As the Texas workforce employment picture changes, Workforce Development programs at Eastfield remain flexible and innovative to serve our business partners effectively. Our curriculums are competency based and approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Eastfield offers workforce language programs such as, English and Spanish, that are based on and developed upon an employer’s perception of the employees’ language needs for their positions in the workplace.

• Courses and Employee Language proficiency Assessments are delivered, at the worksite or on-campus, to suit a company’s preferred schedule and time format.

The workforce language program implements structures, functions, and vocabulary that are drawn from the work-life of the employee and can range from 30 to 48 hours of instruction. While needs vary within each worksite or occupation, there are general areas of curriculum development our program considers with information gathered from our free needs analysis as outlined below.

Sampled Workplace Language Curriculum Topics

1. Workplace Communication Expectations
• Greeting co-workers
• Asking questions
• Making “small talk”
• Reporting problems and progress
• Calling in sick or late
• Requesting time off or permission to leave early
• Responding to interruption and criticism
• Making suggestions
• Accepting and declining requests and invitations
• Asking for and giving clarification and verification
• Apologizing
2. Following Directions and Instructions
• Identifying listening strategies for directions
• Understanding quality control language
• Understanding words of sequencing
• Giving feedback to directions
• Asking for, giving, and following directions
• Giving and responding to warnings
• Understanding and following worksite rules
• Following safety rules
3. Job- Specific Terminology
• Identification of one’s job
• Enumeration of the tasks
• Description of the tasks
• Identification and description of tools, equipment and machinery
• Identification of products and processes
4. Company Organization and Culture
• Management functions
• Union functions
• Personnel policies, procedures, and benefits
• Performance evaluations
• Rewards and recognition
5. Upgrading and Training
   • Understanding career opportunities
   • Understanding the need for training
   • Understanding what a “valued” worker is

Lesson planning will include gathering company text materials used at the worksite (manuals, signs, and job aids) that will be integrated into each session. Integration of materials will also be utilized to incorporate instructional units contained in the book recommended for this course. Audiocassettes will be recommended to follow independent study and practice for communicative proficiency.

Introducing
ELLIS for Business

We are introducing ELLIS’ (English Language Learning and Instruction System) ESL for Business Series at Eastfield. It is a computer base multimedia language program, considered the best in the world.

These courses are for students and workers who can speak English at an intermediate level and would like to enhance their language and annunciation skills for on the job performance.

• Course enrollment requirement: a score of 36 or more on the Lindholm evaluation or a course completion certificate from our campus English for Speakers of Other Languages course Level 3B.

Educational opportunities are offered by the Dallas County Community College District without regard to race, color, age, national origin, religion, sex, disability or sexual orientation or genetic information.