| Language Support for Foreign Employees Mike Smith : Language Support for Foreign Employees Mike Smith Non-native English speakers in your workforce
Options for managing the challenges, and
maximising the opportunities |
| Terminology : Terminology
Teaching English (ESL+EFL+ESP)=TESOL
Testing English TOEIC-TOEFL (Asia/USA) IELTS/BEC/Cambridge (Aust/Int) |
| Mike’s Background : Mike’s Background English Language Teacher
Workplace Trainer
Prof dev of teachers and trainers
Science/technology/RAAF
Capital acquisition (flight simulator)
Quality/system engineering
Requirements analysis/management |
| Global Knowledge Services Economy : Global Knowledge Services Economy
If knowledge is a commodity then communication skill is the ‘currency’ of trade in knowledge
better comm. skills => more success in trade of knowledge, info, data
(intra- and inter-business) |
| Australian Skills Shortage : Australian Skills Shortage severe, medium term
importing labour (non-native English speakers)
not a new problem but…
critical mass approaching
affecting safety/productivity |
| Severity Increasing : Severity Increasing Labour market competition, retention
Need for efficient use of labour
Government regulation
IELTS International Language Testing System
Visa subclasses
workplace regulations (safety, equity etc) |
| Situation Summary : Situation Summary Increasing non-native English speaking workforce
Communication gap
costing you time and money
causing safety incidents ?
lowering productivity
tarnishing your reputation ? |
| Solutions : Solutions Don’t hire non-native English speakers ??
skills shortage, international trade, highly motivated, needed technical skills
Improve their English skills
Upskill trainers/supervisors/co-workers
Consultant teacher/facilitator |
| Slide9 : Communication Model |
| Improve Their English Skills : Improve Their English Skills Takes (much) longer than you suppose
Full-time
Part-time
Specialist Language Support |
| Full-Time Study : Full-Time Study Advantages
relatively low per week cost
fastest learning
Disadvantages
not well tailored to organisational need
1-2 (or 3) years
removed from workplace
inflexible delivery TAFE or Private ESL Colleges
|
| Part-Time Study : Part-Time Study Advantages
(somewhat) contextualised learning
more flexible delivery
combined with work
Disadvantages
takes even longer
hard to find effective teachers for this role perhaps TAFE or Private ESL Colleges
Private tutoring
|
| Specialist Language Support : Specialist Language Support Advantages
highly contextualised learning
highly flexible delivery
integrated with workplace culture
industry/business aware teachers
Disadvantages
few providers Comprehensive Quality System Solution
Advantages (cont)
Requirements/needs analysis
Tailored solution
Performance monitoring
Learner skills metrics
Support HR budgeting Do it properly! |
| Improve Their English Skills : Improve Their English Skills Takes (much) longer than you suppose
Full-time
Part-time
Specialist Language Support |
| Solutions – so far : Solutions – so far Don’t hire non-native English Speakers
skills shortage
international trade
highly motivated
technical skills
Improve their English skills
Upskill trainers/supervisors/co-workers
Consultant teacher/facilitator |
| Upskill Trainers/Managers/ co-workers : Upskill Trainers/Managers/ co-workers (not create English teachers)
close the communication gap from the other side
increase awareness
effective strategies
easy – cheap – quick
few providers |
| Consultant Teacher/Facilitator : Consultant Teacher/Facilitator (not replace trainers)
close the communication gap from the both sides
targeted effort
highly contextualised and tailored
manage budgets and timeframes
easy – cheap – quick
few providers |
| Solutions – so far : Solutions – so far Don’t hire non-native English Speakers
skills shortage
international trade
highly motivated
technical skills
Improve their English skills
Upskill trainers/supervisors/co-workers
Consultant teacher/facilitator |
| Slide19 : Communication Model Safety Productivity $$$ |
| Thank you for your time, Any questions….? : Thank you for your time, Any questions….? www.workplaceenglish.com.au
Mike Smith www.tesolplacements.com.au
Nerolie Wallace |