Texas Industry Specific English as a Second Language Curricula
(TISESL)

What is TISESL?
Why and how was TISESL created?
Why use the TISESL curricula?
What does each TISESL curriculum include?
Are adult education programs required to use the TISESL curricula?
Is professional development available to programs planning to use the TISESL curricula?
Who has access to TISESL?
Next Steps for TISESL implementation
How do authorized TISESL users obtain the instructional materials?
How can I learn about other adult education programs that have used TISESL successfully?
What other workforce literacy resources are available to adult education providers?

 

What is TISESL?

TISESL is a comprehensive set of instructional resources designed to introduce beginning and intermediate English language learners to vocabulary in three industry sectors: healthcare, sales and service, and manufacturing – as well as to employability skills in general. TISESL responds to the needs of adults with limited English proficiency and to the needs of three industry sectors in which many adults seek entry level employment. The curricula are modular in format and “bundle” skills together in thematic contexts that include English language learning, related math, technology, and employability. Employability is accompanied by a web-based component. Materials are based on principles of adult learning, employ a five step model for language development, and respond to the Texas Adult Education Content Standards and Benchmarks for ESL learners.

Why and how was TISESL created?

Texas Industry Specific English as a Second Language (TISESL) is Adult Education’s response to Texas legislation passed during the 79th legislative session of 2005. Education Rider 82 states:

Out of federal funds appropriated in Strategy A 2.5, Adult Education and Family Literacy, the Commissioner (Texas Education Agency) shall allocate an amount not to exceed $850,000 in fiscal year 2006 for the development of a demand driven workplace literacy and basic skills curriculum. The Texas Workforce Commission shall provide resources, industry-specific information, and expertise identified as necessary by the Texas Education Agency to support the development and implementation of the curriculum.
Education Rider 82, 79th State Legislative Session, 2005

Faced with this mandate, Texas LEARNS, the State Office for Adult Education and Literacy, undertook a number of activities in response to the legislation. Significant research and consideration for adult learners’ needs and the needs of business and industry suggested that Texas LEARNS focus its attention on adults with limited English proficiency and on industry sectors in which many adults seek entry level employment.

Healthcare, sales and service, and manufacturing all include occupations for which English language learners may qualify, provided the opportunities to acquire employment-related language/literacy skills, work readiness skills, and introductions to critical vocational components are made accessible. Qualifying for jobs that pay a living wage in these sectors requires that adult learners have access to a continuum of education and training services.

Historically, English language services and job training have not been closely linked, and programs running parallel to one another but never meeting have been only marginally effective in serving the limited English proficient who want to improve their long term job prospects. Education Rider 82 provided an opportunity for Adult Education in Texas to respond to the industry-related educational needs of this adult learner population.

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Why use the TISESL curricula?

  1. The three curricula introduce English language learners to the following industry sectors: healthcare, sales and service, and manufacturing.
  2. The curricula are modular in format and “bundle” skills together in thematic contexts that include English language learning, related math, technology, and employability.
  3. They exemplify what learners are expected to know and be able to do as members of the 21st century workforce.
  4. The curricula respond to the Texas Adult Education Content Standards and Benchmarks for ESL learners.
  5. The products are replicable in a variety of instructional settings.
  6. Materials are based on principles of adult learning and employ a five step model for language development. (See #25 in the SHOP TALK series.)
  7. Instruction can provide a springboard to occupational training and career path opportunities.
  8. TISESL is evidence-based. The materials were piloted in five Texas programs in 2007. Results of the pilot study indicate that Students in NRS levels 2 and 3 can learn English and obtain background knowledge on certain industries by participating in the curricula. See the Rider 82 Curriculum 2007 Pilot Report Findings or Executive Summary of the report for more information on the pilot and its outcomes.

What does each curriculum include?

Materials for each industry sector consist of four modules with five lessons in each module. Each lesson covers approximately ten hours of instruction. The instructor’s training manual and the teacher lesson plans include Scope and Sequence charts for each module and a total of 200 hours of instruction in ESL, industry-related math, technology, and employability. Additional supplements include communication scenarios, student materials, references, a cognate dictionary, vocabulary, and end-of-lesson assessments.

A stand alone employability component for 60 hours of instruction is also included in the complete TISESL package. Teachers and students using the employability component of TISESL can also access web-based activities focused on employability. To request access to the web-based component, the teacher can submit a Request for Employability Access form to Texas LEARNS. 

Student recruitment and orientation materials for each industry sector as well as suggestions for establishing internships are also provided.

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Are adult education programs required to use the TISESL curricula?

TISESL is intended to respond to local needs, which will vary from one community to the next. Release #31 in the SHOP TALK series dispels some of the myths about TISESL and provides further information on the use of the curricula.

Is professional development available to programs planning to use the curricula?

All programs are advised to take advantage of the professional development available through the GREAT Centers. Because the TISESL curricula are comprehensive, they can be difficult to manage initially. Professional development is designed to assist instructional staff in learning to navigate the electronic files. To request professional development in TISESL implementation, download and complete this form for submission to your regional GREAT Center. [TISESL Professional Development Request Form is in Microsoft® Word format.]

Who has access to TISESL?

  1. TISESL materials are copyrighted © and trademarked ™ as the property of the Texas Education Agency (TEA). For details, see this TISESL Copyright Notice.
  2. All state and federally funded adult education programs in Texas have access to the copyrighted materials. Collaborators working with one of those programs need not apply for a separate copyright license.
  3. The Texas Education Agency is extending licenses to local workforce development networks at no cost but with strict compliance to the terms of TEA’s copyright, as stated in the TISESL materials.
  4. Other Texas nonprofit organizations can request a TISESL copyright license by submitting this Nonprofit TISESL License Request Form to Texas LEARNS. For assistance with that form, contact Laura Aguirre at Texas LEARNS. [TISESL License Request Form is in Microsoft® Word format.]
  5. Requests from private, other for-profit, and out-of-state organizations will be taken under consideration by the Texas Education Agency.
  6. Teachers who are using TISESL in their classrooms can request access to TISESL Employability web resources and activities for their classes by submitting to Texas LEARNS this Request for TISESL Employability Web Page Access Form. Access will enable the teacher and students to utilize the web-based component for the duration of the class.

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Next Steps for TISESL implementation (in Texas)

  1. Determine the industry-related needs of English language learners in your service delivery area.
  2. Contact your local adult education provider about collaborating to deliver TISESL instruction. Adult education fiscal agents can be found in TCALL’s Directory of Literacy Providers – search under Program Type “Adult Education Co-op”.
  3. Contact Laura Aguirre at Texas LEARNS to find out if you already have or can obtain a copyright license to implement TISESL.
  4. Contact the GREAT Center in your area to arrange for the pre-requisite professional development for instructional staff.

How do authorized TISESL users obtain the instructional materials?

Authorized users (license-holders) can request electronic versions of TISESL materials by a secure transmission process by contacting Laura Aquirre at Texas LEARNS.

How can I learn about other adult education programs that have used TISESL successfully?

Read the following articles in the SHOP TALK series that describe TISESL implementation:

What other workforce literacy resources are available to adult education providers?

Visit the Resources for Workforce Collaboration and Best Practices page to find a variety of resources, including the Rider 82 Curriculum pilot report findings (before it was given the name TISESL), the entire SHOP TALK series and Charting a Course Handbooks #1 and #2. The Adult Literacy Clearinghouse Project at TCALL (a state leadership project supported by Texas LEARNS) provides a variety of services for adult and family literacy educators including this Website, a lending library, free materials, a quarterly newsletter, email listservs, and email discussion groups. See TCALL’s home page for more information on those services and resources.

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