Allegra Elson

Adults from around the world gather in Allegra Elson's East Liberty classroom and practice the art of small talk.

Ms. Elson, 42, of Swissvale, teaches English as a second language at the Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council to immigrants, refugees and long-term visitors to the United States.

She has been named one of the state's Outstanding Teachers of the Year by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, Bureau of Adult Basic and Literacy Education.

The adult literacy bureau is in Harrisburg and addresses the basic educational needs of adults and families. These services are funded by grants under Title II of the Federal Workforce Investment ACT. The programs seek to improve literacy skills of educationally disadvantaged adults.

According to Mike Race, Department of Education spokesman, "Every year we recognize adult educators who reflect the best teaching practices and reflect dedication in adult education." The teachers are nominated at the local level and their applications are reviewed in Harrisburg.

Ms. Elson was recognized for her achievement at the PAACE midwinter conference in Hershey on Feb. 6, together with three other state teachers: Christina Davis, of Lancaster; Joan Markham, of Erie; and Anrag Sagar, of Philadelphia. Ms. Elson spoke about her best practices at the luncheon.

She uses a learning centered curriculum, teaching, "things that the students really want to learn about -- how to speak to a child's teacher, go to the dentist, get a driver's license, become a citizen.

"These are adults. They've had lives in their countries. They have already done all of this stuff ... they just need to learn the language."

It turns out her students learn much more than just language. A cultural exchange takes place.

There are differences from culture to culture in the way that small talk takes place, she said. If English is your second language, you need to be taught how to avoid language land mines when you speak to parents of other children, a crossing guard, or the husband or wife of a co-worker.

A Korean student recently asked Ms. Elson how old she was and whether she was married. That student might need to know what is appropriate conversation when first meeting someone in United States, Ms. Elson said.

Ms. Elson teaches her students about weddings, funeral parlors, bachelor parties, baby showers, noting that many cultures think a baby shower is bad luck.

"Being registered [for a shower] -- what does that mean? A relative is in trouble in jail -- what should I do? I am going to a party with school friends of my children and other parents -- what do I need to know?"

There is human interaction in these classes. "Students are meeting people and learning about them and their countries. They get a wider view of things," she said.

Fluent in three languages, Ms. Elson came to the Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council after teaching Italian at Kent State University, Duquesne University and the University of Pittsburgh. While volunteering for AmeriCorps, she found that she enjoyed "working with adults who want to come to this country to make it their home."

Ms. Elson is also involved at the state level, mentoring other English as a second language teachers and helping to train them. She is a Teacher Leader in Learners Lives as Curriculum, traveling to areas in Eastern Pennsylvania. She currently mentors four ESL teachers as a peer, showing them how to make their classrooms more learner centered.

For more information about Ms. Elson or the literacy council's free academic offerings and schedules, contact Greg Mims at 412-661-7323 Ext. 106.