2007 ESL Technology Grant Winners

Front row (left to right): Lesly Borges, deputy director – Cleghorn Neighborhood Center; Marra Lockheardt, executive director, Worcester Public Library Foundation; Glenda Lopez, community services coordinator – Cleghorn Neighborhood Center; Joanne Arnaud Appleton, executive director – Boston Adult Literacy Fund; Angela Amell, administrative assistant – Boston Adult Literacy Fund; Sandy Blanes, director of English Language Lab – Cambridge College; Dolores Calaf, director of Lawrence center – Cambridge College; Kimberly Dunbar, communications specialist – Cambridge College; Lori Heymans, assistant professor – Northern Essex Community College.

Back row (left to right): Paul Chanley, assistant professor – Northern Essex Community College; Kathy Rodriguez, Massachusetts Family Literacy Coordinator – Mass. Department of Education; Tim Sneed, executive director – Massachusetts Career Development Institute; Donna Cupelo, Verizon region president – Massachusetts and Rhode Island; Carrie Mitchell, staff program development specialist – Framingham Adult ESL Plus; Maureen Harrod, administrative assistant – Framingham Adult ESL Plus; and Howard Allen, regional business development – Cambridge College.

Boston Adult Literacy Fund:  The Boston Adult Literacy Fund (BALF) was chosen as one of seven pilot sites nationwide to deliver LearnerWeb, an innovative Internet and telephone-based portal for distance ESOL learning, to students in the Boston area.  The LearnerWeb program uses technology as tools to support self-directed learning for adults with basic skills needs. Students can prepare for the GED or pursue other learning goals such as fluency, citizenship, family literacy or preparing for college. The LearnerWeb makes literacy resources accessible to students on their own time and in their own environment. 

Cambridge College:  Cambridge College will expand its advanced ESL training program, Ladder to Language, to offer pre-college computer education and literacy services to adult learners in Lawrence and Merrimack Valley. The expansion will prepare students for employment or to pursue additional education (certificates, college coursework) through English language mastery. The Language Lab provides state-of-the-art software enabling students to practice the TOEFL exam, improve pronunciation with voice recognition software, hone basic computer skills through tutoring software, and improve English language comprehension with intensive listening exercises.

Framingham Adult ESL Plus:  Framingham Adult ESL Plus will develop an extensive curriculum that will integrate Pronunciation Power software into the existing ESL Plus curriculum.  The software includes highly interactive activities, games, and dictionary pages to help students improve their pronunciation while learning the English language.  Funds also will be used to train staff members on how to teach the curriculum as part of the overall ESL program and run a pilot class. 

Massachusetts Career Development Institute (MCDI):  MCDI will launch its year-long English for Employment program, which will provides adult learners in the Springfield area with English language classes, coupled with computer literacy, career and life skills, and motivational workshops.  Students engaged in the program also will have access to a comprehensive menu of one-stop education, training, and support services, and a job placement center that prepares and helps place students in the workforce.

Northern Essex Community College (NECC): NECC will provide students enrolled in Developmental Education, ESL and literacy programs with an opportunity to develop Information Technology literacy skills while continuing to improve literacy and academic skills. Through this project, students will become fluent in information technology and be encouraged to consider careers in information technology by enrolling in and completing the college's Certificate in Information Technology.

United Neighbors of Cleghorn: The Cleghorn Neighborhood Center will offer an adult education program for low-income Latinos through a technology-based curriculum that combines four main components needed to succeed in life: General Education Diploma (GED) preparation, English as a Second Language (ESL), computer training, and leadership development. Curriculum will be offered in both Spanish and English. Learners will gain skills in basic math and literacy, computers, and the English language, and the skills needed to find better job opportunities, and career advancement.

Worcester Public Library:  The Worcester Public Library, in partnership with Literacy Volunteers of Greater Worcester, will provide critical instruction in English literacy to learners in central Massachusetts. The Worcester ESL program will provide classroom instruction in English through Rosetta Stone software, which covers four integrated literacy skills: comprehension, speaking, writing and reading. The project also will provide learners with computer lab instruction. The goal is to increase English literacy, and integrate technology literacy to enhance computer skills while improving functional English literacy.