Return-Path: <nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id g86HDGX13012; Fri, 6 Sep 2002 13:13:16 -0400 (EDT) Date: Fri, 6 Sep 2002 13:13:16 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: <B24038C0D3E160419E320030D92C22DE970D2B@hobbes.cal.org> Errors-To: listowner@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: "Miriam Burt" <miriam@cal.org> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-ESL:7938] Re: Purpose of the NIFL-ESL List -from L. Terrill X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Content-Type: text/plain; Status: O Content-Length: 2488 Lines: 25 Dear List participants: Lynda is having trouble with her computer and asked me to send this to the list for her. Miriam Burt >From Lynda: Dear NIFL-ESL colleagues, There have been some strong exchanges on the NIFL-ESL discussion list the last day or two. I'd like to respond in two ways: First, with a little bit of my personal history and philosophy and second, with specific response to queries from the list. First, my teaching career started in 1972 and I have taught native and non-native speakers of English of all ages and most venues. The one constant among the many variables was the need and obligation to respect the learners I was working with-for the strengths, for their challenges, and because we are all in this together. I feel the same way about the NIFL-ESL list. We come to the discussion with differing experiences and many perspectives. We have many things to learn from each other, and we need to work together collegially. As one of the our list members wrote to me, " it's hard to see us (whoever "we" are) hassling one another when there are such larger forces beyond the field already making it hard enough to do our work." Second: General information about the National Institute for Literacy's goals for the discussion lists are to "Enrich literacy practice and research by fostering discussion and information exchange among researchers, practitioners, and literacy clients on major literacy related issues. The "Welcome to NIFL-ESL" message that you received when you signed up for this discussion list says, "NIFL-ESL has provided a forum for those teaching English language literacy to adults. Subjects discussed on the list include assessment choices, software recommendations, teaching multilevel classes, professional preparation and credentialing, literacy instruction, and bilingual and native language education." While I am clarifying with NIFL whether they wish the original scope of NIFL-ESL to be broadened, I suspect the general statement above allows us to entertain a variety of respondents of good will on the list. Finally, and another personal note: I live three miles from the Pentagon and what I think about a lot these days is how we teachers of immigrants--adults, children, and families-- have important work to do. As this is not a moderated list, it is necessary for every one of us to offer reasonable, reasoned, and respectful messages only. Best Wishes, Lynda Terrill NIFL-ESL listserve facilitator
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Fri Jan 17 2003 - 14:44:19 EST