Oral communication is the most immediate need of non-English and limited-English speakers in the workplace, and often the first skill addressed by ESL workplace programs. The ability to understand and be understood in spoken English drives the most basic workplace activities: greeting coworkers and supervisors, following directions, reporting a problem, and asking for clarification. Oral communication is critical to employees' ability to work safely, access their workplace rights and benefits, and pursue career advancement. In Connecticut, the need to measure the speaking skills of ESL students in the workplace led to the development and implementation of the Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment Systems (CASAS) Workplace Speaking assessment.
Read the full article in the AEIS Newsletter, a newsletter of TESOL's Adult Education interest section.