IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: 06/11 CILIA-T Curriculum: Content-Integrated Language Instruction for Adults with Technology Support

06/11 Session: CILIA-T Curriculum: Content-Integrated Language Instruction for Adults with Technology Support

Description: Our guest presenters, Aydin Durgunoglu and Erin Cary with the University of Minnesota, Duluth, present a new curriculum that integrates Civics, US History and English instruction enhanced by digital resources and activities, called Content-Integrated Language Instruction for Adults with Technology Support (CILIA-T). The CILIA-T curriculum is designed for intermediate-level adult English learners, enabling them to develop their English proficiency, build their knowledge of U.S. history and civics, and work towards accomplishing their goals, such as participating more fully in their communities and improving their employment and educational opportunities.

Presenter: Dr. Aydin Durgunoglu and Erin Cary , University of Minnesota, Duluth

Presentation:  CILIA-T Curriculum: Content-Integrated Language Instruction for Adults with Technology Support (Google slides)

CILIA-T website: https://sites.google.com/d.umn.edu/ciliat/home 

Video: CILIA-T on YouTube

Articles MN ABE Connect E-newsletter:

  1. Introduction to the CILIA-T Project
  2. CILIA-T Curriculum Project: Developing Our Digital Skills Roadmap

Contact members of the CILIA-T Project Team:

Aydin Durgunoglu, Project Director: adurguno@d.umn.edu

Erin Cary, Project Coordinator: cary0011@d.umn.edu

Comments

I'm wondering what are your thoughts on using a theme/lesson as standalone exercises in the classroom? 

I would think that the analytical skills of adults can be challenging to manage in an English learning classroom. I'm curious what support can help adult English learners in developing their critical thinking in a new context? 

Thank you for your question. Although we have designed it as a complete curriculum and historical topics go together (chronologically), the resource will be available for the teachers to use in the best way that meets their needs. This includes using only modules or even exercises in a standalone fashion.  We have now completed a pilot with four ESL classrooms and the response (from both the teachers and the students) has been very positive. Critical thinking exercises work very well, especially when we encourage the adults to think about their own experiences with different systems, cultures and build upon those. Their vocabulary and grammar may be simple but their opinions, inferences, analyses are anything but. In fact, they enjoy hearing about examples from around the globe from their classmates and that provides an additional layer of richness and comparison possibilities. 

We also hope that teachers working with native English-speakers will be able to use these materials as well. 

Please excuse this late reply (I was out of the country) and continue to share your thoughts and experiences.