Book Overview

This book offers a broad range of topics and activities that are helpful for high-intermediate to advanced adult learners of English. Because so few materials are created for adults, we focused on topics that are important for emergent multilingual adults living in the United States, such as writing a professional email or preparing for a job interview. However, we also chose to include a section about everyday English, which can help adult learners feel more comfortable participating in conversations. In addition, a large part of this book is dedicated to academic reading and writing skills, including the writing process, paraphrasing and quoting sources, and using appropriate reading strategies.

We hope that this book is a valuable addition to a variety of English language classes. Suggested activities and readings, as well as grammar and writing explanations, can be a good starting point for class conversations and instructions. This book can also be a useful guide for learners of English as they work independently toward their language goals.

Authors

Angel Steadman, PhD, is tenured faculty at Highline College and has taught English language and writing in multiple contexts across the US, Latin America, and Asia. She previously coordinated the Special Programs and Teacher Training programs at the Center for English as a Second Language at the University of Arizona, and she has published and presented widely on topics related to identity and agency in TESOL, developing inclusive online teaching practices, and examining classroom discourse as a means of interrogating practice and striving toward a more equitable learning and teaching environment.

Bevin Taylor, MA-TESL, is a tenured faculty at Highline College. Bevin has nearly 20 years of ESOL teaching experience in varied contexts from university IEP courses to community-based family literacy programs. Her passion is working alongside immigrant and refugee adults to strengthen academic English skills, build confidence, and facilitate a path to higher education. She co-founded the Jumpstart College Transition Program at Highline College and has presented extensively on the program, which has been adopted and adapted by other 2-year institutions in Washington state. As much as she enjoys teaching, Bevin also enjoys learning about other languages and cultures, particularly from the adults in her classes.

Ahmed Fahad, Ed.D, is a tenure-track faculty at Highline College and has over 10 years of experience teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) and English as a Foreign Language (EFL). He holds a Doctor of Education degree in Literacy and Second Language Studies with a TESOL focus from the University of Cincinnati. His research interests include Second Language Acquisition, Intercultural Communication, and Discourse Analysis. Ahmed has published widely on topics such as the role of input, motivation, and identity in second language learning and the sociolinguistic challenges faced by Arab ELLs in U.S. schools. He is committed to developing inclusive teaching practices and fostering equitable learning environments.