Drawing from the pillars of lifelong learning, this article takes a look at two church-based English as a Second Language programs. While one of the settings has been in existence for over 20 years, the second setting has only been in existence for a few months. This article will identify what works in both settings and suggest recommendations for…

Older adults bring considerable experience and knowledge to the table, and many are already proficient in several languages, they just need to add English to their repertoire. The article describes different challenges that older English learners face and provides examples and ideas for accommodations that ESL instructors can provide to support…

Civic education provides adult English learners with the tools to be able to actively engage in their communities. This knowledge allows them to gain agency, develop a sense of belongingness, and facilitate lifelong learning. However, teaching civic education can be challenging for instructors for many reasons, such as prioritizing on developing…

This chapter explores how Mexican immigrants in a small central Texas town understand their roles and/or responsibilities as citizens in a democratic society regardless of their immigration status in the country. The author interviewed two men and four women about what they thought it meant to be civically engaged, and what--if any--they thought…