Benchmarks Research In Workplace Communication - English for Internationally Trained Immigrants
-
Upload
agnieszka-aga-palalas-edd -
Category
Education
-
view
1.305 -
download
0
Transcript of Benchmarks Research In Workplace Communication - English for Internationally Trained Immigrants
Benchmarks Research inWorkplace Communication
&How it Can Inform the College
CurriculumTESL Conference (November 2008)
Aga PalalasValerie Scovill
1OSLP Occupation-Specific Language Profiles
Funded by the Government of Ontario
Occupation-Specific Language Profiles
OSLP
OSLP Occupation-Specific Language Profiles Funded by the Government of Ontario 2
What constituencies do you represent?
What would you like to take from this presentation?
What major questions would you like to have answered?
Participants
3OSLP Occupation-Specific Language Profiles
Funded by the Government of Ontario
Provide Internationally Trained Immigrant (ITI) graduates with communication skills that will lead to their success in the workplace
Develop occupation-specific language profiles
CLB-based
non-regulated occupations
Recommend curriculum enhancements
focus on occupation-specific communication skills
Project Goals
4OSLP Occupation-Specific Language Profiles
Funded by the Government of Ontario
Training from Vancouver Community College
CLPBT certification
Benchmarking, curriculum design, ESL teaching expertise
Initial research into programs and workplaces
Preparation for project
5OSLP Occupation-Specific Language Profiles
Funded by the Government of Ontario
Phase 1: Research
Phase 2: Recommendations for curricular modifications
Phase 3: Design and development of language supports
Phase 4: Pilot of language supports
Phase 5: Dissemination of findings
OSLP Occupation-Specific Language Profiles Funded by the Government of Ontario 6
OSLP – Project Activities
OSLP Team Team
◦ two ESL specialists/benchmarkers◦ project lead/researcher◦ two CLBPT assessors◦ research assistant◦ curriculum writer◦ instructional designer◦ subject matter expert
Communication◦ wiki
OSLP Occupation-Specific Language Profiles Funded by the Government of Ontario 7
Benchmark language requirements of final semester courses
Benchmark language requirements of entry-level jobs
Language skills of students in both programs assessed (CLBPT)
Phase 1: Research
8OSLP Occupation-Specific Language Profiles
Funded by the Government of Ontario
Prepare - tools
Arrange - faculty interviews and class visits
Arrange – student interviews
Collate results
Follow up
9OSLP Occupation-Specific Language Profiles
Funded by the Government of Ontario
Contact - workplaces
Arrange – interviews with employees and managers
Arrange - workplace observations
Collate results
Follow-up with employers
10OSLP Occupation-Specific Language Profiles
Funded by the Government of Ontario
ITI students
Gather information – students
◦focus groups
◦surveys (zoomerang –
www.zoomerang.com)
◦language testing
11OSLP Occupation-Specific Language Profiles
Funded by the Government of Ontario
Findings: Accounting program
Speak Listen Read Write
Course 1 6 7 8 6
Course 2 6 8 8 6
Course 3 7 9 10 7
Course 4 5 8 9 6
Course 5 7 8 9 6
Course 6 5 8 9 6
Course 7 7 7 7 6
Course 8 6 6 8 6
Course 9 7 7 9 9
CLB Range 5 - 7 *6 - 9 **8 - 10 ***6 - 9
CLB Level (AVG) 6.22 7.56 8.56 6.44
12OSLP Occupation-Specific Language Profiles
Funded by the Government of Ontario
Skill AreaCLB Range
CLB Benchmark
Speaking 5-7 6.22
Listening 6-9 7.56
Reading 8-10 8.56
Writing 6-9 6.44
Findings: Accounting Program
OSLP Occupation-Specific Language Profiles Funded by the Government of Ontario 13
OSLP Occupation-Specific Language Profiles Funded by the Government of Ontario 14
Workplace Language Requirements
Job Title Speak Listen Read Write
Company 1 Bookkeeper 8 8 7 7
Company 2 Accounts Payable Coordinator 9 9 8 8
Company 3 Assistant Manager, Accounting 8 8 7 7
Company 4 Assistant Manager, Accounting 8 8 7 8
Company 5Bookkeeper/Accounts Receivable/Payable 7 7 7 7
Company 6 Accounting Clerk 7 7 6 7
Company 7 Accounts Payable 8 7 8 7
Company 8 Fund Accounting 8 8 8 8
7 - 9 7 - 9 6 - 8 7 - 8
CLB Level (AVG)
7.88 7.75 7.25 7.29
Findings: Accounting Workplace
Skill Area CLB RangeAverage CLB
Benchmark
Speaking 4-8 6.00
Listening 4-8 6.16
Reading 5-8 6.60
Writing 5-7 5.33
Findings: Accounting Students
OSLP Occupation-Specific Language Profiles Funded by the Government of Ontario 15
Accounting StudentsSpeaking: CLB 4-8
CLB 411%
CLB 511%
CLB 646%
CLB 716%
CLB 816%
Listening: CLB 4-8
CLB 411%
CLB 516%
CLB 642%
CLB 726%
CLB 85%
Reading: CLB 4-8
CLB 633%
CLB 753%
CLB 87%
CLB 57%
Writing: CLB 4-7
CLB 47%
CLB 559%
CLB 627%
CLB 77%
OSLP Occupation-Specific Language Profiles Funded by the Government of Ontario 16
Identifying the gapComparison table
All in CLB levels Speaking Listening Reading Writing
Workplace Language Requirements
7-97.88
7-97.75
6-87.25
7-87.29
Program LanguageRequirements
5-76.22
6-97.56
8-108.56
6-96.44
Student Preparedness4-86.00
4-86.16
5-86.60
5-75.33
Avg GAP between Workplace & Student
(workplace higher for all)1.88 1.59 0.65 1.96
Avg GAP between Workplace & Program
1.66(workplace
higher)
0.19(workplace
higher)
1.31(program
higher)
0.85(workplace
higher)
OSLP Occupation-Specific Language Profiles Funded by the Government of Ontario 17
Speak Listen Read Write
Course 1 6 8 - 9 7 7 - 8
Course 2 6 7 - 8 7 7
Course 3 6 - 7 8 9 - 10 8 - 9
Course 4 7 7 6 6
Course 5 6 8 8 8
Course 6 6 7 - 8 7 7
Course 7 7 8 7 7
Course 8 6 6 6 7
Course 9 7 7 8 8
CLB Range 6 - 7 *6 - 9 **6 - 10 *6 - 9
CLB Level (AVG) 6.5 7.8 7.8 7.5
Findings: Activation Program
18OSLP Occupation-Specific Language Profiles
Funded by the Government of Ontario
Findings: Activation Program
Skill Area CLB Range
CLB Benchmark
Speaking 6-7 6.50
Listening 6-9 7.80
Reading 6-10 7.80
Writing 6-9 7.50
19
OSLP Occupation-Specific Language Profiles Funded by the Government of Ontario
Job Title Speak Listen Read Write
Company 1 Activation Assistant 7 7 6 7
Company 2 Activationist 8 7 - 8 6 8
Company 3 Recreationist 8 7 - 8 7 7
Company 4 Life Enhancement Assistant 8 7 6 6 - 7
Company 5 Activation Supervisor 8 7 - 8 7 8
Company 6 Activation Supervisor 8 7 7 7
Company 7 Activation Coordinator 8 7 - 8 7 8
Company 8 Activation Coordinator 7 - 8 7 6 6 - 7
CLB Level (AVG) 7.8 7.25 6.5 7.25
20OSLP Occupation-Specific Language Profiles Funded
by the Government of Ontario
Findings: Activation workplace
Activation Workplace
OSLP Occupation-Specific Language Profiles Funded by the Government of Ontario
21
Skill AreaCLB Range
CLB Benchmark
Speaking 7-8 7.80
Listening 7-8 7.25
Reading 6-7 6.50
Writing 6-8 7.25
Findings: Activation Students
22
OSLP Occupation-Specific Language Profiles Funded by the Government of Ontario
Skill Area CLB RangeAverage CLB
Benchmark
Speaking 5-8 5.80
Listening 5-7 6.00
Reading 8 8.00
Writing 7-8 7.20
ProgramSpeaking
workplace
Speaking
classroom
Listening
workplace
Listening
classroom
Activation 7.8
7 – 8
6.5
6 – 7
7.25
7 – 8
7.8
6 – 9*
Bookkeeping 7.88
7 – 9*
6.2
5 – 7**
7.38
7 – 9*
7.6
6 – 9
23OSLP Occupation-Specific Language Profiles
Funded by the Government of Ontario
Comparison
ProgramReading
workplace
Reading
classroom
Writing
workplace
Writing
classroom
Activation 6.5
6 – 7
7.8
6 – 10*
7.25
6 – 7
7.8
6 – 9 **
Bookkeeping 7.38
6 – 8***
8.88
8 – 10 ****
7.25
7 – 8
6.4
6 – 9..
24
OSLP Occupation-Specific Language Profiles Funded by the Government of Ontario
Comparison
Listening/speaking is most important skill
Speaking and listening are key to success
Mostly interact orally with both clients and co-workers
Decisions are collaborative – work as a team
Contact is usually by telephone
Reports are also written but often generated from an accounting program
Bookkeeping : Workplace Observations
25OSLP Occupation-Specific Language Profiles
Funded by the Government of Ontario
Work/duties are self-directed, very little supervision
More than 80% of interaction with co-workers is in person
Most interaction with people outside the workplace, making arrangements for events and activities, is by phone or in person, email is used for follow-up
Non-verbal communication is important – touch, eye contact, smile
Activation: Workplace Observations
26OSLP Occupation-Specific Language Profiles
Funded by the Government of Ontario
Determine any misalignment between findings
Research best practices, both internal and external projects
Present findings to faculty
Decide on final directions and solutions based on dialogue
Phase 2: Recommendations for curricular modifications
27OSLP Occupation-Specific Language Profiles
Funded by the Government of Ontario
Adjunct – language support course for accounting
in-class online mobile
Activity toolbox with online discussion forum
Mini-lessons PD consultation Workshops
Phase 3: Design and development of language
supports
28OSLP Occupation-Specific Language Profiles
Funded by the Government of Ontario
Accounting language adjunct
Incremental language support One semester (pilot) Course-specific with some generic content Modular Scalable and sustainable Language training, socio-cultural skills and
Canadian workplace Hours: 14 weeks x (2+2+1) Developed with help of accounting faculty
29OSLP Occupation-Specific Language Profiles
Funded by the Government of Ontario
Adjunct curriculum
Target Exit: Reading CLB 8/9, Writing CLB 7, Listening 7/8, Speaking 7/8
Focus on speaking and listening Critical reading and writing competencies Business terms and colloquial language Pronunciation Supported by online (with moderator) and
mobile components
30OSLP Occupation-Specific Language Profiles
Funded by the Government of Ontario
Online component Flexible delivery Moderated by an ESL teacher WebCT
◦ language activities◦ assessment◦ interactivity◦ communication◦ audio and video (in-house and open source)
Eportfolios, blogs, podcasts Reinforcing classroom instruction & practice Vocabulary practice
31OSLP Occupation-Specific Language Profiles
Funded by the Government of Ontario
Mobile component Listening modules iPods / MP3 players In-house and open source Key terms and definitions (Accounting
textbook) Excerpts from textbooks Pronunciation Telephone scripts Listening quizzes Follow-up activities on-line
32OSLP Occupation-Specific Language Profiles
Funded by the Government of Ontario
PD support Activity Toolbox
◦ teaching strategies fostering communication practice and discussion, interaction, collaboration
Course-specific booklets◦ mini-lessons ◦ vocabulary sheets
Faculty workshops Newsletter Consultation Online companion (resources, discussions)
33OSLP Occupation-Specific Language Profiles
Funded by the Government of Ontario
Pilot adjunct, PD, online and mobile components
Make recommendations for future curriculum delivery
Test students (CLBPT) before and after curricular enhancements
Track graduates for employment status 12 months after graduation
Phase 4: Pilot of language supports
34OSLP Occupation-Specific Language Profiles
Funded by the Government of Ontario
Tracking graduates for success in the workplace
Evaluation of pilot language activities
Recommendations for next steps
Final report presenting all deliverables
Phase 5: Dissemination of findings
35OSLP Occupation-Specific Language Profiles
Funded by the Government of Ontario
Q&A
36OSLP Occupation-Specific Language Profiles
Funded by the Government of Ontario