Competency-based ESL: one step forward or two steps back?

Series or Serial: TESOL Quarterly, Vol. 20, no. 3

Publisher: Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages

Published At: Alexandria, VA

Date Published: 1986

Distributor: Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages

Source Address: 1600 Cameron Street, Suite 300

Source City/State/Zip: Alexandria VA 22314

Phone: 703-836-0774

Material Type: Article

Intended Audience: Policy Maker

Physical Media: Print

Subjects: Competency Based Education; Adult Education; English (Second Language)

Abstract:
The author is highly critical of the competency-based approach to adult ESL, especially in regard to second language acquisition theory and social implications. The author argues that the competency-based approach is part of a tradition of socializing immigrants for inferior roles in society and gets in the way of student-centered learning.

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