Everything Under The Sun: Portable English Lessons For Migrant Workers

Friday, February 26, 2016

Portable English Lessons For Migrant Workers

EMDC provides various training programs for workers in the area.

I don't think many people realize that the US hosts migrant workers, who cross the border every year to help farmers raise and harvest their crops. Generally, these individuals enter the country as guest workers with temporary worker visas, allowing them to stay here for a specific time period during the growing season.

Since many come from south of the US border, they may speak Spanish with some degree of fluency, without much ability to communicate in English. Some have had very little schooling in their own countries, so may have very little ability to read or write.

That's where workforce development experts provide additional help. Wendy Lord is a Career Advisor for the Northern Maine region, part of the EASTERN MAINE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (EMDC). This private nonprofit organization is located in Bangor and provides services for businesses, communities, and members of the workforce.

Within this organization is THE NATIONAL FARMWORKERS JOB PROGRAM, which is funded by the Employment and Training Program of the US Department Of Labor. It works with migrant and seasonal farmworkers to provide them and their dependents with training and development. This training includes GED/basic skills training, on-the-job training, training provided by trade schools, and access to community colleges.

A few years ago, Ms. Lord began providing English language instruction with a Survival English Lessons program, which utilizes free content provided by FLUENZ, an online platform, which seeks to develop basic English language skills for refugees and immigrants, who earn low incomes. It allows better communication between workers, who had never learned English, with their English-speaking employers. It is done in an easy-to-understand format and content can be downloaded and burned to a CD, which can be used on any computer.

Farmworkers make it possible for us to enjoy a veggie platter.

Since Wendy believed that "language is a human right", it made sense to provide content that was portable, since there is a tendency for migrant workers and their families to move frequently. They and their families have access to the content wherever they may go, since they carry the program with them. She would like eventually to provide even more content via CD-burned courses. Many individuals who cross our borders are interested in educational materials for themselves and their families, so they will find this type of content especially valuable.