Technology Colleagues,

Some of you are interested in how PLAs (Portable Learning Assistants  
(such as mobile phones, PDAs, and MP3 players) are being used or  
could be used in adult literacy education (including numeracy and  
ESOL/ESL).  I am cross-posting an illuminating message from today's  
Workplace Literacy list.

Who else is using MP3 players with adult literacy education students,  
and how are you using them?


David J. Rosen
www.newsomeassociates.com
djrosen at comcast.net

Begin forwarded message:


> From: "Melinda Thomsen" <mthomsen at lagcc.cuny.edu>

> Date: December 4, 2006 10:20:26 AM EST

> To: <workplace at nifl.gov>

> Subject: [Workplace 494] Re: Resume and Job Training Materials for	 

> ESLstu	dents

> Reply-To: The Workplace Literacy Discussion List <workplace at nifl.gov>

>

> Hi Paul & List-Serve Subscribers,



> Thanks for the info on "Getting There" it sounds like it will be

> helpful with the strategic job search we're working on here.

>

> We found through the Hotel Course that to get jobs in that industry  

> for

> students needed to really be at the top of their game. They needed  

> to do

> online applications, cover letters, reference pages besides  

> resumes. We

> are using a Blackboard Internet site as a clearing house for job

> postings. Students are also using their MP3 players to listen to

> pronunciation exercises, store documents and record themselves  

> answering

> interview questions. In this kind of course, the MP3 player has played

> an even more crucial role as they can quickly revise resumes, write up

> new coverletters in order to apply for a job or I can even use a

> student's MP3 to record myself pronouncing difficult words for them,

> like "application" or "braise, boil, fry..."  I've gotten into the  

> habit

> of saying, here - give me your Mp3 player, let me record it for  

> you. It

> only takes a few seconds. The players we use are Samsung YP-U1 and  

> cost

> around $65.  They have a recording device which is very cool.  Useful

> little things.

> Melinda

>

>

> Melinda Thomsen

> Vocational English Instructor

> Center for Immigrant Education and Training

> Room C233

> LaGuardia Community College

> 31-10 Thomson Avenue

> Long Island City, NY 11101

> 718-482-5029

> 718-609-2001 fax

> mthomsen at lagcc.cuny.edu

>

> http://www.lagcc.cuny.edu/ciet/

>

>

>

>>>> <JURMO at ucc.edu> 12/1/2006 3:51 PM >>>

>

> Hi, All,

>

> "Getting There" is a great work-readiness curriculum guide which

> integrates EFF-style practice in basic skills with career awareness

> and

> self-assessment activities. It was developed in the mid-1990s by staff

> at the Center for Literacy Studies at the University of Tennessee at

> Knoxville and is available in the LINCS workplace education special

> collection.

>

> Paul Jurmo

>

> P.S., By the way, Melinda Thomsen, who initiated this discussion, and

> her colleagues at LaGuardia Community College in NYC have developed

> some

> innovative uses of MP3 players and other technologies for a hotel

> worker

> ESOL program.  Melinda, are you willing to share some information

> about

> your program with the other members of this listserv?

>

> -----Original Message-----

> From: workplace-bounces at nifl.gov [mailto:workplace-bounces at nifl.gov]

> On

> Behalf Of Donna Price

> Sent: Friday, December 01, 2006 1:57 PM

> To: 'The Workplace Literacy Discussion List'

> Cc: 'Marian Thacher'; 'Branka Marceta'; Jeanine Eberhardt

> Subject: [Workplace 484] Re: Resume and Job Training Materials for

> ESLstu dents

>

> Melinda asked about about curriculum materials for resume writing and

> job search.  My pet peeve is recreating materials that are already

> available.

> These may need to be updated, but they are public domain and can be

> adapted to your situation.

> 1)  There are a few lessons on career awareness and resume writing

> techniques that you can access on OTAN.

> 1.  http://www.otan.us  (There's a very short registration process &

> it's

> free)

> 2.  Click on OTAN for Teachers on the left side.

> 3.  Click on ESL/Citizenship/EL Civics at the top of the page.

> 4.  Click on Lesson Plans--other.

> 5.  It's on the first page of links that are presented here, called

> ESL

> Internet Lessons.

> 6.  Find the lessons on careers and resumes.

> 2) The VESL Clearinghouse Catalog has a whole section on World of

> Work.

> You can read abstracts of those lessons on OTAN.

> 1.  http://www.otan.us

> 2.  Click on OTAN Resources.

> 3.  Click on Reference Libraries.

> 4.  Click on CA VESL Workplace Clearinghouse.

> 5.  Find the World of Work section.

> Donna Price

>

> -----Original Message-----

> From: workplace-bounces at nifl.gov [mailto:workplace-bounces at nifl.gov]

> On

> Behalf Of Melinda Thomsen

> Sent: Friday, December 01, 2006 7:10 AM

> To: The Workplace Literacy Discussion List

> Subject: [Workplace 483] Resume and Job Training Materials for ESL

> students

>

>

>

> Hi Donna,

> I have a question for the list serve.

> We are running a temporary Job Club here at the Center for Immigrant

> Education and Training, LaGuardia College and may want to develop it

> into a permanent service.  Could anyone suggest curriculum materials

> for

> resume writing and job search? I'm interested in learning more about

> current practices and what good materials are available for ESL

> students.

> Thank you

> Melinda

>

> Melinda Thomsen

> Vocational English Instructor

> Center for Immigrant Education and Training Room C233 LaGuardia

> Community College 31-10 Thomson Avenue Long Island City, NY 11101

> 718-482-5029

> 718-609-2001 fax

> mthomsen at lagcc.cuny.edu

>

> http://www.lagcc.cuny.edu/ciet/

>