English Forward is all about bringing the real world into the classroom to reflect how students need to use English in day-to-day life in the United States. This doesn’t have to stop with realia. If your students are interested in getting a High School Equivalency or accessing vocational training, bring someone from a local adult education or vocational training program in to talk about opportunities for your students to join in! If they want to learn more about banking, bring in a banker! While this does require some work to coordinate, bringing guest speakers into the classroom is a great way to help your students engage with their community. It might also be a good opportunity for your students to educate the guest speaker on their needs and interests, too!
Lesson 1.2 Looking for Housing in the Intermediate Curriculum is a great example of how a guest speaker can come in and provide a valuable experience for students. This lesson has you bring in a housing professional, such as a real estate agent, property manager, or landlord to discuss finding a home in your community. Many lessons in the English Forward Curriculum suggest bringing in guest speakers as Extension Activities, but don’t limit yourself to our suggestions! Bring in a guest speaker any time it can be helpful!