GLASGOW ESOL FORUM has developed a new teacher training qualification. The PDA: ESOL Literacies: Teaching Adults Reading, Writing and Numeracy was validated by SQA in March 2005. The PDA is a continuing professional development award, designed for qualified ESOL teachers (i.e. Trinity or CELTA certificates or above) working in FE, HE, Community Learning & Development and the Voluntary Sector.
Background Research
The Glasgow ESOL Survey 2000 Report (Glasgow ESOL Forum and Scottish Enterprise 2000) highlighted a need for ESOL literacies provision and teacher training. This was further evidenced by the cross-sectoral national training needs analysis conducted by the Glasgow ESOL Forum in 2003.
We gratefully acknowledge funding in 2003/05 from the Scottish Executive, via The Glasgow Community Learning Strategy Partnership and Learning Connections, to support the creation and development of the PDA: ESOL Literacies: Teaching Adults Reading, Writing and Numeracy.
National Consultation
The Glasgow ESOL Forum's Development Team, representing FE, HE, Community Learning and Learning Connections, developed the draft PDA and a national consultation exercise was completed in 2003.
The consultation document can be viewed on the http://esoltest.gcg.ac.uk/files/PDAadlit.pdf.
Piloting
National piloting of the PDA: ESOL Literacies: Teaching Adults Reading, Writing and Numeracy took place in Autumn 2004 in Glasgow. The trainers were Esther Dunbar, Clare El Azebbi and Anna Grant all of whom have extensive knowledge and experience of teaching ESOL literacies learners.
Pilot participants represented a cross-section of ESOL teachers from across Scotland and from a mix of sectors including the Voluntary Sector, Community Learning & Development and Further Education.
Course elements of the PDA include:
- the social practice approach and encouraging critical awareness in learners
- conducting initial interviews/assessments and developing Individual Learning Plans and programmes of work
- teaching the skills of reading, writing and numeracy to learners who may or may not have literacies skills in their native, or other, language
- Roman script – de-coding and formation
- teaching mixed level literacies classes
- ICT and ESOL literacies
- specific learning difficulties e.g. dyslexia
- developing suitable resources
SQA Validation
The PDA consists of a single unit with 4 outcomes. The unit has a double credit and attracts 16 SCQF points at Level 8. The validated unit can be downloaded from the SQA web-site using the following link: www.sqa.org.uk/files/hn/DDM0E35.pdf
National Launches
National launches, facilitated by SQA, will take place on 26 th and 27 th April in Glasgow and Dundee respectively.