English for Asian immigrant workers

Abstract

There may be varying views about the integration of the black members of our community, but there would seem to be no room for disagreement on objectives when considering non‐white workers in industry. Presumably even Enoch Powell would agree that we ought to try and make them as efficient, productive and fulfilled as we can. It would seem to be self‐evident that the first requirement to achieve this desirable situation is that they should understand what they hear and that they should have a minimum command of English to articulate their thoughts. Surprisingly, there are thousands of immigrant workers who do not have this basic tool. Even more surprising is the general lack of concern in industry about the position. We found this to be so when we became involved. It all started when one or two of our Training Advisers, in the course of their contact with companies, found that some managements, employing a high proportion of Asian workers recognised the problem and asked if we, the Training Board, could help. They felt uneasy at a situation in which they could not really communicate with a large section of their work force; where all their instructions and the consequent responses were funnelled through one or two interpreters. They felt they were not operating efficiently and so they wondered, in a vague sort of way, what might be done.