Summer Institute 2008: ESL and Literacy
June 26 - 28, 2008

Helen Casey 

Helen Casey is Executive Director at the National Research and Development Centre (NRDC) for adult literacy and numeracy, based at the Institute of Education, University of London. Helen has primary responsibility at NRDC on teacher education and on research into embedded teaching and learning of literacy, language and numeracy. Before joining NRDC, she was the London Region Co-ordinator for the then Adult Basic Skills Strategy Unit at the Department for Education and Skills (DfES). An experienced ESOL and literacy teacher trainer, Helen worked on capacity building in London region for teacher training in literacy, numeracy and ESOL. She was responsible for establishing and developing ‘talent’, the London-wide capacity building project.

ESOL Work

NRDC has recently completed a study of effective practice in ESOL teaching and learning, and used it to produce guidance for practitioners. A second study has explored the impact of an increasingly diverse population on the boundaries of adult literacy and ESOL provision. It looks at how some bilingual learners with literacy and language learning needs can equally find themselves placed in either literacy or ESOL classes. The study reveals how learners with equivalent needs can find themselves in either literacy or ESOL classes. It explores some of the complexities involved in these processes, and looks at the implications for the training of adult literacy and ESOL teachers.

View Heide Spruck Wrigley's bio.

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