Abstract:

This study compares three English language teaching methods in the correctional environment. To study these three methods, we used a group of inmates who are Low English Proficient (LEP) and under-educated. Research has shown that when these prisoners are released, they are likely to be re-incarcerated if they have not advanced their English language skills. Research has also shown that the current job market in the United States will not support adult job-seekers who do not read, write, speak or understand English. Most prisons and many jails in the United States have correctional education departments that teach English to the inmates who do not have a facility with the English language. The three English language teaching methods reviewed were; computer technology in the form of Computer Assisted Instruction (CAI) as an asset to traditional teacher-led classes (CAIT), CAI as a standalone asset (CAIO), and the traditional teacher only (TEO) classes with no CAI. It was hypothesized that the use of computer technology would have a positive effect on English vocabulary acquisition by the incarcerated ESL students in a specific Southern California County Jail system. It was also hypothesized that the use of CAI as an asset to traditional classes would have a significantly higher and positive effect on the English Language Vocabulary Acquisition Test (ELVAT) scores, than either the TEO or CAIO methods. The outcome of this research project indicated that the use of Technology (CAI) combined with traditional teaching methods (CAIT), was not significantly more effective than computer only (CAIO) or teacher alone (TEO), in acquiring English language skills.

Keywords:

Correctional Education, Computer Assisted Instruction (CAI), ESL.