It has been suggested that I write about how and why we created the book, Tennessee ESOL in the Workplace.

In 2001, Hope Lancaster, the Assistant Director of the Office of Adult Education in Tennessee, met with me to discuss a concern of hers.  She said, "We have noticed that at least 5% of the population in each county consists of non-English speaking adults and yet we have many counties where there are no ESOL students in our adult classes. I think most of them are in the workplace and I think it would be a good idea to establish ESOL classes in the workplace."  I said, "That's a great idea.  Who do you want to do this?"   She said, "I want you to do it."

I returned to the Center for Literacy Studies to discuss this with my supervisor, Dr. Connie White.  Connie said, "This could be a massive piece of work, are you sure you want to do it?" I said that I did and then Connie said that she thought I would need someone to work with me.  I had heard Barbara Tondre present at a TESOL meeting and thought that she would be an excellent person to work with.  She came to Knoxville and we spent a day getting acquainted and learned that we could easily work together on this project.  

With the help of many dedicated Tennessee ESOL teachers and administrators, Dr. Connie White, and Hope Lancaster, we wrote the book.  Working with these people was a pleasure and a year where I more than doubled my knowledge of ESOL in the workplace.  I hope that this Talk Back series will be of help to many of you as I know it will be to me.

Pat Sawyer
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