1. ESOL in the Workplace Meeting new challenges in Tennessee’s changing workplace Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development Division of Adult Education

2. Adult Education in Tennessee

3. Adult Education is a vital partner in Tennessee’s workforce system   Adult Education representative on each LWIA Board   Adult Education representative on each Rapid Response team   Direct communication and coordination with Dislocated Worker Services   Fully-partnered with Career Centers

4. A Growing Need Source: Analysis of 1990 and 2000 U.S. Census data, Urban Institute,2002

5. Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census

7. Why ESOL in the Workplace? ► ► Demographic changes ► ► Employee turnover costs @ $11 billion yearly ► ► ISO/quality demands require a more educated workforce that can communicate in English ► ► Lack of language proficiency impacts workplace safety, productivity ► ► Limited language skills=confinement to entry level jobs

8. Tennessee ESOL in the Workplace A collaborative initiative of the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Division of Adult Education, and the University of Tennessee Center for Literacy Studies

9. What is Tennessee’s ESOL Workplace Initiative? ► ► Curriculum tailored to the language needs of the employer ► ► Safety-first language skills ► ► Comprehensive, focused and in-depth ► ► Analysis of each specific job to determine which reading, speaking, computation and reading skills are critical to perform efficiently and effectively

10. Sensitive to Business Rules and Regulations

12. ESOL in the Workplace Training Know the market Know your community and workplace needs Select your best option Design and implement Action Plan Study results To improve Sustain & Grow The Initiative Adult Education in Tennessee uses the Malcolm Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence as its continuous improvement and performance excellence tool

13. Caveat ►Language acquisition is an on-going process ►It takes time to acquire and develop language and literacy proficiencies ►Successful ESOL Workplace programs run for several cycles ►Workplace literacy is an on-going process

14. Beware of Hidden Costs! ► 20% turnover in business is related to basic skills deficiencies ► The minimum cost per new hire at entry level is $520.00 (in banking and fast food) ► It costs a minimum of $200.00 per worker for training ► Language and literacy deficiencies can reduce productivity by 8% or more ► Lower productivity diminishes bottom line profit Source: National Alliance of Business (2001) Spring Workforce Economics, 7(1)

15. What kinds of businesses use this initiative? ► Manufacturing ► Hotel/hospitality ► Technology services ► Restaurant/food service ► Hospital ► Nursery/lawn service ► Customer service ► Any business where there are non/limited proficiency English speakers

16. Integrating the ESOL population into the Community Adult Education A stronger, economically viable Workforce ESOL Population Needs & Requirements Adult Ed. Services Results & Outcomes In the Workforce Student Needs ESOL in the Workforces Curriculum Higher employee satisfaction Business & Industry Needs Higher productivity / customer satisfaction Not In the Workforce Student NeedsEnglish Language Classes Citizenship & Self Esteem Family Needs Career Center Referral

17. Preparing for the future……..