Participation of Adults in English as a Second Language Classes: 1994-95/ 97-319Participation of Adults in English as a Second Language Classes: 1994-95/ 97-319
Table 1: Percent and number of the population of interest for English as a Second Language (ESL) classes1, by participation status and adult characteristics: 1994-95
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Nonparticipants
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Number of adults/1/ Number of adults Interested in taking Not interested in
Characteristics (in thousands) Participants (in thousands) ESL classes taking ESL classes
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Percent of Percent of
Number s.e. Percent s.e. Number s.e. Nonparticipants s.e. Nonparticipants s.e.
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Total 12,078 291 10.8 0.90 10,777 288 27.7 1.66 72.3 1.66
Age
16 to 25 years 2,104 138 18.6 2.87 1,712 127 21.8 2.89 78.2 2.89
26 to 35 years 3,443 169 13.2 1.90 2,988 184 34.5 3.60 65.5 3.60
36 to 45 years 3,157 204 10.1 2.13 2,839 174 32.7 3.13 67.3 3.13
46 years or older 3,374 252 4.0 1.13 3,238 244 20.3 2.86 79.7 2.86
Educational attainment
Less than a high school
diploma or equivalent 4,947 240 7.6 1.27 4,571 247 30.6 2.98 69.4 2.98
High school diploma or
equivalent 4,498 200 14.3 1.70 3,855 193 27.9 2.47 72.1 2.47
Some postsecondary education
or more education 2,633 166 10.7 1.73 2,351 161 21.8 3.21 78.2 3.21
Labor force status
Employed 5,999 231 9.6 1.29 5,424 224 26.9 2.44 73.1 2.44
Unemployed 1,082 117 17.5 3.97 894 120 36.0 6.41 64.0 6.41
Not in the labor force 4,997 198 10.8 1.38 4,460 191 27.1 2.34 72.9 2.34
Household income
$20,000 or less 6,058 218 12.2 1.69 5,316 225 30.1 2.37 69.9 2.37
$20,001 or more 6,020 194 9.3 1.11 5,461 200 25.4 2.42 74.6 2.42
How long lived in the U.S.
2 years or less 973 107 31.4 5.66 668 91 40.9 6.71 59.1 6.71
3 to 5 years 1,354 118 27.1 4.11 987 96 33.7 6.02 66.3 6.02
6 to 9 years 1,878 117 9.3 1.80 1,703 113 39.0 3.60 61.0 3.60
10 to 24 years 4,202 222 8.8 1.27 3,832 220 33.2 2.67 66.8 2.67
25 years or longer 1,731 169 2.9 1.45 1,680 167 14.5 3.03 85.4 3.03
Born in the U.S. 1,939 164 1.7 0.57 1,905 162 10.7 2.86 89.3 2.86
Self-reported reading ability in
English by main language
Total 12,078 291 10.8 0.9 10,777 288 27.7 1.66 72.3 1.66
Read English "very well" 2,630 170 4.5 1.35 2,513 169 8.8 2.30 91.2 2.30
Read English "well" 3,340 141 11.7 1.58 2,948 144 24.6 2.81 75.4 2.81
Read English "not well" 3,557 203 15.6 1.97 3,001 202 42.8 3.29 57.2 3.29
Read English "not at all" 2,551 183 9.3 2.27 2,314 187 32.6 3.55 67.4 3.55
Spanish 8,188 195 10.7 1.16 7,311 225 32.6 2.19 67.4 2.19
Read English "very well" 1,213 111 3.3 1.46 1,173 109 7.9 2.70 92.1 2.70
Read English "well" 1,626 116 10.4 2.34 1,458 117 28.4 3.31 71.6 3.31
Read English "not well" 2,839 158 15.2 2.27 2,407 167 46.6 3.86 53.4 3.86
Read English "not at all" 2,510 178 9.4 2.3 2,273 181 33.2 3.65 66.8 3.65
All other languages 3,890 208 10.9 1.65 3,466 197 17.5 2.74 82.6 2.74
Read English "very well" 1,417 137 5.5 2.08 1,340 135 9.7 3.93 90.3 3.93
Read English "well" 1,714 140 13.0 2.43 1,490 139 21.0 4.43 79.0 4.43
Read English "not well" 718 112 17.2 4.24 594 94 27.4 6.15 72.6 6.15
Read English "not at all" 42 28 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
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1\ Includes civilian, noninstitutionalized adults, age 16 or older, not enrolled in elementary or secondary school at the time of the interview, whose primary language at home was any language other than English.
--Unweighted number of cases is less than 30.
NOTE: s.e. is standard error.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, , National Household Education Survey (NHES), spring 1995.
Table 2: Percent of adults/1/ who participated in English as a Second Language (ESL) classes, by reasons for participation and participant characteristics: 1994-95
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Other main reasons for ESL participation/2/
ESL participation as ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Characteristics of participants Number of part of college To improve A personal, family,
participants attendance Total communication skills or social reason Other main reasons/3/
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Number s.e. Percent s.e Percent s.e. Percent s.e. Percent s.e. Percent s.e.
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Total 1,301 112 41.9 4.44 58.1 4.44 28.9 4.19 14.1 3.26 15.1 2.98
Age
16 to 25 years 392 65 45.5 7.38 54.5 7.38 17.2 6.06 14.2 7.48 23.1 7.24
26 to 35 years 455 59 42.4 8.11 57.6 8.11 32.8 7.59 10.5 3.30 14.3 4.03
36 years or older 454 78 38.2 6.10 61.8 6.10 35.0 7.09 17.7 5.86 9.1 3.05
Educational attainment
Less than a high school diploma or
equivalent 376 60 31.6 7.44 68.4 7.44 33.9 6.90 13.5 4.83 21.0 6.73
High school diploma or equivalent 643 80 48.8 7.36 51.2 7.36 20.2 5.56 15.9 5.92 15.2 4.94
Some postsecondary education or
more education 282 47 39.8 10.46 60.2 10.46 41.8 11.01 11.1 7.02 7.3 3.21
Labor force status
Employed 575 80 47.3 7.12 52.7 7.12 29.5 6.92 12.5 5.33 10.7 3.55
Unemployed 189 39 39.2 11.57 60.8 11.57 29.0 9.68 9.4 6.23 22.5 8.62
Not in the labor force 538 71 37.0 6.80 63.0 6.80 28.1 6.51 17.5 5.29 17.3 5.20
Household income
$20,000 or less 594 99 39.3 6.17 60.7 6.17 31.5 5.12 13.1 4.24 16.2 3.73
$20,001 or more 419 75 45.3 7.38 54.7 7.38 25.4 6.18 15.5 5.76 13.8 4.94
How long lived in the U.S.
2 years or less 305 64 43.4 9.63 56.6 9.63 24.4 9.03 15.1 9.82 17.0 8.01
3 to 5 years 367 67 55.2 10.17 44.8 10.17 21.9 9.09 9.5 4.75 13.4 6.57
6 to 9 years 174 35 50.0 11.02 50.0 11.02 29.9 11.16 9.5 4.23 10.5 4.69
10 years or longer 421 55 27.5 6.04 72.5 6.04 39.1 8.11 18.9 6.42 14.5 4.74
Born in the U.S. 34 11 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Self-reported English reading ability
Very well or "well" 509 62 48.1 7.27 51.9 7.27 36.1 6.70 6.6 3.68 9.2 3.37
Not well or "not at all" 792 85 37.9 6.63 62.1 6.63 24.2 5.64 18.9 4.81 19.0 4.32
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1\ Includes civilian, noninstitutionalized adults, age 16 or older, not enrolled in elementary or secondary school at the time of the interview, whose primary language at home was any language other than English.
2\ Include the participants in ESL classes which were not part of a college program, excludes persons enrolled in college ESL program.
3\ Includes improving, advancing, or keeping up to date on current job; training for a new job or a new career; improving basic reading, writing, or math skills; meeting a requirement for a diploma, degree, or certificate of completion; or some other main reason.
--Unweighted number of cases is less than 30.
NOTE: s.e. is standard error.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, , National Household Education Survey (NHES), spring 1995.
Table 3: Number and percent of adults/1/ who participated in English as a Second Language (ESL) classes outside of a college program, by characteristics of participation: 1994-95
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Participants in ESL classes/2/
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Characteristics of participation Number
(in thousands) s.e. Percent s.e.
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Total 756 81 100.0 --
Instructional provider
School/college/university 499 62 65.9 5.90
Private organization/business/federal,
state, or local government/others 258 56 34.1 5.90
Personal expenses
None 280 60 37.1 7.03
$1 to $100 257 50 34.0 5.82
$101 or more 219 53 28.9 6.13
Source of ESL class information
Family/friends/neighbor/employer/school 557 70 73.7 4.83
Newspaper/radio/TV/poster flyer 199 41 26.3 4.83
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1\ Includes civilian, noninstitutionalized adults, age 16 or older, not enrolled in elementary or secondary school at the time of the interview, whose primary language at home was any language other than English.
2\ Include the participants in ESL classes which were not part of a college program, excludes persons enrolled in college ESL program.
NOTE: s.e. is standard error.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, , National Household Education Survey (NHES), spring 1995.
Table 4: Number and percent of nonparticipating adults* who were interested in taking English as a Second Language (ESL) classes, by adult characteristics: 1994-95
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Number of nonparticipants who Adults who did not
were interested in taking ESL Adults who knew of know of any ESL
Characteristics classes (in thousands) ESL classes classes
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Number s.e. Percent s.e. Percent s.e.
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Total 2,988 198 41.2 3.37 58.8 3.37
Age/1/
16 to 35 years 1,403 147 34.5 4.08 65.5 4.08
36 years and older 1,585 142 47.1 4.08 52.9 4.08
Sex
Male 1,507 163 37.2 5.24 62.8 5.24
Female 1,481 113 45.4 3.91 54.6 3.91
Educational attainment
Less than a high school
diploma or equivalent 1,400 172 38.4 4.75 61.6 4.75
High school diploma or
more education 1,588 137 43.7 4.74 56.3 4.74
Labor force status
Employed 1,457 143 43.8 4.82 56.2 4.82
Not employed or
not in the labor force 1,531 123 38.8 4.28 61.2 4.28
Household income
$20,000 or less 1,599 152 38.6 4.28 61.4 4.28
$20,001 or more 1,389 140 44.2 5.23 55.8 5.23
Self-reported English reading ability
Very well or "well" 948 105 41.8 5.35 58.2 5.35
Not well or "not at all" 2,040 183 41.0 4.22 59.0 4.22
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* Includes civilian, noninstitutionalized adults, age 16 or older, not enrolled in elementary or secondary school at the time of the interview, whose primary language at home was any language other than English.
1\ Includes improving, advancing, or keeping up to date on current job; training for a new job or a new career; improving basic reading, writing, or math skills; meeting a requirement for a diploma, degree, or certificate of completion; or some other main reason.
NOTE: s.e. is standard error.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, , National Household Education Survey (NHES), spring 1995
Table 5: Number and percent of nonparticipating adults/1/ who reported a main barrier to participating in English as a Second Language (ESL) classes, by adult characteristics: 1994-95
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Main barriers to participation in ESL classes
Number of ----------------------------------------------------------------
nonparticipants/2/ Child care or
Characteristics of nonparticipants (in thousands) Time Money/cost Transportation Other barriers
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Number s.e. Percent s.e. Percent s.e. Percent s.e. Percent s.e.
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Total 1,205 121 40.1 3.89 26.0 4.20 23.4 3.87 10.6 2.79
Age/3/
16 to 35 years 480 73 40.3 6.92 24.3 5.62 27.4 6.97 7.9 3.46
36 years and older 725 86 40.0 6.24 27.1 6.04 20.7 5.18 12.3 4.41
Sex
Male 533 79 46.8 7.36 36.2 8.75 2.9 1.94 14.1 5.25
Female 672 85 34.8 5.77 17.9 4.93 39.6 6.50 7.8 3.07
Educational attainment
Less than a high school
diploma or equivalent 515 97 41.2 5.95 20.7 7.15 26.6 6.72 11.5 4.55
High school diploma or
more education 690 86 39.3 6.35 29.9 6.85 20.9 5.56 9.8 3.36
Labor force status
Employed 637 92 53.2 6.11 24.5 5.63 12.0 5.07 10.3 3.99
Not employed or
not in the labor force 568 77 25.5 5.68 27.7 6.25 36.1 6.88 10.8 4.13
Household income
$20,000 or less 618 93 35.4 6.27 27.6 6.39 28.1 5.85 8.9 3.71
$20,001 or more 588 94 45.0 7.72 24.3 6.53 18.4 5.50 12.3 4.49
Self-reported English reading
ability
Very well or "well" 396 51 52.6 8.35 21.1 5.99 18.9 6.95 7.4 4.12
Not well or "not at all" 809 121 34.0 4.76 28.4 6.37 25.5 4.57 12.1 3.71
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1\ Includes civilian, noninstitutionalized adults, age 16 or older, not enrolled in elementary or secondary school at the time of the interview, whose primary language at home was any language other than English.
2\ Includes nonparticipating adults who had an interest in taking ESL classes, knew of available classes they could have taken, and reported that one of the following was a major or minor barrier to participation: time, money/cost, child care, transportation, and other main barrier.
3\ Adults aged 35 years or younger were more likely to report child care as their main barrier than adults 36 years or older, indicating that lack of child care is more likely an obstacle for young adults than older adults. Note that the question about child care as the main barrier was only asked of nonparticipating adults who had a child or children under 10 years old.
NOTE: s.e. is standard error.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, , National Household Education Survey (NHES), spring 1995.
Table 6: Logistic regression analyses of adult characteristics and participation in English as a Second Language (ESL) classes
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Parameter Parameter estimate ESL Participation
(t)
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Age -0.05 -5.21*
Sex 0.19 0.71
Has a high school diploma 0.8 3.00*
Employed -0.33 -1.59
Household income less than $20,000 0.23 0.94
Born in the United States -1.87 -3.45*
Spanish was the primary language at home -0.2 -0.83
Self-reported reading ability in English
in English as "very well" or "well" -0.72 -3.31*
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*p < .05.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, , National Household Education Survey (NHES), spring 1995.
