and maps can be developed in reading and writing classes as well as in math classes. Teachers will contribute data to a “graph from the class” activity, and work on sample Science and Social Studies HSE questions starting with our students’ hats on. Then we will step back to see what we can take from the experience of being students. Teachers will give feedback about their experience and will share their strategies for teaching numeracy with math-infused science and social studies content.

Category: BE, Math, HSE

Presenter: Wendy Trach, Borough of Manhattan Community College

What is the Metaverse? How will it impact the future of educating adult learners? In this workshop, we will explore how the 3D immersive, virtual reality-based learning space of the Metaverse is transforming education.While students are in this space, they can see, interact, create, and collaborate with people or objects in the space. In essence, instead of simply reading and learning about the material of a course, in the Metaverse students can live, socialize, and co-create in it. This provides students with a more holistic, engaging, and playful learning experience. We will share and elicit ideas about the proven and potential benefits of incorporating the Metaverse into the classroom. Workshop participants will watch videos to observe students involved in Metaverse-based activities. In breakout rooms, small groups will discuss the teacher’s role in implementing activities equipping their students with the technological competencies they will need across disciplines to succeed in the future. Participants will exchange ideas about how to incorporate the Metaverse into their specific courses and disciplines. 

Category: Instructional Tech

Presenter: Rozaliya Crea, 32BJ Training Fund

Strategic Interaction is an engaging approach to language instruction incorporating vocabulary development, grammar, listening skills, and speaking skills for adult ESOL learners in classes at all proficiency levels as well as in multi-level classes. Learners assume roles, communicating  purposefully and skillfully in the target language to reach a resolution to simulated real life personal, social and work scenarios such as “Meet the Family: Couples and Parents,” and “Travel Plans.” An overview of Strategic Interaction and its implementation procedures will be followed by small group interactions where workshop participants experience this enjoyable communicative approach. Among the takeaways will be ready-to-use digital resources, social interaction scenarios, the steps to set up the activities, and scholarly articles written on the topic.

Category: ESOL, Literacy

Presenters: Elizabeth Sprenger, Nursen Turan, and Imelda Melgar, Riverside Language Program

At Riverside Language Program our focus is not only on teaching English but also on assisting students with all stages of job readiness and career development, from talking about job definitions and job duties at the lower proficiency levels to resume writing, basic networking and interview skills at the intermediate levels. In this workshop, we will discuss the challenges students face when looking for employment as new immigrants and showcase the various techniques and strategies we use at each level of instruction with sample activities. Because we understand that entering the workforce in a new country is stressful for our students, we keep these activities light and playful. Workshop participants will be invited to share the job readiness supports they provide their students. There will be an opportunity to “try out” various job readiness activities in Breakout Room groups. The takeaway from this workshop will be the activities and lesson ideas for implementation at different proficiency levels.

Category: Career Readiness

Presenter: Erna Golden, Brooklyn Public Library

Of the many forms or styles of essays, the two that adult education instructors teach most - argumentative and informational essays – can be overwhelming and unwieldy for students possessing scant experience with academic writing. This HSE prep workshop will provide a brief overview of essays, in particular the descriptive essay (conveying the meaning or value of something) and the process (or ‘How To’) essay that effectively engage students from the standpoint of their expertise while building versatile essay writing skills for HSE prep. Workshop participants will engage hands on with integrated writing activities using frames and multimedia prompts to craft a very short descriptive or process essay on an accessible topic (for example, ‘The Value of Games’ or ‘How to Play Games’). Resources will be provided to instructors to explore ways of helping students build competence and fluency with essay writing.

Category: BE, HSE, ESOL

Presenter: Judy Trupin, Literacy Assistance Center

Many of us are drawn to the ESOL profession by a sense of empathy and desire to help others. But sometimes the demands of our work overwhelm us. We find ourselves working too long hours often in an effort to take care of our students and to meet organizational requirements. We forget to take care of ourselves. Yet research has shown that teachers who take the time for self-care are better able to help their students, stay in the profession longer, and equally important, feel better and more fulfilled in their work and lives. In this experiential workshop we will learn as well as practice some easy self-care techniques to empower you as both a teacher and a human being.

Category: ESOL, ESL Literacy

Presenter: Elke Stappert, New York Public Library

Writing is challenging for beginning ABE and ESL Literacy students. In this workshop, we discuss challenges and successes with teaching writing to beginners and practice techniques that combine the four skills reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Activities incorporate writing basic questions, word families, and parts of speech. We will look at online and in-person options and practice the techniques presented. After practicing the techniques, participants will have a chance to share and ask questions.

Category: BE, ESOL, Literacy

Teaching and learning now demand greater access to and integration of digital tools than ever before. The digital world is not an option but a necessity for students who want to improve their language, professional, and academic skills. The events of the last few years have forced all programs to experience a drastic shift in learning modalities.  Students and teachers have faced the challenges of ensuring that they’ll be able to have equal access to digital tools. What are some of the ways that program managers, teachers and learners have met these challenges? What has been most successful? The educators and administrators on this panel aim to offer answers to some of these questions. There will then be an opportunity for all attendees to share their own answers and resources with fellow educators in smaller groups.

Panelists

Lisa Diomande

HSE Program Coordinator and Instructor

Henry Street Settlement

Brian Mendes

Deputy Director of Adult Education

Fifth Avenue Committee

Elaine Roberts

Director of Programs

International Center

Catholic Charities Community Services 

Mónica Robles

Volunteer Program Manager, Adult Literacy 

Make the Road New York