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From: Heide Wrigley <hwrigley@aiweb.com>
To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-technology@literacy.nifl.gov>
Subject: [NIFL-TECHNOLOGY:2079] reviving VESL (a bit long, I'm afraid)
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Marilyn and others,
I am presently at work on a paper (with Julie Strawn from the Center for Law
and Social Policy) that looks at how immigrants and refugees who are new to
English are faring under welfare to work, with a special focus on programs
that combine employability skills, worplace related English communication
skills and vocational skills. Public Private Ventures is also starting to
address these issues and is integrating a discussion of these issues into
their latest conference in Atlanta.
In terms of programs that have had success in that area, the Center for
Employment Training in San Jose has the best record in terms of placing
adults with limited English and low literacy skills into "good" jobs.
Although many of their clients are Spanish speakers and some of the staff is
bilingual, they don't consider themselves a bilingual program per se, since
they also serve a large number of Vietnamese and African American clients.
The VESL efforts in Pima County (Linda Hellman) would be another example of
a program that works. Kay Taggart in El Paso mentioned a culinary program in
Las Vegas that she was impressed with. Similarly, Sonja Franeta at Laney
Community College in Oaklandhas developed a culinary program that looks
quite promising (participants create and produce an illustrated cookbook
that contains both their personal stories and recipes of foods important in
their lives).
San Francisco Community College has a transitional grant under
welfare-to-work that combines pre-employment training, English communication
skills, technology and workexperience for refugees and immigrants who have
not had any kind of work experience in the United States. They also involve
their learners in project-based learning. San Diego Community College used
to do very good VESL work (and still might, I have lost track of them), as
did programs in the Chicago area.
Although, JoAnn said she was not interested in "bilingual programs", it is
worth taking a look at them so a full picture of the range of creative
efforts emerges. El Paso community college has a DOL funded program that
looks at the retraining of farm workers and the Instituto del Progreso
Progreso in Chicago seems to have a comprehensive program that integrates
basic skills and job skills. Kay Taggart is organizing a summit for VESL and
bilingual/vocational programs and has researched and identified a number of
programs that show promise. Including programs in the Bronx, in Milwaukee
and a state wide effort in Wisconsin, along with various programs in the El
Paso/Juarez area.
The state of Massachusetts is discussing new models and reviving earlier
ones. They have been very strong in workplace literacy and should have a
great deal to share.
Perhaps folks from these programs could add details and other programs could
self-identify, and we can pull together a piece on VESL programs that show
promise.
Also, Marilyn Gillespie and Miriam Burt have put together a couple of
publications for CAL that summarize earlier efforts in both VESL and
workplace literacy.
Marilyn, could you post the programs you have mentioned to JoAnn? Perhaps,
with new interest in welfare to work and a renewed emphasis on moving
immigrants and refugees into jobs that pay a living wage, we can revive what
we have learned from previous VESL efforts.
cheers
Heide
P.S. I am also cross-listing this to the technology list serve since there
has been recent interest in VESL there, as well
Heide Spruck Wrigley
Aguirre International
San Mateo, CA
-----Original Message-----
From: Thomas C. McLaughlin [mailto:txm10@po.cwru.edu]
Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2001 10:28 PM
To: ESL in Adult Education IS Listserve
Subject: [aeis-l] help re VESL
Hello colleagues,
As the current chair of the AEIS, I often receive - usually by e-mail
but sometime by phone or postal mail - inquiries and requests for
ionformation and suggestions and advice on various ESOL in Adult Ed-related
situations and problems. Some of them call for a wider audience and
response than I alone can provide. JoAnn Hunt of Nevada e-mailed me as
follows:
"We are trying to set up a vocational/ocupational VESL (Vocational English
as a Second Language" program as part of our Technical Institute here at
Truckee Meadows Community College in Reno, Nevada. The Technical Institute
currently offer courses in auto mechanics, diesel, electronics, h/air
conditioning, industrial maintenance, welding, construction and culinary.
The idea is to teach English within the context or as a component of these
courses.
"If you have any experience (successful or NOT) with any program that is
even remotely connected or somewhat similar, (but not bilingual) OR if you
know of someone who does, please let me know the particulars. Any ideas /
reponses as to what works and what doesn't will be appreciated more than I
can say."
I have given JoAnn some leads - but she assures me that she still
needs
"all the help I can get!" You can post your responses on this List Serve -
so that we can all share this information about VESL programs - or you can
reply to Joann directly.
Her e-mail address: jhunt@sparksnevada.net
phone: (775) 356-5035
FAX: (775) 356-5051
Thanks.
Marilyn McLaughlin
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