Intensive English for Specific Technical Occupations

Overview of Project

The mission of this project is to facilitate statewide development of intensive English programming. The focus of this project is well beyond traditional ESL programming, moving into specific industrial applications and the language required for successful employee integration into the work environment. Such programs will be increasingly important as the Texas workforce demographic continues to evolve.

Developed curriculum includes Intensive English for Automotive and Machining as well as Introductory ESL courses in Machining and Process Operations. The Intensive English for Automotive and Intensive English for Machining courses were designed to be offered as stand alone courses for ESL students or in conjunction with a the appropriate technical courses. It is recommended that ESL students in these courses have a mid to high level of English. These courses may be also be used as supplemental instruction for ESL students or may be offered as corporate training materials. The introductory courses were developed based on the results of the pilot courses and should be used to provide an introduction to the technical fields. These courses may be used with lower level ESL students and can be used to stimulate interest in the technical fields they cover.

Partners
The partners in this endeavor are Texas State Technical College Marshall, North Harris College and Cy-Fair College.

TSTC Marshall is uniquely positioned at the intersection of academic preparation and the industrial workplace, providing a strong framework for supporting such efforts. Each of the college's technical teaching programs is managed with assistance and advice from an active industrial advisory committee. The college currently has contractual relationships with industrial clients that bring employees to Texas from as far away as Chad, Angola, and Russia. These training projects have provided the college with an opportunity to field test the concepts of language instruction geared toward specific industrial needs.

Cy-Fair College has extensive experience in Intensive English training with a remarkably high success rate (over 80%). The English as a Second Language Program at Fair is designed for non-native English speakers who what to improve their language and culture skills. It is intended for working professionals and students preparing for college study, vocational training, or entry into the workforce. An integrated skills approach with listening/speaking, reading/vocabulary development, and grammar/writing components is adopted. Students enroll in either ESL for Academic Purposes [CREDIT] or ESL for Communication and Work [CE]. The Credit track emphasizes preparation for college while CE is designed fro professionals, participants preparing to enter career requiring English proficiency and those seeking general broad-based English skill development.

North Harris College English as a Second Language classes are designed for students who are interested in improving their English skills, including grammar, writing, listening, speaking, reading, vocabulary, and pronunciation. ESL classes meet the needs of academically bound students and professionals who are preparing to enter careers requiring English proficiency. Credit ESL students can earn institutional credit qualifying them for full-time student status, financial aid, and insurance needs. Continuing education ESL students can prepare for professions or acquire general broad-based English skill development.

Current Uses
If your institution has need to provide English language training for employees of specific technical industries, this site can assist you in the following ways:

• Provide samples that can be used as templates to facilitate the design of new programs.
• Provide specific curriculum in the automotive, machining and process operations areas.
• Provide applicable assessment tools for automotive, machining and process operations.

For more information please contact: