Following Introducing Civic Literacy in the Adult ESOL Classroom, this workshop provides a framework and strategies for integrating civic and community engagement in adult ESOL. In the first part of the session, the presenter will briefly review the information from the previous workshop, and will present an ESOL and civic literacy framework, on which several instructional strategies are based. Next, there will be an interactive discussion regarding the concept of community engagement and its importance for immigrants—citizens and noncitizens alike.

In the second part of the session, the presenter will introduce strategies, best practices, and tools for adult ESOL educators to use in their classrooms. These strategies will focus on student engagement in civics, volunteering, participation in community and civic activities, and addressing relevant issues of social justice. You will discuss how these strategies align with content standards in the Civics Strand of the Massachusetts English Language Proficiency Standards (MA ELPS), the Teaching Skills That Matter (TSTM) curriculum, as well as the MA ESOL Professional Standard Three: Culturally Responsive and Sustaining Teaching.

There will be time during the session for you to reflect on the information and consider ways to adapt and adopt the strategies, resources, and tools presented to your specific teaching contexts.