One in four Massachusetts residents speak a language other than English at home, yet accessing state services may prove challenging.
International students who are learning English in Massachusetts while going to the University of Massachusetts (UMass) or UMass Amherst have unique access to education that can help them improve their language skills and enhance their career prospects.
The area around Tufts is a multicultural melting pot with a significant foreign-born population that speaks over 40 different languages. This diversity creates a unique opportunity to celebrate the diversity of our communities and ensure that residents can communicate with each other in their languages.
English Language Programs
English Language Programs in Massachusetts provide immersive opportunities for international students and professionals looking to enhance their proficiency. By studying at one of America's universities, these courses enable participants to meet people from many diverse cultures while deepening their understanding of American history and culture.
Due to an influx of international students, more attention has been paid to ELLs' language learning needs and improving teaching practices as a result. Teachers now recognize they require additional training and support to teach these ELLs effectively - including how best to assess progress and identify curriculums that fit different proficiency levels.
One of the key goals of any language learning program is to help students develop their reading and writing abilities. Literacy is a foundational skill influenced by many factors such as socioeconomic status and cultural background; however, ultimately what determines whether a student becomes proficient is their teacher's teaching effectiveness.
Literacy issues can cause significant schooling difficulties, from falling behind in class to social isolation and low self-esteem, which in turn impedes their participation in society and employment opportunities. If proper support isn't given early on, failure can become a cycle that has lifelong ramifications.
Massasoit offers more than intensive English as a Second Language classes; students from around the globe have many educational options at their disposal at Massasoit such as Global Pathways and Academic English options, which offer students an engaging way of discovering America while honing their language skills.
Boston's proximity to esteemed universities has spurred its variety of English language courses, which cater to international individuals seeking to improve their English proficiency or take exams such as Next Steps class for transition into job training, higher education or professional re-certification in America.
Support for International Students
Greater Boston is home to over one quarter of people who speak a language other than English at home, according to state data, yet many state offices and services struggle to reach this population - an issue made particularly apparent during the coronavirus pandemic.
That includes public-facing agencies that assist people with limited English proficiency, such as health centers and child care referral and resource organizations. During the pandemic, these organizations were overwhelmed with calls from families seeking help - without translators or staff to accommodate their requests - leading to an overwhelming backlog of people waiting to receive services and frustrated families waiting their turn for assistance.
Many community organizations are working hard to address this problem. One such group, The Welcome Project in Somerville, which supports newcomers, hosts Intercambio as a monthly conversation series for newcomers. Furthermore, they've launched an online portal connecting international students with resources and information in their local areas.
At BU, the Global Student Success program pairs incoming undergraduate international students with peer mentors who assist them with navigating the academic, social, and cultural aspects of campus life in America. Mentors are chosen based on shared interests, academic goals, and communication needs - providing support that facilitates success at BU for everyone involved.
This program is part of an effort to support international students, who account for more than 40% of enrollment at UMass Lowell. Along with mentoring services, the Global Student Success team hosts Talk About, an online discussion series that began this fall to bring international students and faculty together for discussions regarding topics like LfA best practices during COVID-19 as well as networking and employment options both inside and outside Massachusetts.
EEC has made significant efforts over time to promote language access by hiring employees with bilingual abilities. At present, 13 of its 79 licensed agents speak both Spanish and English fluently - one in the Lawrence regional office and two at the Boston office respectively. Furthermore, an administrative assistant within its policy department speaks both languages while one of its policy analysts in Boston can switch between French/English bilingualism.
Community-Based Language Programs
Boston area communities boast numerous community-based language programs that equip their students with the skills needed for academic and social success, from pre-school age children, middle and high school students, adults with special needs as well as those without. Such services may provide support services such as individualized learning strategies consultation, assistive technology consultation, or instruction on reading and writing strategies.
The Mayor's Office for Immigrant Advancement (MOIA) is dedicated to strengthening culturally and linguistically diverse communities throughout Boston's city life, particularly newcomers' ability to fully participate in its economy, civic affairs, and social affairs by providing access to quality English language education programs.
One way in which this goal can be realized is through our partnership with Harvard's Language Center (LC). The LC offers free English language instruction and academic support services for Boston area residents from kindergarteners through graduate students. Their monthly thematic units meet Early Childhood, Elementary, and Middle School curriculum standards as well as national educational standards in literacy and mathematics; students gain exposure to new vocabulary/content while being taught reading/communication skills, academic support strategies, and study habits through small group tutorials led by language strategy trained content teachers as well as speech/language pathologists.
As well as working directly with its enrolled students, the Language Centre actively communicates with its partner community to share resources and support. For example, regular e-mails to ESOL directors include topics such as training events (both local and national), changes to policy that impact instruction at the Language Centre as well as links to general instructional technology resources.
Massachusetts requires any program receiving funding from the Department of Education to report into SMARTT, an online data repository containing information on different ESOL programs - demographics, student assessments, and measures of learner progress for example - reporting into this online repository allows comparison between progress made in DOE-funded classes versus unaffiliated ones.
Workplace Language Programs
Workplace language programs provide personalized instruction directly at their place of employment, allowing employees to quickly integrate their newfound skills into daily tasks at work and increase productivity immediately. Employers also benefit from these programs by decreasing turnover and increasing productivity. Such instruction may be offered through government agencies, community-based organizations, or private companies.
Programs are created to meet a range of needs, from basic literacy to the English proficiency expected of high school graduates. Grant funding requires providers to develop a plan detailing how they will reach underserved populations with limited resources - including strategies that engage those unable to read promotional material or attend class in person.
Massachusetts businesses depend heavily on multilingual employees to operate efficiently. Employees must be able to communicate effectively with one another and clients alike, as well as understand various workplace rules and regulations. OSHA employs many multilingual staffers who speak different languages; their goal is to ensure workers understand workplace laws related to worker safety, child labor, minimum wage, and overtime pay - such as OSHA's multilingual team.
Companies offering language training at their workplace are an effective way to foster an inviting and productive work environment while meeting employment laws in Massachusetts. Furthermore, financial assistance is available from the Workplace Training Fund; reimbursement ranges from 50%-100% of the cost of language instruction is reimbursed through this fund.
Some programs go beyond traditional language instruction to teach critical workplace skills such as communication and collaboration, using techniques such as gamification to engage employees in their learning experience while maintaining understanding and retention of the information presented. Some also offer cultural awareness training focused on topics like unconscious bias or Diversity and Inclusion (DEI). DEI-focused training has become increasingly relevant within businesses that wish to create more diverse workplaces such as Massachusetts companies looking for inclusive employees.
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