According to the 2000 U.S. Census, English is not the primary language spoken at home for about one in five residents. That equals about 47 million people ages 5 and older.
ESOL programs offer concrete ways for teachers to evaluate student progress. A beginning student, for example, can read simple sentences. An advanced student can understand and interpret paragraph structure.
Adult ESOL lessons can include life skills such as parenting, understanding the public education system and being able to count and make change using U.S. currency.
Students with little or no formal education in their native tongue will struggle with understanding a new language, according to the Florida Department of Education.
Adult ESOL lessons can be used to show students how mastering English can lead to opportunities for advancement at work. It can also be a springboard to inspire adult ESOL students to further their education.