ESL

Delaware Technical & Community College Libraries

English as a Second Language

Subject Guide

Library Catalog / Call Numbers / Periodicals / Web Resources / Student Resources / Online Subject Guides

LIBRARY CATALOG

The Delaware Library Catalog is the library's online catalog, and will help you search for books, periodicals, pamphlets and audiovisual materials. If you want to limit your search to items located at a specific Delaware Tech campus library only, use the drop down menu for "library" and select that campus library.

You can search the Delaware Library Catalog using a title or author's name if you have that information. If not, you can search using a keyword or subject heading. In a keyword search, type a word or phrase in the search box and click on the "search" button. The catalog will look for that word or phrase somewhere in an item's title or subject content. In a subject search, type a word or phrase in the search box and select "subject" from the drop down menu and then click search. The catalog will look for that word or phrase in the list of subject headings related to the item. Some examples of subject headings are listed below.

English language--Composition and exercises--Study and teaching		English language--Spoken English
English language--Conversation and phrase books		English language--Textbooks for foreign speakers
English language--Examinations - Study guides		English language--United States - Pronunciation
English language--Grammar - Study and teaching - Activity programs		Newspapers in education
English language--Idioms		Reading (Adult education)
English language--Pronunciation by foreign speakers		Test of English as a foreign language--Study guides
English language--Rhetoric - Study and teaching - Foreign speakers

Additional subject headings may be found on the screen with detailed information about a specific title.

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CALL NUMBERS

Browsing the shelves in your library's Reference and Nonfiction (Circulating) Collections can also lead you to books you may not otherwise find. The main call numbers for materials on or related to Enlish as a second language are:

PE1128 - PE2815

AE5: These are encyclopedias in the reference (non-circulating) collection that have information on various countries.

You many also browse the Delaware Library Catalog, using the Keyword search for books on the history and culture of various countries. Most of these books will be in the call number areas beginning with the letters D, E, F and G.

PERIODICALS AND DATABASES

You can find additional information on a topic by researching articles in periodicals, e.g. journals, magazines or newspapers. To find an article you will look up a specific topic in an online database. Delaware Tech's online databases can be found on the Online Databases page.

Typically, an online database will allow you to search for your topic by typing a keyword or phrase, e.g. English as a second language. The results from your search will display in a list of articles related to your topic. You will have access to the entire article online if there is a "Full Text" icon. If you find an article using an online database, keep in mind that these are actual periodical articles, not web sites.

If an article you want is not available in hardcopy format in the library or full-text online, consult with the librarian about requesting it via interlibrary loan.

The online databases listed below may be used to locate articles on or related to English as a second language. Use subject headings such as those used in searching the library catalog to locate articles on English as a second language in these databases.

EBSCOhost (online database) - Select Academic Search Premier, MasterFILE Premier, SocINDEX w/ Full Text (Stanton/Wilmington Campus only), Education Research Complete (Stanton/Wilmington Campus only) and/orERIC

FirstSearch (online database) - Select the Education, Public Affairs & Law, or Social Sciences Topic area, then select one or more databases for that area

LexisNexis - For a general search, enter your search terms and select which type of publication you would like to search. You can also specify a date range to search.

ProQuest Direct - Provides newspaper abstracts and articles (New York Times, Wall Street Journal and more.)

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WEB RESOURCES

DTCC Recommended Websites for English as a Second Language

Activities for ESL/EFL Students (Free English Study)

The Center for Adult English Language Acquisition (CAELA)

Dave's ESL Cafe

ESLgold: English Study and Learning Materials

ESL Resources, Handouts and Exercises (Purdue Online Writing Lab)

STUDENT RESOURCES

Subject Guides from Other Institutions/Websites -- this link can provide you with additional research assistance.

Best Search Tools Chart -- another option is to click on this link which is accessible from the Student Resources page (under "Miscellaneous"). This will lead you to a listing of search engines and directories. Choose one to begin searching the World Wide Web.

Criteria for Web Page Evaluation -- ask the library staff for a copy of this handout to help you evaluate the websites you find.

APA Citation Style Guide

For additional assistance in your research, please consult the Librarian.

Back to: Top / Library Catalog / Call Numbers For additional assistance in your research, please consult the Librarian.