Research on ESL in U.S. Community Colleges

As enrollment figures for ESL and former ESL students in higher education continue to grow, it’s necessary for educators who work with these students to reflect on current practices, develop new understandings, and take action when change is warranted. This collection explores some of the most important challenges for English for Academic Purposes (EAP) educators in a crucial area of U.S. higher education--community colleges.

Community college mission statements generally feature a strong commitment to meeting local needs. The studies presented in this book serve to illustrate community connections and the social implications of them. Readers will gain insight into relevant practice while learning from studies that can serve as a basis for additional research.

The chapters are organized according to five themes--curricula, technology, retention and persistence, identity, and defining and assessing success—areas that all ESL programs in community colleges are struggling to reform. Each part features a sampling of research combined with varied perspectives on each topic.