A Handbook for Practitioners: ESL/Literacy for Adult Non-Native Speakers of English

Abstract

0 I was glad to find that the Handbook for Practitioners was not just another how-to text for teachers; it is rather a compilation of materials on all aspects of Rhode Island International Institute's ESL/literacy program, including a discussion of the process that the authors went through in implementing the program. They report evenly about program successes and failures and discuss how hiring circumstances caused them to reshape the program design. They admit that the new program did not integrate as fully with the existing programs as they had hoped, and they hypothesize why. I hope they have started a trend that other administrators will follow by writing about their practices. Another valuable aspect of this book is the section Collaboration, a title drawn from the writers' conviction that learning and teaching are collaborative endeavors-a philosophy they carry out in staff development activities as well as in the classroom. This section offers a variety of information on staff training at the institute. The action research theme is carried out in two dimensions: Samples of two teachers' writings about their practice are included within the framework of two of the authors' reflections on their own experiences. Also included is a one-page needs assessment for teachers interested in ESL literacy that can be used as a model for needs assessment around any tightly focused topic. Collaboration is essential reading for all those involved in staff development and/ or volunteer training. The handbook does include what one would expect from the title: a toolbox of methods and ideas for activities, an annotated bibliography of good materials, and an excellent section on evaluation-all coming from a participatory perspective. The handbook is long, which is one drawback, and it moves from topic to topic without clear transitions. But the book rewards the reader's effort.