Hi, Laurie and others 
 
VESL is indeed a fuzzy term and perhaps at one point we can unpack
various models, including bilingual vocational training which also falls
under the larger umbrella of VESL services.  
 
In terms of the specific approach you are interested in, you may want to
look at "the Language of Opportunity" where Julie Strawn and I worked
with others to look at the research behind this approach and highlight
some important aspects of successful models (comprehensive services,
pro-active job development, transition services, quality teaching on
both the ESL and technical skills side). The report, produced and
published by the Center for Law and Social Policy features a number of
programs that use this approach. 
 
Here is the link to the full report 
 
http://www.clasp.org/publications/LEP_report.pdf
 
and here is the Policy Brief on the same report 
 
http://www.clasp.org/publications/LEP_brief.pdf
 
And Yes, IBEST certainly is one of the best efforts for transitioning
basic skills and ESOL students to job training and work that pays a
family sustaining wage through integration of basic skills and technical
training. 
 
I am hoping that some of the folks from Washington State who are in the
middle of trying to make I-BEST work on their campus will share their
experiences. 
 
As Jodi mentioned, we would like to hear from other folks involved in
pre-employment efforts that try to link English language training and
vocational technical training (you get to define VESL).  I'll start a
new post under a separate heading and perhaps we can keep this
conversation going. 
 
Cheers 
 
Heide
 
 
 
 
________________________________

From: workplace-bounces at nifl.gov [mailto:workplace-bounces at nifl.gov] On
Behalf Of Laurie Ketzenberg
Sent: Wednesday, June 20, 2007 12:04 PM
To: The Workplace Literacy Discussion List
Subject: [Workplace 773] Re: Concurrent Vocational and Language Training
 
Yes, VESL brings up a gazillion hits.  And there are a gazillion
definitions of VESL.

My interest is in hard skill training for NNS (health care, culinary
arts, building trades), where the goal is technical skill acquisition
and upward ladder job placement and retention.  This would likely
require interagency and interdisciplinary partnerships between ESL and
Vocational agencies and instructors.

IBEST in WA is one model I'm learning about ...


On 6/19/07 6:06 PM, "Ginnie Gorin" <ggorin at gmail.com> wrote:
I would be very much interested in this as well.  Googling "VESL" brings
up some.
GG

On 6/19/07, Laurie Ketzenberg < laurie at medivetproducts.com
<mailto:laurie at medivetproducts.com> <mailto:laurie at medivetproducts.com>

> wrote:

Dear Colleagues,

Is there a centralized database of programs that offer concurrent
vocational 
and language skills training for non-native speakers of English?

Thanks!
Laurie
---------------------
Graduate Student
Temple University
Philadelphia, PA


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