EE Resources for multi-cultural education

Teaching English as a Second Language

Education on environmental issues is important for all Minnesotans. For increasing numbers of people in the state, English is not the native language.

The OEA has funded the development of these free resources using environmental issues as their integrating concept. These workbooks are intended for students in English as a second language (ESL) and limited English proficiency (LEP) classes.

This new ESL workbook profiles the lives of immigrants who have come to America and now have successful careers in the field of environmental education and protection.

• Exercises based on the profiles give practice with English and educate on important issues, teaching lessons on how to develop an environmentally friendly lifestyle in Minnesota.
• A multi-lingual glossary will help students learn the new environmental vocabulary. All students will benefit from the English definitions and translations in Bosnian, Hmong, Russian, Spanish, Somali, and Vietnamese.
• Much more than grammar. Each profile passes along personal background — Why did they come to the United States? How did they chose their profession? What information do they want to pass on to other newcomers? — and serves as an inspiration for those who use the textbook.

How difficult are the lessons?

Both textbooks were written for adult ESL programs, but are also suitable for younger students.

• Intermediate Level is written for students scoring 200 to 210 on the CASAS, or reading at the 2nd or 3rd grade level.
  Sample chapter PDF | 300Kb
  
  
• Advanced Level is written for students scoring 211 and above on the CASAS, or reading at the 4th grade level or higher.
  Sample chapter PDF | 225Kb

Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment System (CASAS)

Excellent for instructors and students

Instructors will find these classroom-tested textbooks easy to use, with material written at a level appropriate for teaching ESL. Classroom-tested ESL exercises which encourage students to use English and learn the rules of language.

Students will get practical information about how to live in the U.S. and be a friend of the environment. The stories about real people keep them interested in the environmental issues discussed, and the exercises help them improve their English skills.

For the classroom or tutoring

These textbooks will work well for you whether you are working with a class or tutoring one-to-one. In fact, anyone teaching ESL or environmental education can use these materials — the goal is to get this important environmental information to newcomers in a format that they can understand.

Since the first edition of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle was printed in 1995, over 10,000 have been used by ESL programs around Minnesota.

This text was written with two complementary goals in mind.

• Create a textbook which both teachers and tutors could use to teach immigrants how to speak, read and write English. Each chapter includes 3 to 5 ESL exercises, giving students lots of opportunity to practice both written and spoken English with the information contained in that chapter.

• Communicate information about reducing, reusing and recycling to immigrants with limited English skills, so that they would be more willing and able to participate in local recycling and waste reduction programs. Over 100 different photographs help illustrate vocabulary words where appropriate, with key vocabulary words translated into 12 different languages.

• Download this sample chapter. PDF | 200Kb

A useful ESL reference

A Tutor Guide explains how to use the ESL exercises effectively, and to help you get the most from “Reduce Reuse Recycle” as an ESL textbook. The exercises in the students’ edition of “Reduce Reuse Recycle” can be done using cooperative learning methods, with students integrating speaking, listening, reading and writing in all of the exercises. An answer key is included.

If needed, we encourage you to write additional exercises based on the level of competency of your students. There is so much data contained in the text that is helpful and necessary for newcomers to learn — instructors shouldn't simply pass on this resource because it is either above or below the level of their students.

Three editions: 12 Languages

Three editions of this guide have been published. Each edition is based on the same workbook, covering a total of twelve different languages. You can download the workbook that best fits your classes or tutoring needs.