Abstract:

This research uses an action-based research lens to analyze needs and develop a curriculum enhanced with social media and video content that encourages the Latin American adult ESL learners to persist studying so as to achieve their own goals.

Through qualitative inquiry - focus groups, interviews, and teacher observation journals - the learners' needs and motivations became clear. Students expressed a clear need to learn the language to equip them to advocate for themselves and their families in high-stakes situations such as police encounters and educational settings. Understanding the needs, I then designed a curriculum to help learners reach their stated goals. It became apparent, however, that the program faced to same challenges as adult education programs everywhere: student persistence.

Examining the data and reflecting on possible causes and solutions of this lack of student persistence, it was determined that many factors feed into a cycle of student discouragement and disengagement. Many of our students had experienced disrupted education - this lack of educational experience contributed to unrealistic goals about the ease of English learning, and lack of study skills to carry out the necessary studying between classes. Our students often had unstable work and immigration situations which contributed to sporadic attendance. This sporadic attendance meant students may feel behind when they do come to class, contributing to discouragement and ultimate student stop out.

Looking to find a means to engage students and scaffold their learning, it was determined that majority of students were on social media, and the distribution of video content via social media may allow all learners, even the students more emerging literacy, to connect with the class content during the week, thus contributing to more effective engagement. Case studies of the use of the videos will be shared, and feasible, inexpensive suggestions for teachers looking to make higher quality educational videos will also be presented briefly at the end of the presentation.

Keywords:

Social media, videos, English as a Second Language, immigration, Latin America, Latinos, Latinx, Hispanic, persistance, engagement.