I have just come across what appears to be a very useful, free resource. Aunt Bertha lists huge numbers of services available in your area under many different categories, like education, medical care, food, job training, and more. On the top left, scroll done the very long list of languages that can access the information! If you haven't done so, you or students might add your organization to the site. They might also want to explore hundreds of resources available in your region.
Of course, I'm always thinking of how to use resources to engage students in reading, writing, and other academic or workplace skills. Here are a couple of suggestions. Please add your own. (As an aside, I used to have my ESL students call businesses or service providers in El Paso, TX and ask for information that they would then write up and share with the class. They would call for prices; types of services, hours of operation; special discounts; appointments that, of course, they would cancel; loan or savings amounts, and more.)
- Research educational services in three zip codes close to you. Report on what you find.
- Explore the Housing Maintenance and Repair services available in your area. Describe three that you or someone you know might use.
Your turn. It seems that resources like this one could become useful in many ways to a number of different types of interests or students. What ideas do you have? Leecy