Getting to Work: A Report on how Workers with Limited English Skills Can Prepare for Good Jobs
From LiteracyTentWiki
Download the full pdf at the AFL/CIO website WorkingforAmerica. Here's the link Getting to Work: A Report on how Workers with Limited English Skills Can Prepare for Good Jobs.
Here are some excerpts from the Exec Summary:
"All too often, limited English skills, combined with low educational attainment in their native language, keep immigrant workers out of occupational training programs including those funded by the Workforce Investment Act (WIA). Most of the programs funded through WIA are geared towards workers with at least a 9th grade level of education. However, among low-wage immigrant workers, 28% have not completed the 9th grade.1 Even those who attain higher levels of education may still have difficulty demonstrating educational achievement on tests given in written English."
"We chose eight (8) programs to review. They were selected, in consultation with an Advisory Committee, as representing promising practices in the world of blended or integrated occupational and language skill instruction....our review of these programs suggest that there are some common workforce development policy hypotheses that advocates for LEP workers, employers, unions and workplace education and training providers should consider."
"In our study of these eight programs, we also identified six areas that appear to present the greatest challenge to training programs that serve LEP workers: learner assessment tools and utilization of assessment results; participant data tracking and evaluation; curriculum development; staff development; funding; and issues of equity and equality on the job. The paper suggests some approaches to resolve each of these challenges."
"Fluency and/or literacy in English is not a pre-requisite for securing a family-sustaining job.
"We found a number of good programs that are successfully preparing workers to get relatively well-paid jobs even before achieving full English fluency. Through good instructional methodology, worker support systems and contextualized curriculum, LEP workers can get good jobs.
"Tailoring the content of English language instruction and occupational training to the requirements of specific jobs permits faster, yet successful job placement, retention and advancement. "Workers seeking good jobs in the hospitality industry learned enough survival English in a few weeks to fill out an English language job application, pass an English language interview and get and retain a relatively good job. Foreign-trained nurses working as low-paid homecare workers saw the possibility of U.S. certification and quickly learned enough English to pass the English language nursing certification exam. Some of these workers had spent years in the U.S. in low-paying jobs without becoming fluent in English. Our observations of apprenticeship training in construction also confirmed that good instructional methodology helps LEP workers get well-paid, skilled employment before they are fluent in the English language.
"Continuing English instruction is in the longterm interest of LEP workers, employers and communities.
"Even with a relatively good entry-level job, job mobility is limited for LEP workers. Employers also benefit from improved English language competency among their employees."
