Arkansas Adult Learning Resource Center

Adult Learning Network Summer 2003: Page 1

Garland Hankins Announces New AALRC Director

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As many of you may already be aware, Marti Hampton, Co-Director of the Arkansas Adult Learning Resource Center, resigned that position as of July 31, 2003. Marti has accepted a teaching position with the Arkansas Department of Correction School District and will begin working in the adult education classroom at Wrightsville in August. During her tenure at the AALRC, Marti was responsible for the leadership in family literacy, technology, and several other areas. One of her most recent accomplishments was the development and delivery of a literacy workshop for reading teachers and tutors that was piloted and very well-received last spring. I personally appreciate all that Marti has done for adult education and literacy and wish her well in her new position.

In July, with the endorsement from the AALRC Advisory Board, I asked Marsha Taylor, who has been serving as Co-Director of the Resource Center, to accept the position of Director. Marsha has accepted this responsibility and we look forward to a continuation of an excellent working relationship with her in that capacity.

Let me take this opportunity to thank the entire staff of the AALRC for their work. Over the years we have accomplished a great deal through their efforts. Adult educators and literacy providers from the entire state have benefited from the many excellent professional development opportunities they have facilitated. I would ask you, the educators in the field, to continue providing input to the Resource Center, so that we can look forward to a continuation of excellent professional development.

Garland Hankins
Deputy Director
Department of Workforce Education

Third Annual Adult Education ESL Institute

Many adult education centers and literacy councils in Arkansas have been working with several thousand adults who are seeking to learn and/or improve English skills in the areas of speaking, listening, reading, and writing. The 2000 United States Census reported that Arkansas' Hispanic population rose 337 percent since 1990. This rate was the second highest in the nation, with 86,866 Hispanics reported living in Arkansas in the 2000 Census. The number reported in the 1990 Census was 19,876.

The Adult Education Section of the Arkansas Department of Workforce Education conducted an intensive, five-day training for 40 adult education and literacy teachers and tutors throughout the state as part of the third annual Adult Education ESL Institute. Held from July 21 to 25 at the DeGray Lake Resort State Park Lodge in Bismarck, the 2003 ESL Institute focused on the following areas:

Danny Wade Smith and Beverly Smith at the ESL Summer Institute 2003

Increasing cultural awareness – gaining a better understanding of the cultural background and values of the adult Hispanic learner
Personalizing ESL lessons – learning teaching activities that allow students to share their personal and cultural values
Building reading and comprehension – learning how to motivate readers to understand what they read and to feel successful, with practical instructional strategies
Developing effective lesson plans – learning how to organize lessons that provide practice in all four language skills.

Phillip Less, the Adult Education Section ESL Program Advisor, coordinated the workshop, which included presentations by Dr. Frank Gonzales of Amherst, Texas, and Sharron Bassano of Capitola, California.

Dr. Gonzales has taught on the elementary, secondary, community college and university levels. He developed bilingual education and ESL programs and consulted with numerous schools and institutions. He is the author of several books and recently retired from the Intercultural Development Research Association in San Antonio, Texas.

Ms. Bassano is internationally renowned as an author, teacher trainer, and consultant in methods and materials for ESL. An ESL instructor and program coordinator for twentyone years, she has authored popular ESL texts for teacher and students, published by Alta Book Company.

Arkansas is a member of LINCS (Literacy Information aNd Communication Systems) which provides a Regional and National network of electronic support for Adult Education and Literacy. Arkansas is part of the Southern LINCS consortium. Click on the buttons below to search for resources outside of Arkansas.

Funded by the Arkansas Department of Workforce Education, Adult Education Section

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