TransQual English Language Training Programme Overview

Pre-ESOL Overcoming Barriers:
Aims: overcoming barriers is an innovative first-step beginner’s level English language training course for migrant workers designed to help them overcome initial barriers and acquire basic English, sufficient for communications at work and in the community.

Objectives: to enable migrant workers who have very little or no command of the English language to develop and acquire basic English language skills that are occupationally specific thereby meeting both the employers needs and providing the learner with the skills needed to progress within the workplace. 

Content: the main difference between the planned ‘Pre-ESOL’ and the usual pre-entry Adult Basic Skills is that the learners will potentially have a high level of educational attainment and qualifications in their home country. Participants will not have any difficulties with learning per se other than their approach to learning will be different from migrant workers who are not literate in their first language. English language training should be at beginner’s level and needs to address the main barrier: a complete lack of knowledge of English language.

Pre ESOL courses are shorter (36 hours) and more work-focused than traditional ESOL qualifications, giving learners practical English skills in essential workplace matters, such as health & safety, communication and customer service.  As well as better accuracy, efficiency and effectiveness, the skills acquired will help employers who will benefit from improved communication and productivity.

As part of the course each learner will have access to course materials from the delivery provider. Throughout the programme participants will be encouraged to further develop their English language skills through self directed home study as directed by the course tutor.

Where possible and appropriate the Pre-ESOL courses will be delivered by bi-lingual tutors. The course materials will reference to the ESOL National Core Curriculum and will be specific to 3 skills sectors including Health and Social Care, Construction and LANTRA with a fourth being generalised materials which will contain milestones referenced to the workplace. This is an approach taken by the Learning Partnership in a previous project and developed by AccessEuropeHR and the Polish British Integration Centre (PBIC) as part of the successful EEDA IiC funded Pre-ESOL course for Polish migrants in Bedfordshire and Luton in 2007 and in a subsequent LSC funded project in Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire offering beginners level language training to migrant workers.

Delivery: 3 hours a week for 12 weeks or 36 hours flexible.
 
Level 3 Certificate in Adult English for ESOL:*
Aims: to offer a Level 3 ESOL or related qualification to migrant workers and staff from organisations working with migrant worker and BME communities, where learners may not speak English as a first language. It is intended that participants from migrant worker communities act as bi-lingual tutor support. All participants would need to demonstrate an adequate level of English; at least to Level 2 or GCSE grades A-C. Where necessary, participants with overseas qualifications should have their qualifications compared to the UK equivalent through the ESF Qualification Conversion project to confirm that they are qualified to enrol on the programme.0.

Objective: to enable participants to develop their knowledge of learning support theory and practice where learners may speak English as a second language. To explore the personal, social and cultural factors that surround the use of language and to develop the skills required for supporting ESOL learning and build the capacity of Providers to deliver effective and meaningful ESOL provision.

The achievement of the Level 3 qualification would ideally allow the learner to become part of the pool of staff and volunteers used to deliver Pre-ESOL courses. Individuals who are bi-lingual would be able to support effective pre-entry level ESOL for learners who are just starting to learn English and who would benefit from using their first language to help them make meaningful references or comparisons from their own culture and so improve their understanding of the English language, idiom and context.

Content: The course would contain units covering the use of English language for example, English language skills and factors influencing English language training, theoretical frameworks, language and literacy, learning and development and learning support theory and practice.

Delivery: 3 hours a week for 30 weeks, dependent upon exact Level 3 course undertaken.

Level 3 Certificate Technical and Managerial*:
Aims: to offer a qualification to migrant workers who already have or have gained basic English and who want to further develop their skills at work and improve their knowledge and use of English within the working environment of the industry or sector in which they are employed.

Objective: to enable the participants to further develop their language skills in the specific context of the working environment of the industry or sector in which they are working. To acquire and improve communication and team work skills, becoming a valued member of the work team thereby increasing their contribution to the objectives of the company. The programme will help tackle barriers at work and improve their prospects for advancement and promotion.
By removing barriers to social integration it will also allow them to play an active role in the local community thereby increasing social inclusion.

Content: for example the course might contain 7 units covering management contextualised for either construction, healthy and social care or land based industries. The units will include health and safety, first aid, team working, supervision, time-keeping and communications (written, spoken, listening and reading).

Delivery: 3 hours a week for 30 weeks, dependent upon exact Level 3 course undertaken..

Signposting - the project contains an element of Signposting to other ESOL related provision which covers entry levels 1, 2 and 3 up to a full Level 2. Although Signposting is not a paid output we would expect partners through the wrap around IAG, to identify the best progression route and direct learner’s to the most appropriate pathway that best meets their needs.

ESOL for WORK Qualifications, Entry Levels 1, 2 and 3 and Levels 1 and 2
Aims: A ‘second step’ or follow-on option for migrant workers who have completed pre-entry level ESOL. The new, recently launched ESOL at Work programme is aimed at migrants in employment and provides a contextualised learning experience. As follow-on this course is intended for learners who are able to pay for the cost of learning, perhaps with employer support which could take the form of a financial contribution and / or time off work to attend.

Objectives: to improve the level of English language skills and help participants prepare for a higher level qualification. This is important for communication at work and as a pre requisite for migrants who may want to settle and achieve UK citizenship.

Content: these courses will confirm to the published criteria for ESOL at Work programme. It will cover all skills modes – speaking, listening, reading and writing – but with the main focus on the first three. The content is focussed on the workplace including, customer care, first aid and health and safety. The course is offered at either Entry Level 3 or Level 1.

Participants will be made aware of Skills for Life ESOL and other specialist training opportunities.

ESOL, Level 2 Embedded:
Aims: offers a progression route to further English language training embedded within a Train to Gain full Level 2 framework. This radical and innovative approach to training combines skills training with the acquisition of essential English for use in the workplace.

Objectives: offers an alternative introduction to migrant workers who also need to acquire a Level 2 qualification. This unique programme has been trialled with an engineering and distribution company based in Luton and has delivered two cohorts through a successful pilot funded by the LSC as part of its regional Train to Gain programme. It is envisaged that the programme will be rolled out to 3 key SSC’s – Construction, Health and Safety and LANTRA – which form part of the 5 priority growth sectors for the East of England.

Content: course materials developed for the Pre-ESOL Overcoming Barriers course will form part of the extensive knowledge pool of contextualised materials that support the delivery of the embedded ESOL Level 2 qualification making the English language component specific to the sector. The course material developed through the LSC funded pilot operated by Bedford College will be used as a starting point. Final decisions about themes and materials will be discussed with the relevant SSC and through focus groups drawn from employers within the industry.

Learners should be made aware of other language and training opportunities, including where appropriate, the ESOL at Work programme. Migrant workers with specialist language needs would be signposted to specialist provision to meet their particular needs.

*Whilst it may not be possible to source the stated Level 3 Certificate in Adult English for ESOL and Level 3 Certificate Technical and Managerial through local provision you may be able to source alternative qualifications, some examples of local B&L options are:

• Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector Level 3 Award
• Teaching Assistants Level 3 NVQ
• CELTA Certificate in English Language teaching to Adults
• City & Guilds 9375 Certificate in Delivering Basic Skills to Adults – Level 3
• PTTLS Plus
• Chartered Institute of Management (CIM) First Line Management Level 3
• NVQ in Business & Administration Level 3
• ILM Certificate in First Line Management – Level 3

For further information regarding this project contact:

Kevin McIlhagga on 01234 851745
email   kmcilhagga@learning-partnership.co.uk