Working with LEPs1

Do you employ Limited English Proficient LEP Employees? : 

Do you employ Limited English Proficient LEP Employees? Presented by Wyatt Chambers What Should Your Organization Be Doing?

The Immigration Factor : 

The Immigration Factor

Slide 3: 

Hispanic (the ethnic majority) The Hispanic population (40.57%) White (38.85%) Asian (10.19%) African American (7.30%) How did we get here?

Slide 4: 

Demographic shifts in the labor market Approximately 55 percent of the total population increase between 2000 and 2006 in California was directly attributable to immigrants.

So, with all of these changes, what should your business be focusing on? : 

So, with all of these changes, what should your business be focusing on? Customers Employees

English Solutions : 

English Solutions Multi-lingual & Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Employees: Guidance and Tips

Why Would You Hire LEP Staff? : 

Why Would You Hire LEP Staff? Increases the overall labor pool Staff from other cultures can help your company connect with customers from other cultures Immigrants may supply certain skill sets that are in high demand Highly competitive labor markets may necessitate the hire of LEP staff You may be able to reduce cost of labor

Unproductive and Dangerous Questions : 

Unproductive and Dangerous Questions “Why don’t they just learn English?” “By offering education and resources in other languages, aren’t we just enabling them to put off learning English?” “How are we going to afford this?”

Recognize the Role of Culture : 

Recognize the Role of Culture Individuals from different national origins may have varying beliefs around health and safety It may take time and training to acculturate some employees to American safety standards and practices Some cultures have norms that discourage challenging authority Some cultures favor less direct communication styles

Things to Watch Out For : 

Things to Watch Out For Using the LEP employee with the “best” English for relaying messages Employees with “get-by” knowledge of another language (e.g. “get-by Spanish”) Online translations Your own assumptions Paying for expensive models that employees “take home” to learn English

How can I train my LEP workforce? : 

How can I train my LEP workforce?

Training Modalities for LEP individuals Suggestion #1 : 

Training Modalities for LEP individuals Suggestion #1 Provide written training materials with high pictorial content Easy to distribute and replicate Cost- effective Promotes literacy and higher thinking skills Allows employees to review and use for easy reference

Education Modalities for LEP individuals #2 : 

Education Modalities for LEP individuals #2 Role Play Prepares employees for real- life experience with customers Applying different learning styles, visual, audio, tactile, etc. Studies show that adults learn best when they apply what they have learned. With repetition and requesting employee commitment, you will see automatic results.

Education Modalities for LEP individuals #3 : 

Education Modalities for LEP individuals #3 Multimedia & Technology Allows employees to study at there own leisure. Access to technology= added benefit Using different learning skills (visual, tactile, audio)

Education Modalities for LEP individuals #4 : 

Education Modalities for LEP individuals #4 Hire the experts… Make sure they are engaging, direct, and have a comprehensive strategy Professional ESL trainers can encourage staff members to be proactive with there English other than reactive Experts have proven that ESL training will improve retention, customer service, safety, and communication

Questions? : 

Questions? Wyatt Chambers is an ESL trainer that has worked in several different environments and is recognized by many big named companies. Wyatt Chambers wyatt@englishsolutions.biz Subscribe to our newsletter www.englishsolutions.biz