Supporting Immigrant Professionals: A Toolkit for ESL Practitioners OTESOL Conference November 15,...
-
Upload
brittney-mcdonald -
Category
Documents
-
view
219 -
download
0
Transcript of Supporting Immigrant Professionals: A Toolkit for ESL Practitioners OTESOL Conference November 15,...
Supporting Immigrant Professionals: A Toolkit for ESL Practitioners
OTESOL ConferenceNovember 15, 2013
Katherine Gebremedhin, WES Global Talent Bridge
Donna Albanese, Ohio Board of Regents
© 2013 World Education Services, Inc. All rights reserved.
WES Global Talent BridgeWES Global Talent Bridge• World Education Services (WES) - non-profit international credential
evaluation service assisting 50K+ individuals annually. Founded in 1974.
• Helping skilled immigrants overcome the barriers that keep them from fully utilizing their talents and education in the United States.
– For Immigrants and Refugees
• Reliable guidance, resources – www.globaltalentbridge.org
• Pathways to Success seminars
– For Service Providers, Institutions, Agencies
• Online resources: Resource portal, Newsletter, Articles, etc.
• Professional Development: Training, Technical Assistance
• Programmatic partnerships: Seminars, Events, Publications,
• Advocate for improved policies and practices
© 2013 World Education Services, Inc. All rights reserved.
AgendaAgenda• Introduction to Skilled Immigrants: Profiles
and Barriers
• Highlights from Supporting Skilled Immigrants Toolkit
• Best Practices: Ohio ABLE ESL Healthcare Project
© 2013 World Education Services, Inc. All rights reserved.
Skilled Immigrants in the U.S.Skilled Immigrants in the U.S.
© 2013 World Education Services, Inc. All rights reserved.
Skilled immigrants constitute almost one-third of the entire immigrant population – compared to 28 percent in 2000 - Those with less than a high school diploma constituted 26.4 percent of the immigrant labor force in 2008.
Ohio Educational AttainmentOhio Educational Attainment
© 2013 World Education Services, Inc. All rights reserved.
40%
60%
Foreign-born age 25 and older
Bachelor'sdegree oraboveLess thanBachelor'sdegree
23%
77%
Native-born age 25 and older
Bachelor'sdegree oraboveLess thanBachelor'sdegree
Source: New Americans in the Buckeye State, Immigration Policy Center, 2010
Ohio’s ImmigrantsOhio’s Immigrants• The number of immigrants in Ohio with a college degree increased by
33.2% between 2000 and 2009
• Ohio’s 20,725 foreign students contributed $506.7 million to the state’s economy in tuition, fees, and living expenses for the 2008-2009 academic year
• Franklin County is home to roughly a quarter of Ohio’s foreign-born population and they contribute to the state’s political and economic landscape.
• Columbus ranked 2nd in percent of new foreign-born residents (those who came to the United States since 2000) compared to 16 major metropolitan areas of comparable size
Source: New Americans in the Buckeye State, Immigration Policy Center, 2010
© 2013 World Education Services, Inc. All rights reserved.
Key Barriers to Success for Key Barriers to Success for Skilled ImmigrantsSkilled Immigrants
© 2013 World Education Services, Inc. All rights reserved.
Barrier #1: Credential RecognitionBarrier #1: Credential RecognitionForeign education does have value, and can be utilized,
in the U.S. for professional and academic Purposes!
• Credential evaluation enables educated immigrants to gain
recognition of their credentials and access to opportunities
• Required for professional re-certification, licensing
• Facilitates admission, transfer of credit, advanced standing
into academic programs
• Demonstrates qualifications to employers
© 2013 World Education Services, Inc. All rights reserved.
Barrier #1: Credential RecognitionBarrier #1: Credential Recognition
Country X
• Immigrants send their credentials to one designated agency for evaluation that is accepted for all purposes throughout Country X
Result: Immigrants follow the single standard
United States
• Immigrants must research the credential evaluation requirements for each institution receiving their credentials
Result: Immigrants may need multiple credential evaluations for multiple purposes
© 2013 World Education Services, Inc. All rights reserved.
A Decentralized System
Barrier #1: Credential RecognitionBarrier #1: Credential Recognition
• Tips for immigrant students – Always check with the institution, employer or board about the
evaluation service(s) they recommend or will accept– Plan ahead: credential evaluation can take time, many services
require students to have documents sent from their home country– Choose a reliable service
• Beware of scams• The National Association of Credential Evaluations Services
(NACES) provides a list of reputable services – Move forward with education
• High school: no need for GED• Some college: eligible for transfer credit • Bachelor’s degree: eligible for graduate study
© 2013 World Education Services, Inc. All rights reserved.
Sample Credential EvaluationSample Credential Evaluation
© 2013 World Education Services, Inc. All rights reserved.
Barrier #2: U.S. Job SearchBarrier #2: U.S. Job Search• Helping immigrants find professional opportunities
requires substantial investment and special expertise
• Individuals generally lack • Understanding of, Experience in, and Skills Required
for professional level job search• Institutionally
• Workforce programs geared to fast, inexpensive placement into “survival” jobs, regardless of qualifications, experience
• Licensing requirements costly, complex, lengthy
© 2013 World Education Services, Inc. All rights reserved.
Barrier #3: English ProficiencyBarrier #3: English Proficiency
• Profile and Demand– One in four immigrants in the US labor force is limited
English proficient (source: MPI)
– 20-30% of students in Adult ESL classes have foreign university education (in metro areas like NY, Boston)
• Programmatic and Structural Challenges– ESL as “entry” to Adult Ed / GED - Good Intentions – Bad
Advice – Lack of Advanced, Contextualized Programs– Funding confusion and constraints
© 2013 World Education Services, Inc. All rights reserved.
Supporting Skilled Immigrants Supporting Skilled Immigrants ToolkitToolkit
• Skilled Immigrants - Profiles and Barriers to Integration
• Critical Incidents and Exercises
• Adult ESL Classroom Strategies and Lesson Ideas
• Program Models and Best Practices
• Advocating for Skilled Immigrants
• Program and Resource Guide
www.globaltalentbridge.org/toolkit
© 2013 World Education Services, Inc. All rights reserved.
Why Develop ESL Practitioners Toolkit?Why Develop ESL Practitioners Toolkit?
• English proficiency is primary barrier for many• ESL practitioners are trusted advisers• ESL practitioners lack information and resources
to assist skilled immigrants• Students who “top out” are often misdirected
– e.g. student with degree told to get GED • Promote models that work• Promote systemic changes
© 2013 World Education Services, Inc. All rights reserved.
Highlights from the ToolkitHighlights from the Toolkit
• Checklist of Do’s and Don’ts
• Key resources
• Model programs
• Best practices in contextualized ESL
© 2013 World Education Services, Inc. All rights reserved.
What Skilled Immigrants What Skilled Immigrants DO NOT DO NOT NeedNeed
© 2013 World Education Services, Inc. All rights reserved.
What Skilled Immigrants What Skilled Immigrants DoDo Need Need
© 2013 World Education Services, Inc. All rights reserved.
Best Practices: ESLBest Practices: ESL• I-BEST
© 2013 World Education Services, Inc. All rights reserved.
Best Practices: ESLBest Practices: ESL
• Health Train CurriculumExploring Career Goals in Health CareCommunicating with Patients and FamiliesCommunicating with other Health ProfessionalsExploring Critical Issues in Health CareIntercultural Communication in Health Care
© 2012 World Education Services, Inc. All rights reserved.
•15-23 students•160 hours (8 hrs/week x 20 weeks)•Approx. 1/3 complete credential evaluation•85% complete the course•73% complete/advance an ESOL level
© 2012 World Education Services, Inc. All rights reserved.
FY11 FY12 FY13 FY14
Columbus City ColumbusPolaris Career Center (Cleveland)
ColumbusPolarisProject LEARN (Akron)
ColumbusPolarisProject LEARN
Ohio’s Project
Licensing Charts
NursePharmacistPhysicianMedical Lab ScientistMedical Lab TechnicianOccupational Therapy AsstPhysical Therapy Asst
https://www.ohiohighered.org/able
Best Practices
• Medical Terminology course• Basic Life Support Certification• Required ESOL classes• Guest speakers from colleges, hospitals• Resumes/cover letters/interview workshops• Career Counselor
© 2012 World Education Services, Inc. All rights reserved.
Challenges
• Employer involvement• Computer and typing skills• More resume writing and mock interviews• Higher level English skills• Follow up on education and employment
outcomes
© 2012 World Education Services, Inc. All rights reserved.
Key ResourcesKey ResourcesYou can’t know it all, but you should know where to …
Find reliable information online• GlobalTalentBridge.org • ImprintProject.org • WelcomingCenter.org (publications)• CareersforNewAmericans.org (licensing guides)
Refer your students locally• Community colleges
– Community College Consortium for Immigrant Education (CCCIE) at CCCIE.org
• Public libraries, CBOs • Specialized services/model programs for skilled immigrants (next slide)
© 2013 World Education Services, Inc. All rights reserved.
Model ProgramsModel Programs
• Upwardly Global- www.upwardlyglobal.org • The Welcome Back Initiative
www.welcomebackinitative.org
• Promising developments– NYC EDC Immigrant Bridge Program– OVAE focus on skilled immigrant
© 2013 World Education Services, Inc. All rights reserved.
© 2013 World Education Services, Inc. All rights reserved.
Don’t forget to download the Toolkit! www.globaltalentbridge.org
Katherine Gebremedhin
Program Manager, WES Global Talent Bridge Initiative
GlobalTalentBridge.org
Donna Albanese
ABLE Program Manager, Ohio Board of Regents