This article narrates the experiences of four former PhD students who completed the transition from graduate student to graduates with PhDs during unprecedented external events: The COVID-19 pandemic and a period of civil unrest in response to the 2020 police killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. The authors reflect on some commonalities in…

Lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic, through trial and error and sharing stories of successes and failures, have resulted in progress in the quest to resume what we refer to as normal or regular college life for students, faculty, and staff. However, it is doubtful that we will ever get back to the exact same situation that we were in…

The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically affected the way that healthcare is delivered in the United States and has likewise affected the way that health professions education is taught. This article reports a case study of a cohort-based health professions education program that was forced to transition from a blended model to a fully virtual…

This article discusses the interwoven disruptions caused by the multiple crises of the COVID-19 pandemic, violent incidents against persons of color, social justice concerns, and political and civil unrest. Discussion will center on how these crises impacted and continue to affect careers, schools, workplaces, and personal lives. The chapter will…

This autoethnographic study documents the stories of two adult education faculty members' experiences when their respective academic programs were closed. We situate our stories within changes in higher education economics and two theoretical frameworks: expectancy theory and psychological contract theory. Despite our isolation as the sole faculty…

This article highlights the multiple crises experienced since the beginning of the pandemic in 2020 that have encouraged adult educators to rethink and revitalize their professional practices to respond to learners with understanding and care as they work through their own challenges. The reflections and perspectives shared inform our own…

This article describes the disintegration of boundaries of work and family life due to the COVID-19 pandemic and makes visible the chaotic state in which academic and other professional mothers were forced to function. She discusses the struggle to separate personal from professional life, social isolation, lack of motivation and resource…

This article describes programmatic and instructional responses to the shutdown and the changing needs of learners that were triggered by the spread of COVID-19. It reports on the findings of a group of researchers who interviewed a convenience sample of state adult education staff, program managers, instructional leaders and supervisors, and…

Critical pedagogy as an instructional approach to teaching and learning focuses on democracy, freedom, and the opportunity to challenge oppressive power structures founded upon hegemonic ideologies. This article presents a critical pedagogy approach to support the instruction of adult English language learners. Such an approach should adopt the…

Civic education provides adult English learners with the tools to be able to actively engage in their communities. This knowledge allows them to gain agency, develop a sense of belongingness, and facilitate lifelong learning. However, teaching civic education can be challenging for instructors for many reasons, such as prioritizing on developing…

Refugees suddenly face life transitions and challenges such as the need to learn a new language, learn the rules of a new culture, endure traumatic situations, and loss; all of these are factors that impact their integration. This article describes the language and culture learning needs of adult refugees resettling in the United States suggests…

Drawing from the pillars of lifelong learning, this article takes a look at two church-based English as a Second Language programs. While one of the settings has been in existence for over 20 years, the second setting has only been in existence for a few months. This article will identify what works in both settings and suggest recommendations for…

Older adults bring considerable experience and knowledge to the table, and many are already proficient in several languages, they just need to add English to their repertoire. The article describes different challenges that older English learners face and provides examples and ideas for accommodations that ESL instructors can provide to support…

Eighteen internationally trained professionals were paired-up with nine English language instructors for this project. Even though the focus was on extensive listening practice, the learners created spoken messages to send a response to their instructors every week. The schedule and deadlines established helped participants to be organized and…

Learning an additional language as well as acquiring skills for careers and educational opportunities are lifelong learning endeavors. Adult English language learners (ELLs), particularly those at the beginning English proficiency levels, require instruction offering opportunities to meet their goals in life. Using tasks in English as a second…