Industry-Based Bilingual Vocational Training. A Review of Related Literature.

Drawing upon published research, reports, and critical analyses, this paper examines the major issues involved in helping private business and industry face the challenge of effestively training limited-English-proficient (LEP) employees. The literature review is part of a larger project that is developing nine demonstration private industry/education partnership programs in industry-based bilingual vocational training and a handbook to help start other industry-based programs. Material reviewed in the paper is limited to that answering the general question, “What do we need to know to provide the best assistance and to develop a handbook?” The paper examines six major topics, drawn from a preliminary analysis of the existing literature as it reflects the project’s anticipated needs: (1) workplace literacy and its relationship to bilingual vocational training; (2) job-related language skill training needs of LEP employees; (3) cross-cultural communication needs in the workplace; (4) successful workplace training program models for LEP adults; (5) components of successful public/private partnerships; and (6) economic costs and benefits to industry in providing such training. (Includes a 10-page bibliography.) (KC) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document.