Hello all, a delayed response from Holly here -- 
This:

>>> cnaamh at rcn.com 7/10/2006 9:23 PM >>>

I agree with you, Bruce.  High-quality instruction in a supportive environment is key and has many components.  We may have to re-define success for funders but for students feeling successful NOW is a key element of persistence.  We evaluate every activity and every class.  All students should leave every class with a feeling of success.  I try my best to have students leave, even the first class, with something they can use now.
 Nicole B. Graves
South Deerfield, MA>>
...reminded me of an experience I had teaching a workplace ESL (Hotel employees) class a few years back -- after the third 2 hour class, IMMEDIATELY after the class, as we were exiting the classroom space, the employees' supervisor asked the students/employees:  "Well, what did you learn today?"   (she asked this to the group, and then repeated her question individually to each employee -- ).   The first response, "Nothing."   The second response, "nothing."   etc.  etc. ---   What I learned from this:   a new daily scheduled activity at the end of each class -- practicing (verbally) "What did you learn today?" answers!   <grins!>  

So, students left feeling success, KNOWING how to articulate that success -- both in simple written format (like writing a memo to their supervisor) and in simple spoken English format... 

and I learned to quiz the supervisor before the following class, "Well, what DID they learn last class?" --
it became a win-win-win --- and continued the contract!   
[supervisors then added, based on the students/employees feedback, 5 minutes language exchange show & tell at monthly staff meetings -- where everyone had to share what they'd learned -- in  a language of their choice!
Hooray for multilingualism -- hooray for feelings of success -- hooray for articulated mini-goals.... etc.
persistence -- motivation -- and hooray for continued funding!
Holly
 

"No matter what our attempts to inform, it is our ability to inspire that will turn the tides."
Holly Dilatush
ESL distance learning, Dialogue Cafe, Volunteer coordinator
Charlottesville City Schools Adult Learning Center
1000 Preston Ave., Suite D
Charlottesville  VA  22903
(434) 245.2815 office
(434) 960.7177 cell/mobile
http://theHsmile.org  ['home' to several Moodle CMS (course management systems/virtual classrooms)]
http://www.Charlottesville-ESL.org 
"Live with intention. Share inside~out smiles, inspire hope, seek awe and nurture in nature."