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


AgendaAgenda• Introduction to Skilled Immigrants: Profiles

and Barriers

• Highlights from Supporting Skilled Immigrants Toolkit

• Best Practices: Ohio ABLE ESL Healthcare Project


QuizQuiz


Skilled Immigrants in the U.S.Skilled Immigrants in the U.S.


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


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


Key Barriers to Success for Key Barriers to Success for Skilled ImmigrantsSkilled Immigrants


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


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


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


Sample Credential EvaluationSample Credential Evaluation


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


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


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


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


Highlights from the ToolkitHighlights from the Toolkit

• Checklist of Do’s and Don’ts

• Key resources

• Model programs

• Best practices in contextualized ESL


What Skilled Immigrants What Skilled Immigrants DO NOT DO NOT NeedNeed


What Skilled Immigrants What Skilled Immigrants DoDo Need Need


Best Practices: ESLBest Practices: ESL• I-BEST


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


•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


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

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


Challenges

• Employer involvement• Computer and typing skills• More resume writing and mock interviews• Higher level English skills• Follow up on education and employment

outcomes


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)


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


http://www.upwardlyglobal.org/

http://www.welcomebackinitative.org/


Don’t forget to download the Toolkit! www.globaltalentbridge.org

Katherine Gebremedhin

Program Manager, WES Global Talent Bridge Initiative

[email protected]

GlobalTalentBridge.org

Donna Albanese

ABLE Program Manager, Ohio Board of Regents

[email protected]

http://www.globaltalentbridge.org/

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.globaltalentbridge.org/

mailto:[email protected]

supporting immigrant professionals: a toolkit for esl practitioners otesol conference november 15,...

Documents

population age

percent of new

united states

chart data range

entire immigrant population

lower right corner of

new americans

olderbachelors degree