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Work smarter not faster: an investigation into English as a second language training for garment workers in a union setting Trebble, Maggi
Abstract
This study investigates an English as a second language training program for garment workers initiated by a union, for its members and non-union workers. It is a case study based on one particular English language training in the workplace program, provided as a partnership between a union and the labour studies program of a community college. The research objective of the study was to identify and analyze significant factors related to: (1) the union's perceived need to establish English in the workplace (EWP) classes and the impact of such a program on the union, (2) the perceived need and impact of the classes on the participants, both union and non-union workers and, (3) as a secondary consideration, the impact of the program on the company, the teachers and the college. The issues were examined through an investigation of the perceptions of the union, the participants, the company, the teachers and the college. The study used a qualitative research design and ethnographic and participatory research methods were employed from an insider perspective, to facilitate the gathering of data. Particular attention was paid to the role of the union in providing English as a second language (ESL) classes to garment workers, as this was a unique factor in the delivery of the program. The implications of the study for practice include; recognition of barriers to learning and using English, a knowledge of the culture of the work place and the setting where the classes occur, as well as a knowledge of the other stakeholders involved in the program. The implications for pedagogy include issues related to; the development of appropriate content, teacher education, and the role of the teachers and the college in providing such a program. This study illuminates many critical aspects in the perceptions of union officials, garment workers, the teachers and the company, regarding the need and impact of an English in the workplace training program.
Item Metadata
Title |
Work smarter not faster: an investigation into English as a second language training for garment workers in a union setting
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Creator | |
Publisher |
University of British Columbia
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Date Issued |
1998
|
Description |
This study investigates an English as a second language training program for garment
workers initiated by a union, for its members and non-union workers. It is a case study based
on one particular English language training in the workplace program, provided as a
partnership between a union and the labour studies program of a community college.
The research objective of the study was to identify and analyze significant factors
related to: (1) the union's perceived need to establish English in the workplace (EWP) classes
and the impact of such a program on the union, (2) the perceived need and impact of the
classes on the participants, both union and non-union workers and, (3) as a secondary
consideration, the impact of the program on the company, the teachers and the college.
The issues were examined through an investigation of the perceptions of the union,
the participants, the company, the teachers and the college. The study used a qualitative
research design and ethnographic and participatory research methods were employed from an
insider perspective, to facilitate the gathering of data. Particular attention was paid to the role
of the union in providing English as a second language (ESL) classes to garment workers, as
this was a unique factor in the delivery of the program.
The implications of the study for practice include; recognition of barriers to learning
and using English, a knowledge of the culture of the work place and the setting where the
classes occur, as well as a knowledge of the other stakeholders involved in the program. The
implications for pedagogy include issues related to; the development of appropriate content,
teacher education, and the role of the teachers and the college in providing such a program.
This study illuminates many critical aspects in the perceptions of union officials, garment
workers, the teachers and the company, regarding the need and impact of an English in the
workplace training program.
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Extent |
7758650 bytes
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Genre | |
Type | |
File Format |
application/pdf
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Language |
eng
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Date Available |
2009-05-26
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Provider |
Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library
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Rights |
For non-commercial purposes only, such as research, private study and education. Additional conditions apply, see Terms of Use https://open.library.ubc.ca/terms_of_use.
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DOI |
10.14288/1.0078185
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URI | |
Degree | |
Program | |
Affiliation | |
Degree Grantor |
University of British Columbia
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Graduation Date |
1998-11
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Campus | |
Scholarly Level |
Graduate
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Aggregated Source Repository |
DSpace
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Item Media
Item Citations and Data
Rights
For non-commercial purposes only, such as research, private study and education. Additional conditions apply, see Terms of Use https://open.library.ubc.ca/terms_of_use.