ESL NEW TEACHER RESOURCE GUIDE

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To a new English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher in an adult education program,
the task of teaching English can seem overwhelming. This ESL New Teacher
Resource Guide, developed by the California Adult Literacy Professional
Development Project (CALPRO), is designed to introduce you to the most immediate
and important aspects of teaching adult ESL in California.
A teacher new to ESL often asks such questions as, “Who will my new students be?”
“What is their English proficiency?” “What materials should I use?” “How do I
assess my students and document their progress?” Many local agencies have
procedures and practices that address these issues and will provide guidance to new
teachers. The California Department of Education (CDE) has specific requirements
and also provides certain documents to guide you.
This resource guide presents a brief overview of this information, provides
examples of the most important documents you will need, and leads you to resources
that will inform your teaching. The guide is available on the CALPRO Web site at
www.calpro-online.org. Relevant support materials (including a teacher training video
on ESL lesson planning and selected CDE publications) are available for loan from
the CALPRO Professional Development Centers (PDCs). To locate and/or contact
your local PDC, visit the CALPRO Web site and click on “Professional Development
Centers.” Then click on PDC Locator and select your county of residence. You will be
directed to the PDC that serves your region. You can also contact the CALPRO
Office at 1-800-427-1422.
Teaching ESL can be an exciting and fulfilling experience. We hope that this guide
will make your experience more manageable and rewarding.