According to the announcement by Immigration Minister Chris Bowen on 16 July, Perth will have access to a potential national pool of 16,000 sponsored visa holders for foreign workers. This is the result of being reclassified as a country town, alongside employment ‘hardship’ areas such as Port Headland and Karratha.
The program means that workers coming to Perth will be able to become permanent residents and businesses applying for the visa places will be given priority in the processing of their applications.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Saturday, June 11, 2011
English as a Second Langauge Problems in the Workforce
Current Situation
Productivity is suffering in many Australian workplaces because employees from non English speaking backgrounds do not have adequate English language skills in their specialised area. In many cases, employees have not formally studied English since high school and they have forgotten the basics of English grammar, speaking and writing. Without personalised analysis and correction, their errors become reinforced and difficult to address.
Common English Mistakes
• Mispronunciation of sounds, words and sentences
• Confusion of verb tenses when speaking and writing
• Inappropriate use of common expressions and phrases
• Inability to understand idioms and colloquial English
• Difficulties with numbers, dates, acronyms and abbreviations
• Translation of inappropriate phrases from the native language into English
Effects in the Workplace
• Clients are confused with poorly written emails
• Reports include numerous language mistakes
• Poor communication by telephone
• Lack of confidence in internal and client meetings
• Reliance on limited phrases for a range of situations
• Inability to give subtle messages when speaking or writing
• Use of ‘out-of-date’ English
• Frustration felt by native English speaking colleagues and clients
• Time loss when native English speaking colleagues act as ‘teachers’
Reasons for Difficulties in Getting Help
• Language schools offer generic courses that don’t suit employee needs
• Language schools prefer to offer large class sizes
• Self-study materials including books, CDs and websites don’t give feedback
• Non-qualified native English speakers can’t correctly analyse language mistakes
• Lack of time outside work to study a lengthy formal course
Productivity is suffering in many Australian workplaces because employees from non English speaking backgrounds do not have adequate English language skills in their specialised area. In many cases, employees have not formally studied English since high school and they have forgotten the basics of English grammar, speaking and writing. Without personalised analysis and correction, their errors become reinforced and difficult to address.
Common English Mistakes
• Mispronunciation of sounds, words and sentences
• Confusion of verb tenses when speaking and writing
• Inappropriate use of common expressions and phrases
• Inability to understand idioms and colloquial English
• Difficulties with numbers, dates, acronyms and abbreviations
• Translation of inappropriate phrases from the native language into English
Effects in the Workplace
• Clients are confused with poorly written emails
• Reports include numerous language mistakes
• Poor communication by telephone
• Lack of confidence in internal and client meetings
• Reliance on limited phrases for a range of situations
• Inability to give subtle messages when speaking or writing
• Use of ‘out-of-date’ English
• Frustration felt by native English speaking colleagues and clients
• Time loss when native English speaking colleagues act as ‘teachers’
Reasons for Difficulties in Getting Help
• Language schools offer generic courses that don’t suit employee needs
• Language schools prefer to offer large class sizes
• Self-study materials including books, CDs and websites don’t give feedback
• Non-qualified native English speakers can’t correctly analyse language mistakes
• Lack of time outside work to study a lengthy formal course
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Professional English Program
Excellent communication skills are critical in the modern workforce. Almost every new job advertisement these days includes the line: Excellent communication skills are essential. Some of the benefits of having strong writing, speaking and reading skills include: improved workplace safety, higher productivity and improved teamwork.
In many cases, however, employees are lacking the basic language skills that are deemed essential. According to the Industry Skills Council 2011 report, ‘No More Excuses’, approximately half of working age Australians suffer from problems related to language, literacy and numeracy (LLN).
The report provides the following reasons for the situation:
• inadequately prepared workforce entrants
• limited access to LLN expertise
• an ageing workforce
• increasing use of technology
• increasing compliance requirements
• demand for higher level skills
Edutec Training and Development provides a solution to this issue. As part of our Professional Language Program, we offer:
1. Needs analysis testing of employees with LLN issues
2. Programs tailored for staff from English and non-English speaking backgrounds
3. Training in professional writing, reading, speaking, listening, numeracy and grammar
4. Targeted training that is effective for the specific needs of each workplace
5. On-site or online training delivery for better outcomes and convenience
6. Regular assessment and management reporting to demonstrate trainee competence and progress
To arrange an appointment with one of our consultants, or for more information about the Professional English Program, please contact: info@edutectraining.com or call 0433 359 990.
In many cases, however, employees are lacking the basic language skills that are deemed essential. According to the Industry Skills Council 2011 report, ‘No More Excuses’, approximately half of working age Australians suffer from problems related to language, literacy and numeracy (LLN).
The report provides the following reasons for the situation:
• inadequately prepared workforce entrants
• limited access to LLN expertise
• an ageing workforce
• increasing use of technology
• increasing compliance requirements
• demand for higher level skills
Edutec Training and Development provides a solution to this issue. As part of our Professional Language Program, we offer:
1. Needs analysis testing of employees with LLN issues
2. Programs tailored for staff from English and non-English speaking backgrounds
3. Training in professional writing, reading, speaking, listening, numeracy and grammar
4. Targeted training that is effective for the specific needs of each workplace
5. On-site or online training delivery for better outcomes and convenience
6. Regular assessment and management reporting to demonstrate trainee competence and progress
To arrange an appointment with one of our consultants, or for more information about the Professional English Program, please contact: info@edutectraining.com or call 0433 359 990.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Learning Difficulties - Dyslexia
According to researchers, approximately 10% of people have some form of dyslexia.
The term dyslexia comes from the Greek word meaning 'difficulty with words and language'. Until the 1970's, researchers believed dyslexia was caused by a visual problem, and that leaning problems were due to the fact that words could not be seen correctly. In recent years, however, researchers have concluded that the issue is caused by difficultly in matching words with sounds, because of the way the brain works in dyslexic people.
A person who is not dyslexic can break down the sounds in a word. For example, the word 'pen' can be easily broken into three sounds: /p/ + /e/ + /n/. For a dyslexic person, it is difficult to break words down based on sounds. This leads to confusion and misunderstanding when reading.
Other problems caused by dyslexia can include not being able to pay attention and poor concentration skills. Others may confuse left and right or have difficulties following the steps of a maths problem.
Dyslexia is further complicated by the fact that no two people have the same problems, because people's brains follow different patterns and may therefore work differently.
As a result, dyslexic people are often thought to be lazy or unintelligent, even though this is usually not the case.
According to researchers, about 85% of people with dyslexia have a parent with dyslexia, which suggests probable genetic reasons behind the disorder.
Educators need to be aware that learners with dyslexia are often highly intelligent, but may have negative feelings towards training based on previous bad experiences in the learning environment.
Furthermore, educators should try to use a variety of teaching styles, using visual and audio methods when disseminating information.
The term dyslexia comes from the Greek word meaning 'difficulty with words and language'. Until the 1970's, researchers believed dyslexia was caused by a visual problem, and that leaning problems were due to the fact that words could not be seen correctly. In recent years, however, researchers have concluded that the issue is caused by difficultly in matching words with sounds, because of the way the brain works in dyslexic people.
A person who is not dyslexic can break down the sounds in a word. For example, the word 'pen' can be easily broken into three sounds: /p/ + /e/ + /n/. For a dyslexic person, it is difficult to break words down based on sounds. This leads to confusion and misunderstanding when reading.
Other problems caused by dyslexia can include not being able to pay attention and poor concentration skills. Others may confuse left and right or have difficulties following the steps of a maths problem.
Dyslexia is further complicated by the fact that no two people have the same problems, because people's brains follow different patterns and may therefore work differently.
As a result, dyslexic people are often thought to be lazy or unintelligent, even though this is usually not the case.
According to researchers, about 85% of people with dyslexia have a parent with dyslexia, which suggests probable genetic reasons behind the disorder.
Educators need to be aware that learners with dyslexia are often highly intelligent, but may have negative feelings towards training based on previous bad experiences in the learning environment.
Furthermore, educators should try to use a variety of teaching styles, using visual and audio methods when disseminating information.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Literacy Issues in Australia
Up to eight million Australian workers don't have the reading, writing or numeracy skills to undertake training for trade or professional jobs.
This is according to the report released today, 'No More Excuses', which is calling for the Council of Australian Governments to develop a national "overarching blueprint for action on language, literacy and numeracy".
Workplaces that employ people with low levels of literacy tend to either:
- Sideline these workers into another area in order to 'mask' the problem.
- Offer assistance for their workforce through training courses.
Edutec Training and Development provides targeted literacy and numeracy training to pinpoint the areas of most concern to a particular industry or job function.
Training includes:
- Information literacy
- Literacy for occupational health and safety
- Literacy for computer based technologies
- Numeracy for specific needs
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
WA labour shortage predicted
From 'The West Australian' Newspaper
West Australians face the renewed prospect of soaring prices and tradesmen shortages, with a string of fresh reports warning yesterday of a looming skills crisis.
With Reserve Bank governor Glenn Stevens predicting the current boom will be the biggest in more than a century, Access Economics used its latest economic update to predict the single largest threat to WA is the Federal bipartisan approach to shutting migrants out of the country.
Businesses have already started reporting trouble finding the workers they need to fill jobs as the economy grows on the back of major works such as the $43 billion Gorgon and $12.3 billion Pluto projects.
The State's unemployment rate is now at 4.5 percent, with a record number of men in full-time work.
Access director Chris Richardson said with both sides of politics wanting to cut immigration it would be WA that would suffer, with even people not employed in the mining sector paying the price.
He said it was high levels of immigration that had helped WA get through the problems associated with the pre-global financial crisis boom, and even then that had not been enough to keep a complete lid on price pressures.
"Our short-sighted and popularity hungry national leaders have adopted a bipartisan approach to handicapping the West by cutting back on what was its best buffer last time - international migration," he said.
"And if there will be fewer people arriving to help fill the yawning skills shortage soon to be apparent in the State, then WA can expect shortages, delays, cost increases and price hikes to be all the worse this time around."
He was backed by Australian Industry Group president Don Matthews who warned last night that immigration cuts would cost homeowners everywhere. "The fact is we need a substantial immigration program if we don't want a lack of capacity to force interest rates and wages higher and skill shortages to intensify," he said.
A report yesterday from the Housing Industry Association found Perth and WA are already in the grip of a shortage of construction workers.
The supply of tradies, from bricklayers to tilers, in WA contracted for the fifth consecutive quarter.
The shortage of workers is now back to September 2008 levels at the start of the global financial crisis.
HIA senior economist Harley Dale said bringing in skilled migrants would be vital in meeting demand in the housing construction sector.
A KPMG report also released yesterday showed it is not just the construction sector running out of staff.
More than a third of WA firms had increased their use of Section 457 visa skilled workers over the past year, with the State recording the biggest increase in the nation.
And 70 percent of WA businesses said they planned to increase employment under the system next year.
It found that WA firms were so dependent on overseas workers that they risked breaking Department of Immigration laws if they employed any more.SHANE WRIGHT ECONOMICS EDITOR, The West Australian October 26, 2010
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Embedding English in training courses
Last week ETD attended the Australasian Oil and Gas Conference at the Perth Convention Centre. This was a much anticipated event and well-attended event, with an average of 3,500 attendees each day.
http://www.aogexpo.com.au/
ETD spoke to a number of training organisations, many of whom were conducting practical skills courses in safe work practices, apprenticeships and courses specific to the Oil and Gas industry.
A recurrent theme was that many of these companies were training individuals and groups from non-English speaking backgrounds. As an experienced trainer of international groups, I know exactly how hard it is to determine the level of English proficiency of each trainee, and that's after they have passed through entry test appraisals. I asked one of the senior trainers how he appraised the level of English competancy in a group. He said it was based on their interaction, how much they smiled, how much they asked questions etc.
The representatives of some of these groups asked how we would go about helping groups of trainees, for example, large groups of Timorese oil platform workers who needed to become competent in training for 'Working at Heights'.
The answer is embedding. This is the model which is currently favoured by universities, who are endevouring to help international students keep up with required English levels. Put simply, embedding is the process of adding optional language components into existing training curriculum. This 'scaffolding' of relevant information therefore helps trainees to understand course content, while at the same time gaining required English language skills and competency in the target training content.
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