I've been teaching on a JCP programme for the last three years and resent the claim that people on such courses 'make no progress'. In an ideal world, every learner would have access to a year long programme in a well resourced and well staffed college but the world of ESOL is far from an ideal one.
 
I am certain many of my students over the past three years have indeed made progress, and many have used the JCP programme as a springboard to go on and attend a course at a 'proper' college. There have undoubtedly been many difficulties with the programme (such as roll on/roll off enrollment and the JCP referring palpably unsuitable learners) but the professionalism and dedication of myself and my colleagues has ensured that the experience has been far from a wasted one for the majority of our learners.
 
Matt Wilson      
 
Date: Mon, 14 Mar 2011 16:27:02 +0000
From: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: ESOL as a barrier/enabler to employment
To: [log in to unmask]

I would confirm that students sent to JCP courses make no progress. I have heard they just use the entry 2 skills for life materials straight. I have had people who are just learning to read and write for the first time taken out to go to these courses in town, and then they come back a year later no further forward having lost valuable time.
 
Ann
 
Ann Macdonald
Newcastle ESOL Service
(0191) 2986960
[log in to unmask]

From: ESOL-Research discussion forum and message board on behalf of Jo Luff
Sent: Fri 11/03/2011 18:56
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: ESOL as a barrier/enabler to employment

At a recent meeting I was astonished to learn that DWP/JCP courses for ESOL students are not subject to OFSTED or any other external inspection...James Lee was at that same meeting....Can someone please confirm this. 

Just about every report written on ESOL emphasises the importance of language learning to support employability. It is a self evident fact that those who do not speak the language of the host country will be disadvantaged when looking for work.......hence many well qualified refugees are working in menial jobs.

Attending ESOL courses is actively enhancing job opportunities.....but only if those courses are properly planned ,taught by qualified and competent staff and subject to some sort of quality assurance process.

Regrettably in my experience some ESOL students who have been pulled off ESOL courses to attend JCP courses have failed to make any progress and have in fact regressed.

 Jan Luff ESOL Consultant/Assessor




Date: Fri, 11 Mar 2011 16:56:59 +0000
From: [log in to unmask]
Subject: ESOL as a barrier/enabler to employment
To: [log in to unmask]

I would appreciate any references colleagues could provide to research/evidence that supports the link between English language ability and employability.

 

I’m a member of DWP’s Ethnic Minority Employment Advisory Group (EMAG) and have been raising the issue of ESOL. There’s now an opportunity to submit evidence to DWP/EMAG that supports the view that a person’s level of ESOL influences:

 

  • their chances of being employed/unemployed
  • the type/level of job a person can access (e.g. linking lower levels of English to underemployment where the individual has higher level vocational skills and/or experience)
  • their progression in work
  • other relevant aspects of employability

 

It seems an obvious point to make (i.e. that it does affect job outcomes). DWP’s own research into refugee employment and training (Alice Bloch, 2002) highlights the link and I have other examples. In the past, DWP/JCP has referred ‘customers’ needing ESOL support onto the LSC/SFA funded Employability Skills Programme. This was short term and varied in quality and we have raised concerns about this.

 

However, given the proposed changes to BIS funding of ESOL, it places a keener emphasis on DWP/JCP provision. Please let me know of research (particularly within the past 3-4 years) that supports the link, either UK or international.

 

Many thanks

 

James

 

 

James Lee

Employment and Training Policy Adviser 
Refugee Council
240-250 Ferndale Road
London SW9 8BB
Direct line: 020 7346 1165
F 020 7737 3306

Charity no: 1014576

 

www.rit.refugeecouncil.org.uk

 

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*********************************** ESOL-Research is a forum for researchers and practitioners with an interest in research into teaching and learning ESOL. ESOL-Research is managed by James Simpson at the Centre for Language Education Research, School of Education, University of Leeds. To join or leave ESOL-Research, visit http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/ESOL-RESEARCH.html A quick guide to using Jiscmail lists can be found at: http://jiscmail.ac.uk/help/using/quickuser.htm To contact the list owner, send an email to [log in to unmask] *********************************** ESOL-Research is a forum for researchers and practitioners with an interest in research into teaching and learning ESOL. ESOL-Research is managed by James Simpson at the Centre for Language Education Research, School of Education, University of Leeds. To join or leave ESOL-Research, visit http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/ESOL-RESEARCH.html A quick guide to using Jiscmail lists can be found at: http://jiscmail.ac.uk/help/using/quickuser.htm To contact the list owner, send an email to [log in to unmask]