ESOL Research

• Ofsted publishes English and modern foreign languages good practice report for college courses. This Ofsted survey looks at the best English and modern foreign language provision in colleges in England. It places emphasis on effective teaching and team-working, study visits and cultural activities, and overseas work placements through employer links.
• Initial ESOL Assessment in Scotland: a short study (March 2008)
  This study, carried out by Stevenson College Edinburgh, was commissioned by the Scottish Government's Lifelong Learning Directorate to raise awareness of initial assessment procedures and materials being used by ESOL providers in Scotland. View the full report here, and a summary here (both pdf).
• Special Topic: Research and Best Practice Concerning the Instruction of ESL Learners with Low Levels of Literacy
  The 25th anniversary volume of the MinneWITESOL Journal is now available online. The first section of this volume includes articles that concentrate on our special topic: research and best practice concerning the instruction of ESL learners with low levels of literacy. Articles include an overview of research-based methods for teaching ESL students with low levels of literacy, a report on a year-long research study on teaching learning strategies to students with low levels of literacy, and several reviews of materials for low-literacy students.
• Examining the Impact of EU Enlargement and the Introduction of the UK Citizenship Test on Provision of English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) in Scotland, GHK Consultancy Ltd, November 2007. View here.
• National 'English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Strategy: Mapping Exercise and Scoping Study', University of Abertay Dundee, January 2005. View here.
• Fife Findings: Migrant Workers in Fife, Fife Council, February 2008. View pdf here.
• Ofsted report: "ESOL in the post-compulsory learning and skills sector: an evaluation" (relates to England only)
• A dissertation on the effectiveness of phonics (pdf, 1.2Mb)
• Adult Literacy, Numeracy and ESOL: What impact has the incorporation and inclusion of ESOL had on the provision and practice of Adult Literacy and Numeracy education in Scotland? View here (pdf). ESOL
• Uses of Technology in the Instruction of Adult English Language Learners - article from CAL (Center for Applied Linguistics). View here (pdf).
• Adult Education - key message from a new report on migration and lifelong learning from NIACE
• Inquiry into the Future for Lifelong Learning's Migration, Communities and Lifelong Learning Thematic Paper 3 (pdf, 1.6Mb)
• A joint ESOL review was conducted by officials in Scottish Government's Lifelong Learning Directorate and COSLA's Strategic Migration Partnership Team in 6 areas of Scotland during September and October 2009. The review was designed to give a sense of how ESOL is being planned and delivered in different areas across Scotland, with a particular focus on partnership working. The report can be viewed here.

ESOL-Research forum
A vibrant online forum for researchers and practitioners with an interest in research into teaching and learning ESOL. ESOL-Research is managed by James Simpson at the Centre for Language Education Research, School of Education, University of Leeds. To join or leave ESOL-Research, visit this website. A quick guide to using Jiscmail lists can be found here. Contact the list owner by email.