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From The Times
October 17, 2007

Migrants learn how to raise the alarm in English

Alexandra Frean, Education Editor

Migrant workers with a poor grasp of spoken English will be expected to take a new government-funded language course that will teach them how to report a fire and acquaint them with the vocabulary of the first-aid box and the consumer banking system.

The short courses are intended to overcome problems in communicating accurately about very basic but extremely precise tasks. The new qualifications are shorter and more work-focused than traditional qualifications in English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and are aimed at helping migrant workers to integrate into the workforce and the community as quickly as possible.

One lesson on starting work advises students not to wear jeans if their new job is in an office and suggests that they do a practice run of their journey to work. Health and safety lessons include essential vocabulary such as “disposable rubber gloves”, “first-aid box” and “bandages”.

Bill Rammell, the Further Education Minister, said that there was a strong economic case for ensuring that migrant workers learnt functional English quickly. “The new qualifications are focused on the workplace and will quickly give learners the specific English language skills needed on a daily basis at work,” he said.

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Mr Rammell added that the new ESOL for Work courses, which are accredited by City and Guilds and a number of other awarding bodies, should “encourage employers to contribute towards the cost of developing their employees’ English skills”.

The qualifications will cost students or their employers £330 in fees. The Government will subsidise the remaining £550 in costs per student.

I'm puzzled.The Government has started to charge ESOL learners for classes in English. Fees must be paid in full at the start of the term. Classes at the College where I teach in Leamington Spa are significantly down . I am looking for employment, yet the Government announces ESOL for work courses. When was this discussed?Who came up with the lesson plans? Were ESOL teachers involved with this at all? This shortsighted, piecemeal approach to the teaching of English for migrant workeres and others requires dialogue.
Can Bill Rammell tell me where these classes are run, I'm looking for a job.

Monica Brown, Warwick,

We live in one of the richest countries in the world, thanks to the hard work not only of native British people but the hard work of those who come here from abroad to work for what we consider to be low wages.

Seems like there's too many people ready to complain when immigrants are unable to work, complain when immigrants are unable to speak English, and then carry on complaining when immigrants do want to work and do want to speak English...

Stephen Burgess, London, UK

Will Bill Rammell please explain why I as a UK tax payer, am funding the new short course for migrants. Surely the employer who chooses to hire a migrant should be the one to pay, just as the employer pays for induction training.? Am I missing something?

Mike Saunders, London, London

This is what happens when the government gets in on the act. Concentrating on low-frequency utterances.
That's Authority for you; all they do is run interference. So take the money and run you "washed up on the beach" EFT teachers.

Andrew Milner, Karuizawa, Nagano

'Government-funded' is bureaucrat babble for ' the taxpayer will have to pay for this....

Rick, London, England

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