Date of Graduation

Spring 5-21-2021

Document Access

Restricted Project/Capstone - USF access only

Degree Name

Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)

College/School

School of Education

Department/Program

International and Multicultural Education (IME)

First Advisor

Dr. Luz Navarrette García

Abstract

Construction employees in all trades and job specialties work in situations that are dangerous to their physical wellbeing and their livelihoods. Hispanic construction workers face higher likelihoods of an injury or fatality on the job site and labor abuses or other intimidation tactics. If these workers are English-language learners and they seek out education opportunities, they encounter obstacles to receiving quality education and assessments. In the construction industry itself, additional training courses are scarce. Organizations like day labor worker centers try to address the need for safe working conditions and secure compensation. However, some Hispanic English-language learners live in insular communities, and their limited information worlds keep resources at adult schools or day labor worker centers largely out of reach. Construction employees who are ESL learners are thus working in increasingly dangerous environments without accessible, community-level resources to meet their needs.

This field project blends construction workplace knowledge and communication skills into an ESL curriculum that can be taught to adult students. The curriculum focuses on tools, machines, and safety awareness, as well as working conditions, union protections, and workplace communications. Each activity aims to strengthen language skills such as pronunciation, listening comprehension, reading comprehension, and writing. The material is relevant to all workers and trades in the construction industry, regardless of their experience. Instructors can adopt or adapt this curriculum and help students understand their protections as well as their responsibilities as construction employees. The lessons provide students with instruction that is encouraging and empowering to them as a worker and as an English-language learner.

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