Our ESL Instructor Training is an 11-hour interactive and participatory workshop, held over two days. Sessions run from 9:00am-3:30pm with lunch, snacks, and beverages provided on both days. It is led by Literacy Forward Master Trainers who were themselves trained by experts in the field. The training focuses on teaching communicative language in the classroom, with the goal of having students learn language skills that can be immediately applied to negotiate daily life in an English-speaking environment.

Each participant receives the English Forward Instructor Guide. The Guide includes communicative teaching strategies and teaching tips for instructors as well as a lesson planning framework, which is covered extensively during the Instructor Training.  Instructors then have the Guide to use as a resource once they enter their classroom.

Each participant will receive a copy of the English Forward Curriculum. The English Forward Curriculum, designed for beginning-level adult ESL classrooms, covers the first 60-100 hours of instruction. With 40+ life skills-focused lessons, students are able to immediately apply what they’ve learned outside the classroom. All these resources, and more, will also be accessible through the English Forward WebPortal.

Attendance is required for all 11-hours of the training. If you are not able to attend the entire training, please do not register.

All participants who complete the training are expected to commit to serving as a volunteer instructor for a minimum of 60 hours.

For those not already affiliated with an ESL teaching program, our volunteer coordinator will support you in finding an existing program as a volunteer instructor.