SHOP
TALK # 16:
Austin Community College Launches an Initiative
to Bridge the Gap Between ESL and Occupational Training
Published August 30, 2007
A new and promising initiative at Austin Community College combines
Adult Education ESL instruction with Certified Nurse’s Assistant
(CNA) training through Continuing Education. This concurrent
model enables adult learners to simultaneously enroll in contextualized
English language instruction and vocational/occupational training,
allowing higher level English language learners to get a jump start
on occupational training. The ESL instructor and CNA instructor
plan together and share feedback on student progress and needs. This
coordination shortens the overall time learners need to reach their
job goals. Other bonuses include better retention, completion,
certification, job placement, and transition to further post
secondary studies.
Through a mini innovation grant from the College, the ABE instructor
was compensated for the time spent in instructional development. Six
ABE/ESL students completed the first 120 hour instructional program. Instruction
included 56 hours of ESL instruction and 56 hours of CNA classroom
instruction. CNA instruction was in English (learners were
Persian, Hispanic, Chinese, Japanese, and Indian).
Bridges, Choices, Transitions. Among the
students were two nurses with credentials from their native countries.
Learners’ choices at the completion of the training illustrate
the diversity in needs and interests and the opportunities such an
initiative can provide:
- Two found employment immediately.
- Two have just completed the clinical course with other “regular” college
students and will soon be taking the state test for certification;
both hope to pursue related professions in healthcare (pharmacy
technician and nursing).
- Two have chosen to pursue other academic fields of study.
A second round of instruction has begun, and third and fourth rounds
are planned for fall 2007 and spring 2008. Students who have
expressed interest in pursing post secondary studies are recruited
from ACC’s adult basic education ESL classes. These
students pay the course fees for Continuing Education only, and may
apply for tuition assistance.
Austin Community College is also exploring opportunities to initiate
administrative assistant and dental assistant training programs for
adult learners with limited English language skills.
For additional information about ACC’s initiative, contact
David Borden, ESL Coordinator, at (512) 223-7799 dborden@austincc.edu or
Elizabeth Huss, Coordinator for Health Professions Continuing Education
at (512) 223-7271 eahuss@austincc.edu.
Do you have a promising Workplace ESL initiative in the works? Care
to have it featured in SHOP TALK? See contact information
below.
SHOP TALK is a series of informative releases intended to address
issues, concerns, and questions related to meeting the educational
needs of Texas’ emerging, incumbent, and displaced workers.
For additional information or to request that a particular topic
be addressed, contact Barbara Tondre at btondre@earthlink.net
