English Skills Learning Center

Why offer workplace literacy classes?

"Workplace literacy" refers to the basic skills workers need to function in the workplace. According to the National Literacy Act of 1991, workplace literacy refers to an individual's to read, write, and speak in English, and compute and solve problems at levels of proficiency necessary to function on the job.

In 2009 there were 24 million members of the labor force---more than one in seven---who were foreign born. Many of these workers lack workplace literacy skills.

So why offer workplace literacy classes?

English language classes can be offered at the workplace during the workday, before or after the workday, or some combination of the two. They offer several distinct advantages. First, they are easy to schedule. Adult immigrants lead busy lives with many different demands on their time. They are often unable to attend English classes offered by traditional schools. Thus, a class offered at the work site before, during, or after work hours is most convenient for them. 

Second, a teacher teaching at the work site often has access to authentic materials, materials that employees use every day on the job, such as safety posters, memos, machines, e-mails. Researchers believe that when language learners can practice in real-life situations they retain more of what they learn. 

Third, classes taught at the workplace tend to enjoy strong teamwork and a sense of community right away. Coworkers make great classmates and provide a positive learning atmosphere. Plus, when native-English-speaking coworkers serve as peer mentors or conversation partners to participants in the class, both parties learn to communicate better. 

What are the benefits?

The U.S. Department of Education has identified numerous advantages of workplace English programs, including

• increased company profitability
• enhanced corporate image
• reduced error rate
• improved employee morale
• improved understanding of organizational culture
• improved capacity to solve problems
• higher success rate in promoting and transferring employees within the organization

Sources

1. www.workingimmigrants.com

2. Center for Adult English Language Acquisition (CAELA). Workplace Instruction and Workforce Preparation for Adult Immigrants. September 2007. 

3. www.work-basedlearning.org