The expanding ethnic and linguistic diversity in the United States is reflected in the diversity of the youth population we serve at Job Corps centers. Now, more than ever, English Language Learners are faced with the challenge of becoming literate not only in the written and verbal aspects of the English language, but also in the embedded use of the language in relation to technology. Today’s ELLs are not much different from those in the past, but the world has changed. ELLs come to Job Corps with the desire to work hard and achieve, but the economy has shifted from a manufacturing to an information technology focus. High school graduation is now considered a minimum requirement for even basic jobs and often requires further academic and career technical education. ELLs today have to work harder and achieve more academically than those in the past. They need to have not only reading and writing ability, but also computer literacy in order to find and keep a job.

This Just In

Multicultural Class Requires Ingenuity (MS Word file, click to download MS Word Viewer)
                    . . . Arizona Daily Star

The first few months of a new language and environment can hold either terror or challenge to young adults, depending on the provisions made for these newcomers by school, work, and the community. As ELLs strive to meet academic and career standards, they face the additional challenge of learning, comprehending, and applying academic and career technical English delivered through direct instruction, technology, textbooks, and other resources. Those who teach ELLs must take into consideration their special language acquisition needs. High quality instruction and experiences make a difference