Blogs

Purpose:  to encourage learners to compare and contrast short reading texts, and build familiarity with the Venn Diagram graphic organizer.

Preparation Time:  5 minutes

Materials Needed:  two short texts on the same topic

Procedure:

We spoke with Deborah Cushman, Associate Director of the literacy council, about tips for life after VISTA. Here's what she has to say:

VISTA service doesn’t tend to require much explanation when you’re communicating with the inside crowd. Plenty of nonprofits and public sector organizations are well-versed in national service. But here are some things to consider when engaging in a job search with audiences who might not know much about VISTA.

On printed materials (resume, cover letters, etc.):

If you teach an ESL class, you might hear learners tell you that they struggle to understand people that they interact with out in the community. English language learners benefit from listening to fluent English speakers who have different accents, speaking speeds, and speaking styles. They need to be able to understand everyone, not just their teacher!

Purpose:  to give learners practice identifying the main idea and retelling key details

Preparation Time:  15 minutes

Materials Needed:  sets of picture stories, cut apart

Procedure: