when you train bilingual apprentices april 2009 when you train bilingual apprentices april 2009

When you trainWhen you trainbilingual apprenticesbilingual apprentices

April 2009April 2009

Training Consultant Lis Heichendorff, Aarhus/DTraining Consultant Lis Heichendorff, Aarhus/Denmarkenmark

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ContentContent

The apprentice’s background and The apprentice’s background and challengeschallenges

Challenges for the training companyChallenges for the training company The 4 language competenciesThe 4 language competencies Work place languageWork place language How can the training company How can the training company

support the development of the support the development of the apprentice’s language?apprentice’s language?


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The apprentice’s background The apprentice’s background and pre-conditions for learningand pre-conditions for learning Possibly a short school education Possibly a short school education

from the home countryfrom the home country Possibly a limited vocabulary / variety Possibly a limited vocabulary / variety

in language in language Possibly difficulties in reading / writingPossibly difficulties in reading / writing Possibly from a country with a very Possibly from a country with a very

different culturedifferent culture Possibly none or very limited learning Possibly none or very limited learning

strategiesstrategies


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Challenges for the apprenticeChallenges for the apprentice

Believes herself/himself, that her/his language level is Believes herself/himself, that her/his language level is sufficient.sufficient.

Starts an education in spite of that the education-Starts an education in spite of that the education-preparing initiatives have caused difficulties.preparing initiatives have caused difficulties.

The apprentice does not understand the expectations The apprentice does not understand the expectations from the training company, in spite having been guided from the training company, in spite having been guided during the practice-periods and informed by the school during the practice-periods and informed by the school before practice.before practice.

Difficulties in adapting to the social life of the training Difficulties in adapting to the social life of the training company. company.

Limited or no possiblities for doing homework. Limited or no possiblities for doing homework. Limited knowledge about the society and culture in Limited knowledge about the society and culture in

school or workplace. school or workplace. Problems in private life that shadow for the education Problems in private life that shadow for the education

and make regular participation and engagement and make regular participation and engagement impossible.impossible.

The trainer is not able The trainer is not able also also to support the apprentice in to support the apprentice in his/her language development.his/her language development.


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1.1. Moving from an unclear ”The apprentice does not Moving from an unclear ”The apprentice does not speak well enough” towards pointing out, how to speak well enough” towards pointing out, how to improve the apprentice’s language competencies. improve the apprentice’s language competencies.

2.2. Making clear, what can be defined as a sufficient Making clear, what can be defined as a sufficient language regarding the needs in work:language regarding the needs in work:

Clarification of which part of the language has to be Clarification of which part of the language has to be improved, in which way and how much time is available.improved, in which way and how much time is available.

3.3. Separating language competencies from professional Separating language competencies from professional and personal competencies, if an apprentice has and personal competencies, if an apprentice has difficulties in reaching certain learning objectives in difficulties in reaching certain learning objectives in the practice periods.the practice periods.

4.4. Supporting the apprentice in becoming a part of the Supporting the apprentice in becoming a part of the social life at the workplace.social life at the workplace.

Challenges for the training Challenges for the training companycompany

The 4 language competenciesThe 4 language competenciesSPEAKINGSPEAKING LISTENING AND LISTENING AND

UNDERSTANDINGUNDERSTANDINGWRITINGWRITING READINGREADING

Communication Communication with colleagues, with colleagues, citizens, customers, citizens, customers, affiliates, etc. affiliates, etc. Telephone Telephone conversations, small-conversations, small-talk, messages, talk, messages, conversations during conversations during breaks, reporting.breaks, reporting. Presentations at Presentations at school and during school and during practice. practice. Expression of Expression of opinions. opinions. Getting statements Getting statements through in spite of through in spite of language faults. language faults.

Messages, Messages, technical terms, technical terms, information, information, instructions. instructions. Conversations Conversations during the breaks, during the breaks, small-talk.small-talk. Telephone Telephone conversations.conversations. Lessons at school. Lessons at school. Communication Communication with customers, with customers, clients, colleagues, clients, colleagues, etc.etc.

Filling in schedules Filling in schedules and blankets.and blankets. Messages and Messages and notes. notes. Tasks at school.Tasks at school. Portfolio and log Portfolio and log book.book.

Schedules and Schedules and forms. forms. Messages and Messages and notes. notes. Information search. Information search. Directions for use. Directions for use. Memos of Memos of meetings. meetings. Learning Learning objectives. objectives. Coordinating notes, Coordinating notes, interdisciplinary interdisciplinary memos.memos. Indexes.Indexes. Professional Professional literature.literature. Newspapers.Newspapers.


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Language competencies Language competencies versus personal competenciesversus personal competencies

The apprentice is doing fine The apprentice is doing fine in in spite of spite of insufficient language insufficient language competencies. competencies.

The apprentice is doing less fine The apprentice is doing less fine and and insufficient language insufficient language competencies.competencies.


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Work place languageWork place language

From a ’learning arena’ to a ’practice From a ’learning arena’ to a ’practice arena’.arena’.

Implementation of the language in a Implementation of the language in a meaningful context and in interaction meaningful context and in interaction with others.with others.

There is a There is a consequence consequence for, what the for, what the apprentice is saying!apprentice is saying!


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Development of a professional Development of a professional vocabularyvocabulary

Create themes and word lists. Create themes and word lists. Technical terms. Technical terms. Correct time expressions. Correct time expressions. Abbreviations.Abbreviations.


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Technical terms, synonyms Technical terms, synonyms and abbreviationsand abbreviations

The apprentice’s language has The apprentice’s language has often to be lifted often to be lifted (examples from health sector):(examples from health sector):

From ”pills” = to ”tablet”From ”pills” = to ”tablet” From ”pee” = to ”urine”From ”pee” = to ”urine” From ”use” = to ”application”From ”use” = to ”application” Explain abbreviations and make Explain abbreviations and make

a list about abbreviations within a list about abbreviations within your professional fieldyour professional field


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Communication trainingCommunication training

Train the apprentice inTrain the apprentice in Communication in tasks Communication in tasks

with customers, clients, with customers, clients, colleagues etc.colleagues etc.

Pronunciation, speaking Pronunciation, speaking speed, sound volume. speed, sound volume.

The apprentice’s ability to The apprentice’s ability to understand.understand.

Body language and eye Body language and eye contact.contact.

Let the apprentice Let the apprentice observe varying observe varying communication situations communication situations between the trainer and between the trainer and customers/colleagues/clicustomers/colleagues/clients etc.ents etc.

Train the apprentice in Train the apprentice in writing logbook with focus writing logbook with focus onon

Work tasksWork tasks Technical termsTechnical terms Time expressionsTime expressions Interaction between Interaction between

theory and practicetheory and practice VocabularyVocabulary Learning objectives for Learning objectives for

the training period in the the training period in the companycompany

””You cannot think yourself to a good spoken language – try!You cannot think yourself to a good spoken language – try!


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How can the company support the How can the company support the development of the apprentice’s development of the apprentice’s language ? language ? 1.1. Set focus on the Set focus on the

apprentice’s language apprentice’s language right from the beginning. right from the beginning.

2.2. Trainers and colleagues Trainers and colleagues should support the should support the apprentice in daily work apprentice in daily work life: Correct obvious life: Correct obvious mistakes, include the mistakes, include the apprentice into the apprentice into the conversations during the conversations during the breaks, explain breaks, explain abbreviations, etc.abbreviations, etc.

3.3. Support and motivate the Support and motivate the apprentice to also apprentice to also spending energy on the spending energy on the language issues. language issues.

4.4. The trainer can delegate The trainer can delegate tasks, to be delivered as tasks, to be delivered as a written version and to a written version and to be presented orally. be presented orally.

5.5. If possible, take contact If possible, take contact to your VET school and to your VET school and ask for a language ask for a language observation in the observation in the company. company.

6.6. Exchange experience Exchange experience with the VET school’s with the VET school’s language teacher.language teacher.

7.7. In some countries (such In some countries (such as Denmark), it is as Denmark), it is possible to require possible to require language training during language training during training periods in the training periods in the companies.companies.

when you train bilingual apprentices april 2009 when you train bilingual apprentices april 2009

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