Above: Students working in EnGen based on individualized lesson plans.
This spring, the EnGen Learning Lab program was offered once again at the Workforce Center of Excellence in Brattleboro training space on Flat Street in Brattleboro. The classes, offered twice a week, ran from February 24 to May 15. EnGen is a program that allows English Language Learners to do online trainings focused on specific vocational areas, allowing them to improve their English using vocabulary and concepts specific to career pathways. The program was done in a hybrid style which allowed students time to come to a physical location to help and work in a quiet space, or to work at home on their own time, depending on what worked best for them.
The ten participants begin by crafting a personalized learning plan, with support from Vermont Adult Learning teachers, BDCC Career Coaches, and technical support from BDCC staff. The majority of students successfully completed (and in many case exceeded) the program requirements and learning goals. The students completed a total of 26 units in various career-focused English classes were completed with over 1,297 hours logged in EnGen. Students left the class feeling they had improved their language skills and had a little more confidence going into their next steps. The participants are pursuing careers in healthcare, dentistry, CDL, construction and many more. EnGen allows students to tailor their learning to their own interest, which accelerates their entry into desired jobs and training and has been shown to improve motivation for general English language learning and acquisition.
About the Workforce Center of Excellence
The Workforce Center of Excellence (WFCoE) is a workforce and career training and education initiative of the Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation that helps people take the next step in their career pathway. It supports both youth and adults, working Vermonters and those entering the workforce with one-to-one assistance, supportive services and career readiness training. The WFCoE leverages BDCC’s relationships with employers and workforce development partners, supporting both sides of the labor exchange to connect people with opportunity, and employers with the talent they need. The WFCoE is funded in part by a Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities (WORC) grant from the Northern Borders Regional Commission and US Department of Labor’s Employment & Training Administration (ETA).
