Create ESL and Climate Science courses

Sounds like a wonderful set of ideas. Feel free to expand your post and let us know what you especially would like to see emphasized in a future course structure for each. We do have various videos that discuss climate change and other relevant topics, but not a separate course for such.

I like the ideas, and I'll see what I can do. Thank you for your wonderful suggestions, and keep them coming!

Thanks for your reply, Cyrus.

I'm fairly new to Khan Academy, and it looks like the courses are geared towards K-12, not adult learners.  It's the best I've found so far, though, to learn principles of programming, and I'd definitely be interested in a Java-specific course (for myself).

If its target audience is indeed primary and secondary education, I imagine Khan Academy would want to focus English-course efforts on

• (a)     ESL modules linked to existing content, but presenting material in a way that is more accessible to English Language Learners
• (b)     ESL lessons from basic to advanced, organized into units/courses either by grade/age or by general utility of vocabulary, phrases, and structures
• (c)     ESL lessons geared towards the parents of students in K-12, focusing on content that can help them support their child(ren) academically
• (d)     test preparation for ESL-oriented university admissions exams (ex. TOEFL)

My own expertise is in

• (e)     remedial/beginner ESL for adults, focusing on reading, listening, and speaking, with units organized by general utility in "life skills"

and I very much appreciate the idea of

• (f)      material geared towards preparing adult learners of English for the GED exam
• (g)     guidance/training for would-be-tutors of English learners

Concept (e) has been suggested/requested (for parents of pre-K-12 students, for parents of Khan users, for students and parents, for refugees) by the community over the years, but concepts (b) and (c) would each partly fulfill the need.  Also, as Khan Academy courses become available in more and more languages (wonderful translation teams!), the less important concept (a) becomes, so I recommend that KA focus initially on concepts (b) and (c).

I hope I can be of help, but I don't have much experience teaching kids, nor of parenting.  Do you already have content-creators with ESL (ELL, EFL, etc) experience, who could draft course outlines for concepts (b) and/or (c)?  I'm most interested in working on lessons regarding English needed by a 9th grader, and by parents of a student going into 9th grade.  If I get some good material worked out, who should I contact about considering it for addition to KA's offerings?  One of the Product Managers, perhaps?

Cheers!

For now, you can leave the link to your work here and I can escalate it internally for you (along with my own advocacy too!). I'm looking into who exactly you could contact about what you may develop, so I'll let you know if I have any updates.

It's an inspiration to have passionate people ready to jump into action. Your tenacity is admirable and truly awesome to see.

Hi Cyrus, 

I just wanted to check in.  I have been dabbling with some content ideas, and experimenting with some delivery mechanisms.  Here's a little that's reasonably presentable: 
https://classroom.google.com/h code cvmgnyc
I'll post again when I have something significant.

Cheers!

I've been thinking about approaches to such a course as I've used various language programs in the past, and I think what you've got so far is looking great. I'm happy to contribute some thoughts once I've outlined some ideas.