Empowering Adult ESL Learners through Audio Storytelling

Session 7: 1:00pm-2:00pm (Saturday March 07, 2026)

 

Description

In this interactive session, participants explore audio storytelling projects, such as narrations, podcasts, and interviews, as accessible ways to integrate all language skills, prosody, and visual literacy. Rooted in project-based learning, these projects support language development and digital literacy through hands-on, learner-centered work that builds agency, motivation, and soft skills such as collaboration, critical thinking, time management, and self-expression. Participants learn strategies and tools for guiding adult immigrant learners in creating personal narratives, community interviews, how-to explanations, workplace communication tasks, and cultural stories that connect classroom learning to real-world contexts. The session highlights alignment with English Language Proficiency Standards, authentic assessment, self-assessment practices, rubrics, and process-oriented steps such as storyboarding and scripting.

Presenters

Lead Presenter Bio Photo

Katrina Tamura

MiraCosta College

Katrina Tamura is an ESL educator with 20 years of experience in California community colleges. She designs inclusive learning experiences that center student voice and coordinates projects that uplift diverse stories. She also directs Expressions, a creative publication that showcases student work. Her work in digital storytelling empowers adult learners to build language skills, agency, and confidence through meaningful, story-centered projects.

Lead Presenter Bio Photo

Kristi Reyes

OTAN

Kristi Reyes is a tenured faculty member in the Noncredit ESL Program at MiraCosta College, California, with more than two decades of experience teaching adults. As an OTAN SME, Kristi has conducted a number of different tech-integration workshops and webinars for OTAN since 2009.

Type of Presentation

Demonstration (60 Minutes)

Audience

  • Teachers

Program Strands

  • Adult Basic Education
  • Adult Secondary Education
  • Adults with Disabilities
  • English as a Second Language

Category Strands

  • Ensuring Equity and Access
  • Digital Learning Foundations
  • Online Engagement and Assessment