ABET develops your employees’ workplace communication skills. This is the primary objective of a well-coordinated adult literacy training programme.
Notably, employees who have completed all four levels of ABET can communicate efficiently in the formal language of business. South Africa has adopted English as its official language. It is, therefore, a language that is also widely used for teaching and politics. This is to simplify communication in a culturally diverse society that communicates in so many different languages. However, the reality is that the vast majority of South Africans speak other languages at home and in their communities.
Many employees, therefore, only communicate in English as a second or third language and, when they do so, it is at work. This means that they seldom practice speaking the language. Mastering the art of conversation is a skill that needs to be practiced. This is especially if a conversation is not in your native tongue. Certainly, this is also creating communication barriers in our classrooms, preventing learners from achieving their full potential, especially in technical subjects.
Low skilled employees by implication have not completed their basic education to obtain this important fundamental skill. Therefore, they may struggle to understand instructions that are spoken or written in English. They might also battle to interact with other team members either verbally or in writing to complete their duties as expected of them. This can lead to misunderstandings that cost time and money. Confusion can further result in accidents that also place the health and safety of employees, the public or environment at risk.
ABET imparts English literacy skills
ABET imparts the skills that your employees need to read and write in English. They also understand messages that are communicated in this language in the spoken word and are, therefore, able to respond appropriately.
Unfortunately, many managers and supervisors incorrectly assume that their staff are fluent in English. The 11 languages of South Africa provides more reading on the many different languages spoken by South Africans. Note that of the 4.9-million South Africans who speak English, 33% are white, 24% are black, 22% are Indian and 19% are coloured. It is important to remember the demographic makeup of South Africa’s unskilled and semi-skilled labour pool. The importance of workplace ABET cannot be overstated. It is, therefore, also a critical means of redress to transform South African society and economy.
Companies are, thus, incentivised in many ways by state to enrol their employees in these programmes. However, these benefits should not be the only reason that companies train their employees. Bear in mind that illiteracy and its cycle is one of the lasting impacts of a previous regime. However, it is being fuelled by a crumbling basic education system. Refer to this report for more reading on the matter – South Africa: Broken and unequal education perpetuating poverty and inequality. This further motivates the importance of adult literacy training.
ABET imparts functional literacy skills
ABET imparts functional literacy skills. Employees who are functionally literate are able to successfully perform their respective duties. Moreover, they have an ability to manage the demands of their jobs in a healthy, safe and productive manner.
Effective communication is a key skill in any successful business. It comprises many different facets and adult literacy training adequately addresses all of them. As part of their English literacy instruction, employees are taught how to be active listeners and use body language to convey meaning. Moreover, they learn how to communicate in a clear and concise manner. When they communicate, they are also friendly, confident, empathetic, open minded and respectful. Employees also understand the importance of providing feedback after they have completed ABET.
Feedback is imperative because it promotes professional and personal growth. It entails listening actively and taking time to analyse information to respond appropriately. Feedback provides positive criticism to improve processes and policies. Companies need constructive feedback from both their employees and customers to constantly hone their competitive edge. This is over-and-above updates that they receive from employees on, among others, workflow, potential challenges and solutions to problems.
ABET facilitates effective communication
ABET facilitates effective communication across all relevant platforms.
Employees who have completed adult literacy training understand leadership communication, geared at persuading, encouraging and inspiring commitment. This is in addition to informing and updating employees on, for example, a new company policy or change in direction or strategy for an assignment.
They are also able to understand important updates from their higher-ups that are communicated in English. This includes information on duties that require action or further involvement, as well as unforeseen events, obstacles, potential risks and wins.
Fluent in English, employees are also able to understand presentations. They remain the most effective means of informing, influencing and persuading large groups of people quickly and efficiently.
Moreover, they possess the skills that are needed to participate meaningfully in meetings, a critical component of any workplace’s internal communication strategy. Effective meetings build synergy between teams and facilitate the quick communication of information that could easily be misunderstood. If undertaken correctly, meetings are highly collaborative and leave participants feeling energised. They do not leave staff feeling drained and anxious.
Importantly, they are also able to communicate informally with their colleagues. Informal communication in the workplace is important as it forms social connections; builds culture; establishes trust; and helps to find common ground. This is over-and-above the role that this type of communication plays in taking a company forward by creating comradery between team members. Informal communications include e-mails and chats that are engaged in throughout the day to, among others, make and respond to requests.
ABET breaks down communication barriers
ABET breaks down communication barriers that prevent your employees from performing at their peak.
Effective English literacy skills facilitate team collaboration and cooperation. They also bolster employees’ morale and work satisfaction, important traits that further contribute to productivity and efficiency.
Importantly, adult literacy training develops engaged employees. Employee engagement remains a key metric for staff productivity and retention. Communication is an important measurable for staff engagement levels. Engaged employees know that they are important contributors to business growth and are, therefore, valued team members. This means that they are always willing to give their best. Even your low skilled employees make a substantial contribution to your business, despite performing mundane and general tasks. Adult literacy training is geared specifically at these workers who struggle to speak, read and write in English.
It is impossible for workers who lack this basic fundamental skill to relate to your motto, ethos and vision because they do not understand them. People who are unable to read, write, speak and listen in a way that allows them to communicate effectively cannot make sense of their environments. This includes at work, in their communities or society at large. Thus, the benefits of adult literacy training transcend the workplace. Employees take their newfound skills back to their families, communities and society at large to contribute to the country’s social fabric.
ABET develops confident workers
ABET develops confident workers. Bear in mind that people who cannot read or write have low self-esteem. They may also feel emotions such as shame, fear and powerlessness. It is not uncommon for employees who struggle with English to feel ostracised from colleagues who are fluent in the language. They will also tend to avoid situations where they may be discovered or find themselves unable to fully participate.
This can lead to disillusionment. Employees who feel this way may, therefore, skip work; important meetings and presentations; and even essential training sessions. In fact, high absenteeism and demotivation in your company are clear signs that something is amiss. There is a strong chance that you may have illiterate or semi-illiterate employees who are struggling to adapt to their workplace. It is, therefore, important that they undergo a placement assessment to determine their English literacy skills gaps. Once this has been ascertained, they can be placed at the correct ABET level.
Many companies notice a marked change in attitude in their employees once they start progressing through adult literacy training programmes. They understand what they need to do and how it connects to the overall success of the team. Importantly, employees bring more energy and pride to their work. This vigour and enthusiasm are also passed onto other members of the team. In doing so, an environment is created that is conducive to high levels of productivity and efficiency.
ABET develops competent workers
ABET develops competent workers. Equipped with English literacy skills, your employees are able to better comprehend their roles. Therefore, they can perform their work according to quality and deadline. Importantly, they are also healthier and safer workers. For this reason, literacy and competency go hand-in-hand. Employees cannot become competent at their jobs if they lack the skills to understand what they need to do and how to accomplish it.
Competency also gives your employees a sense of pride in what they do.
Moreover, they know that they have the fundamental skills that they need to grow and develop in the company. Adult literacy training prepares employees for a journey of lifelong learning by equipping them with fundamental skills. This is the ultimate objective of well-coordinated ABET programmes. You want your employees to continue gaining new and honing existing skills.
For these reasons, many companies report higher retention rates as a result of their investment in adult literacy training. Employees see for themselves that their companies are invested in their professional and personal wellbeing. Awareness campaigns play a tremendous role in motivating employees to want to succeed in ABET. During these sessions, candidates are explained the importance of attaining English literacy skills and how these will improve their lives inside and outside the workplace.
ABET creates productive environments
ABET creates productive environments by facilitating better collaboration between team members. Employees who have sound English literacy skills can communicate effectively with co-workers and their supervisors and managers.
In this way, adult literacy training mitigates conflicts as a result of misunderstandings that originate from miscommunication.
Miscommunication also creates toxic or hostile work environments that are unproductive and inefficient.
A leading ABET provider
Triple E Training is a leading ABET provider to industry.
Over more than 30 years, we have equipped many thousands of employees with the English literacy skills that they need to succeed in the workplace. More importantly, employees who participate in our adult literacy training gain a newfound respect and passion for learning. Once they have completed their training, they have also been equipped with the skills that enables them to succeed in acquiring more knowledge. This is so that they can improve their circumstances and achieve their goals.
Triple E Training is accredited by Umalusi [https://www.umalusi.org.za/] and, therefore, provides adult literacy training that is in line with the ABET Act – Adult Education and Training Act (previously Adult Basic Education and Training Act) 52 of 2000 [repealed]
Learn more about Triple E Training and our quality ABET. www.eee.co.za
