Conference Draft 1
Conference Draft 1
Conference Draft 1
US DOC US DOL
Programs Programs
US DOA US DHHS
Programs Programs
ESOL Career Pathways Project/ M.C.I.S.
January 22: Share outcomes and experience of class trip to Job Service
Homework: Organize instructional PowerPoint lessons for students so they can begin to create their Occupation
PowerPoints.
March 26: Collegial evaluation of the state project, Skype, and technology
Integration as a whole. Homework: Prepare your site presentations for April conference.
Students work together to figure out what their final product is going to
be and how they will acquire the knowledge they need to complete it.
Project in Great Falls
Performing Interviews
Creating resumes
Creating Puzzles
Studying cases
* Students were already working with another teacher who teaches PEP Talk and uses
MTCIS in her classroom
*
* Students focused on career-specific vocabulary (waiter dialogues, common phone
inquiries/orders, restaurant terms)
* Focused on creating resumes (exploring their strengths, education, etc.) and
cultural differences when interviewing, resigning, etc. (did not use MTCIS)
* Explored online resources for jobs in the area with only one student, who was
actively looking for a job change (was employed)
*
* Met with Migrant Council and Job Service to discuss how they could help students
*
Bobbie
The entire class was introduced to the MCIS Website with translation help for the beginning students. While
visiting the Occupations Clusters page, there was discussion of one of Chinese student’s home country
occupations along with related vocabulary.
The class visited Flathead Job Service with an orientation provided by a former ESOL student who is
employed there. This was a very successful activity as it provided information about services that are
available to all. Students indicated that they didn’t know of its existence even after living in the area for 3
years. One of the Chinese students was surprised and pleased to learn that people over 35 are employable
as in China she would be considered “too old” at the age of 51.
As the project progressed, the students were introduced to “Your Guide”, the Montana 2 Year College
Workforce Development Guide. This provided information new to the students relating to some of the
Postsecondary Education Opportunities available and associated vocabulary.
The students completed various exercises in the National College Transition Network Curriculum
Guide to again address our project questions of “Who Am I?”, Where Am I Going?” and How do I Get
There?”
Although the class wasn’t able to progress through MCIS as quickly as hoped, I felt the project was a
good start. Having enough class time is always a challenge as we meet twice a week for 2 hours each
time.
We have had 3 students hired recently to work at the campus day care center. Their employment
highlights the need for alignment between ESOL students and their employers. Employment
reinforces to the students that their language skills need to continue to improve.
Six Steps to Career Pathway Decision-Making:
• identify their interests and talents through career research, job-shadowing, Community Classrooms,
Career and Technical Education Programs, and other self-examination/exploration opportunities.
• consider the possible careers in each pathway, in relationship to their interests, abilities, and talents.
• collaborate with family members, counselors, and teachers, evaluate and decide which Career
Pathway seems to fit them best.
• complete course work to the best of their ability, including paid or unpaid work experience,
internships, or apprenticeships.
• continually assess their performance and pathway choice along the way.