English Language Learners Materials for CC libraries
A resource discovery aid for collection development librarians.
Introduction
I was recently granted an opportunity to partake in some collection development of our ESL collection. This came about after having taken an ESL class on a tour of the library which ended in the ESL section (for them to browse and check out books) I became acutely aware that many of our books were outdated (20yr old bios on Oprah or Brad Pitt) and many were of little interest to adult males (many copies of Austen/Bronte ect).
I was unable to locate many resources on collection development guides in this area so I thought I would create one of my own. Please feel free to offer suggestions for additional resources - I most likely overlooked some. B-D
I was unable to locate many resources on collection development guides in this area so I thought I would create one of my own. Please feel free to offer suggestions for additional resources - I most likely overlooked some. B-D
Organizations
- Extensive Reading Foundation
- From their website: "The Extensive Reading Foundation is a not-for-profit, charitable organization whose purpose is to support and promote extensive reading. One Foundation initiative is the annual Language Learner Literature Award for the best new works in English. Another is maintaining a bibliography of research on extensive reading. The Foundation is also interested in helping educational institutions set up extensive reading programs through grants that fund the purchase of books and other reading material."
Series / Publishers
Publishers and series that specifically target ELL/ESL or adult/teen reluctant readers
- Urban Underground: Hi-Lo Series for YA
- From publisher: "Set in contemporary urban America, the Urban Underground series is about a group of teens attending Tubman High. The teen experience at Tubman is typical as students deal with trust, loyalty, friendship, unemployment, urban decay, drugs, dropouts, bullies, alcoholism, and self esteem to name a few. The highly readable style and mature topics will appeal to struggling teen readers and encourage them to finish each novel- each paperback book looks and feels like a trade edition and is complete in just under 200 pages. "
- Cambridge English Readers
- With plenty of audio clips, worksheets and product information, Cambridge University Press offers a well supported collection of ESL materials.
Order right from Amazon!
Random ESL picks from Amazon (hopefully)
Related Literature
Book Bridges for ESL Students: Using Young Adult & Children's Literature to Teach ESL by: Suzanne Reid
A lot of good basic info on teaching ESL students, especially for the beginner teacher. Includes a very nice bibliography that would go a long way to building a basic collection. Warns that for adults, cutesy illustrations may be more of an impediment. This book also provides some general principles in selecting books for ESL students that I will reprint here:
1. Allow choice if possible: people learn what interests them.
2. Recommend works that are not too long or complex and that match the student's intellectual and maturity level.
3. Be aware of cultural preferences as well as individual differences.
4. Avoid any stereotyping or phrasing that might be offensive.
5. Avoid dialect, jargon, or arcane subjects unless your student expresses a strong wish to learn these.
A lot of good basic info on teaching ESL students, especially for the beginner teacher. Includes a very nice bibliography that would go a long way to building a basic collection. Warns that for adults, cutesy illustrations may be more of an impediment. This book also provides some general principles in selecting books for ESL students that I will reprint here:
1. Allow choice if possible: people learn what interests them.
2. Recommend works that are not too long or complex and that match the student's intellectual and maturity level.
3. Be aware of cultural preferences as well as individual differences.
4. Avoid any stereotyping or phrasing that might be offensive.
5. Avoid dialect, jargon, or arcane subjects unless your student expresses a strong wish to learn these.
by rmckernan
I am a collection development librarian at Whatcom Community College. I created this guide to help myself locate resources in this area. Thought I'd... more »
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