Literacy and ESOL in London

Outcheuma Ezekiel

Introduction

“Literacy is generally for people whose first language is English and who need to develop their reading and writing”

“ESOL is specifically for people whose first language is not English and need to develop reading, writing, speaking and listening”

…but there are different literacies, e.g. financial, digital (NIACE Pilot)

(talent, London, July 2006)

‘Differences’ between literacy and ESOL

• Literacy student: ‘Amanda’ English speaker

• Single parent• Failed exams - no

qualifications• TA in school• ‘Stuck’• Work role made her re-think• Still learning the structure at

the same time as producing letters and reports

• Confidence issues: ‘I’m going to leave.’ (difficult educational history)

• ESOL student: ‘Matteo’ - GCSE level achieved in Spain

• Not just learning a ‘language’ but learning a new ‘culture’, maybe even new ways of thinking

• Highly literate and able• Focus on language

development – underlying literacy and structure in place

• What’s ‘bric-a-brac’?• Synonyms

Who are the learners?

• The background of individual learners is key• Personal profile and ILP very important

(meeting individual needs)• Learning approaches/styles, e.g. some learners

creative and others more analytical• Personal experiences – strengths and also

barriers. Used in the teaching and learning: relevance and engagement.

• Case studies from NRDC report

Where is it taught?

• FE Colleges• Community Centres

Multilingual BritainLearner Profile – ESOL landscape in London 2009170 languages spoken610,000 Londoners with no qualifications 1 in 5 Londoners literacy levels below that expected of 11 year old(employment rate 45%)Refugee employment rate 33%Heterogeneous group with complex needs and barriers to progressionHuge need at pre-entry level – generally

From London Development Agency data 2009

References

• DfES (1999) A Fresh Start: The Moser report. DfES• DfES (2001) Adult Literacy Core Curriculum. DfES• DfES (2001) Adult ESOL Core Curriculum. DfES• LLUK (2009) Literacy and ESOL: shared and distinctive

knowledge, understanding and professional practice London LLUK

• McKeown, A., (2011) The Overlap Between Adult Literacy and ESOL. London NRDC

• Simpson, J., Cooke, M., Baynham, M. (2008) The Right Course London NRDC