Posts Tagged ‘ESL Training’

Click on the link to check out one of our new bilingual training products created specifically for Latinos in the Hospitality Industry.

I.    TYPICALLY POTENTIAL PARTICIPANTS OF A LEVEL I ESL COURSE DO NOT CURRENTLY HAVE THE NECESSARY ENGLISH SKILLS IF THEY:

  • Do not make an attempt to communicate to the GM / Supervisor / Coworkers in English
  • Haven’t completed the 2nd grade in the U.S. or their country
  • Possess only a few vocabulary words in English
  • Have worked less than 6 months at the company

II.  CANDIDATES THAT ARE A “GOOD FIT” FOR A LEVEL I ENGLISH COURSE TYPICALLY:

  • Is shy / not confident of their ability (although they may possess good speaking skills)
  • Knows a number of vocabulary words in English
  • Have problems “getting their point across” although they can do it occasionally 
  • Is reluctant to speak with customers but will be able to communicate some ideas to their GM / Supervisor
  • Needs to work at company 6+ months
  • Can make simple requests but can’t elaborate / give many details
  • Is able to fill out personal information on a application – name, phone, address …
  • Wants to take the class / has aspirations of advancement within the organization (have a bilingual coworker elicit some of this information)
  • Would have completed any grade between 2nd  and 8th in the U.S. or in their country          

III.  INDIVIDUALS THAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED TOO ADVANCED (BUT STILL POTENTIALLY WOULD BENEFIT BY A LEVEL II COURSE) FOR THIS LEVEL WOULD:

  • Be able to communicate their ideas and make simple requests
  • Speak “choppy” English and would have an accent but could “get their point across”
  • Not have any difficulty completely filling out any simple forms
  • Be able to explain roles & responsibilities of various positions in a simple fashion
  • Have completed 8th grade or above in the U.S. or in their own country 

ENGLISH IS A FUNNY LANGUAGE

1)         The bandage was wound around the wound.

2)         The farm was used to produce produce.

3)         He could lead if he would get the lead out.

4)         The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert.

5)         Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was time to present the present.

6)         When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes.

7)         I did not object to the object.

8)         They were too close to the door to close it.

9)         The wind was too strong to wind the sail.

Let’s face it – English is a crazy language. There is no egg in eggplant, nor ham in hamburger; neither apple nor pine in pineapple. English muffins weren’t invented in England or French fries in France.

We take English for granted. But if we explore its paradoxes, we find that quicksand can work slowly, boxing rings are square and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig.

If teachers taught, why didn’t preachers praught?  If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat?

You have to marvel at the facts that your house can burn up as it burns down, in which you fill in a form by filling it out and in which, an alarm goes off by going on.

English was invented by people, not computers, and it reflects the creativity of the human race, which, of course, is not a race at all.

That is why, when the stars are out, they are visible, but when the lights are out, they are invisible.    …and so it goes.

Workplace Languages, LLC is offering a special discount through the end of October with our Online Spanish over Skype with our instructors in Nicaragua.  Learn more details at:  http://www.workplacelanguages.com/Samples/Online_Spanish_over_Skype_Offer.pdf

These are tips that we have shared in various ESL classes & “awareness” workshops.  Simple guidelines when working with employees with Limited English Proficiency (LEP). 

Communicate to the main idea – Keep phrases and sentences as simple as possible.  Don’t’ use broken English.

  • Think of at least one other way to rephrase what you want to say.

Avoid asking “yes/no” questions or asking “Do you understand?”  Remember to ask “wh-“ questions or open-ended questions to check comprehension:

i.e.  Instead of asking, “Did you talk to your supervisor?” ask, “Who did you talk to?”

In place of, “Do you work tomorrow?” you could say, “When are you free / off this week?”

The point is to ask a question in a way to elicit a specific response and not just a “yes/no” answer.

When they are speaking to you:

  • Invite them to speak slowly.
  • Give them time to communicate.

Ask yourself:

  • Am I doing all I can to be understood?  SHOW then what you want.
  • Am I trying to learn about my employees both personally and culturally?

Please don’t:

  • Assume that a lack of English proficiency indicates that lack of intelligence.
  • Assume that inability to express thoughts clearly means workers can’t understand you.

This is a wonderful article that was just forwarded to me by a colleague.  It is from the Inside Training Newsletter

Language of Training Myths
As it is, your learners sometimes look at you like you’re speaking the language of an alien from outer space, so why would you think training them in the languages spoken in other parts of the world would be easy?  According to corporate relocation specialist Cartus, myths run rampant in language training. Here are five of the biggest of these misconceptions:

Myth 1: You don’t need to speak the local language to do business. Never underestimate the value of the local lingo, says Cartus. “Surviving a business trip to another country will require you to read signs and communicate with drivers, servers, and merchants, none of whom will offer translation options,” the vendor advises. “When business travelers learn the basics of the local language, it demonstrates their respect and interest in the culture and makes it easier to function independently abroad.”

Myth 2: You can learn a language in two weeks.Contrary to what some language products’ marketers would like you to believe, there’s no quick fix when learning a new language, Cartus points out. “Getting to an intermediate level takes on average 180 to 240 hours of study; at an hour of dedicated study per day, that’s a minimum of six months. If you’re learning a new language for business purposes, you’ll want a training program that’s designed specifically for business applications, with a focus on speaking and listening skills,” the vendor advises. “Most academic or e-learning programs churn out learners who have some reading and writing ability but who have a hard time translating those skills during impromptu communication. We recommend training with a live instructor, if your schedule allows. In this way, you can build a program that’s customized to your needs and specific challenges, and you can grow at a pace you determine. This helps maintain motivation.”

Myth 3: E-learning is faster.E-learning offers the convenience of an anytime, anywhere program, but in the business world, context is key, says Cartus. “Online training is great for beefing up vocabulary and understanding the fundamentals, but unless your online program includes skilled trainers, you may unknowingly learn an inappropriate use of the language, and this could hurt more than help,” the vendor stresses. “If you can’t commit to a series of live language lessons, find a provider whose online training is supplemented by access to a live instructor who’ll correct your mistakes before they can be held against you.”

Myth 4: Language training is language training; one size fits all. Learning a language for business is a far cry from learning a language in school or for a vacation on the Italian Riviera, Cartus notes. “New trends in language training offer approaches that can be tailored to your learning needs. Advanced learners require a more customized approach that focuses on technical and stylistic language skills, from learning business vocabulary and idiomatic expressions to fine-tuning grammar to running a conference call for an audience from a specific culture,” the vendor says. “You have options when it comes to language training; choose one that fits your level, goals, and business needs.”

Myth 5: Language “fluency” is the ultimate goal.Technical fluency in a language will get you only so far, says Cartus.  “Language and culture are so hardwired that being able to quickly conjure grammatically correct phrases is only half the battle. Idiomatic language, body language, accent, use of emotion, humor, and cultural protocol are all essential components of ‘fluency,’” the vendor emphasizes. “In a business setting, you need to understand and use these aspects accurately to make an impact. When working in another language and culture, your productivity, effectiveness, and status as an employee will be influenced by your ability to communicate holistically. Make it a point to build on your language skills constantly to ensure that what you’re communicating—and what you’re interpreting—are on target. Your success depends on it.”

Workplace Languages, LLC is offering its Online Survival Spanish Classes at a special discounted rate through September.  Take a class for free over Skype with one of our translators in Nicaragua.  Please check out our special at: http://www.workplacelanguages.com/Samples/Online_Spanish_over_Skype_Offer.pdf

Stay current on all of our new bilingual product offerings and services along with any available discounts.
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100x50Time is Money.  I often get questions from clients about the advantages of “grammar-less” language learning. The simple answer is time. Many busy professionals don’t have time or patience to learn all of the nuances of another language. The traditional approach to language learning can take years. I have taught Spanish & ESL at a number of colleges and I know what doesn’t work: bogging students down with so much grammar that they are reluctant to speak.
When it comes to workplace communication, many companies want their employees to learn industry specific words and phrases without spending time learning material they may never use. That’s why we developed our programs addressing the needs of specific industries by teaching managers the language and cultures of their workers. The formula is the more effective you communicate with your employees the more effective they’ll become in their jobs.
Whether it’s taking online language lessons or using bilingual training products to facilitate learning, I found that teaching managers basic phrases in Spanish or other languages that were specific to their needs not only helps get jobs done but resulted in workers who felt more respected and motivated. Bottom line: companies retain better employees. This can be achieved in a fraction of the time of traditional language learning programs. After all, time is money……..
Ed Rosheim, President
Workplace Languages
Click here for Online Learning Link: http://workplacelanguages.com/online_onsite.html

Try out our Online Spanish Classes over Skype with one of our 14 full-time instructors in Nicaragua.  Workplace Languages schedules classes at your convenience.  We will email you all of the lessons + send you an audio CD of the lessons so you can practice outside of the classroom.  Classes are 30 minutes and each level is 10 sessions / classes.  We teach conversational Spanish + we also have industry-specific lessons.  1.866.330.9419.  Try 2 lessons for free!  Call us at Curriculum for all industries available.  Here are some testimonials from our “Restaurant Spanish” sessions:

ONLINE SPANISH TESTIMONIALS

   “The instructors are fun, friendly, and encourage you to challenge the training and expand on the verbiage.
   Lessons were always reviewed before they ended and again reviewed when the next lesson started.
   A great experience, better than Rosetta Stone!”

   Toni M. Bianco
   Franchise Business Director
   Papa Johns International

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Ed,

To sum up, I thought the program was great.  The pace was good, and I learned a lot of information in a short amount of time.  Jessica was a phenomenal teacher who was patient yet productive.  If there are any openings, I’d like to run the gauntlet again, to try and get better. 

Thank you,

Joel Cooney

Operations Specialist-West

Papa John’s International

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This has been a great experience thus far!  As for me. I find myself more confident attempting to converse in Spanish when I am out in the field visiting restaurants now.  I’ve got three courses left to complete my ten, but I’ve been very impressed with the instructor, the coursework

Seth McColley, SPHR | People Capability Leader - Pizza Hut | Phoenix – San Diego – Las Vegas - Spokane – Los Angeles |

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Ed,

It has been wonderful !!  I’m sad that it is over.  : (   Ariel is absolutely wonderful. I’ve already expressed my positive thoughts to Lyn, would you like for me to send her an email as well? Let me know.

Muchas Gracias !!

Marja Wallace

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“My ultimate goal is to be able to communicate at the restaurant to the Outbackers. I can

communicate a bit now, but the lessons with Jessica definitely helped!  Jessica was awesome! She

was very patient and it really helped communicating with a live person vs. using a book! “

Kelly Kjolhede – Regional Director of Training