ABET teaches your low and semi-skilled employees how to communicate effectively in English, the formal language of business.
The fastest-spreading language in human history, English is spoken at a useful level by about 1,45-billion global citizens. Notably, there are more than 380-million native English speakers in countries such as the United States and Australia. This is in addition to about a billion fluent English speakers in the former colonised nations, such as South Africa. Meanwhile, millions of people throughout the world have studied English as a second language. Notably, more than 560-million people use the language on the internet. Currently, about 59% of all websites communicate in English. [https://www.statista.com/statistics/262946/most-common-languages-on-the-internet/#:~:text=English%20as%20the%20leading%20online%20language&text=The%20internet%20user%20base%20in,may%20use%20it%20for%20convenience].
Considering its prevalence worldwide, English facilitates efficient international communication across communities’ language boundaries. For example, it is used as the preferred medium of communication at United Nations’ meetings by representatives of different member countries. In this way, people of diverse cultures and who speak various languages can communicate effectively. It is, therefore, also a crucial language for companies that are operating across a hyper-connected world. Some international companies that have adopted English as their lingua franca include ITT Motion Technologies of Italy; France-based Sodexo; and Japan’s Yokohama. Other well-known companies with an English first policy include Airbus, Daimler-Chrysler, Fast Retailing, Renault, Samsung, SAP, Technicolor and Microsoft.
In South Africa, 15,9-million people speak the language. English was also adopted as the formal language of business, politics and learning and teaching to streamline communication. This is considering the many official languages spoken in this diverse country. The use of multiple languages would impede efficient communication. However, all 11 official languages are protected by the South African constitution [https://www.justice.gov.za/constitution/chp01.html#:~:text=6.,%2C%20isiNdebele%2C%20isiXhosa%20and%20isiZulu]. Therefore, people cannot be discriminated against for speaking any one of these languages – even in their work environments.
ABET teaches English to adults
ABET teaches English to adult South Africans who have not completed their basic education for various reasons. They, therefore, lack this essential workplace skill. This restricts their ability to perform their jobs properly. Their ability to learn new skills has also been stunted. They, therefore, cannot grow and develop their careers so that they can earn more and improve their circumstances. In many instances, South Africans who do not have this skill, cannot secure employment. This is considering that English literacy, together with numeracy, is the absolute basic skill that companies need to operate effectively in a modern economy. Together, they are, therefore, also known as workplace literacy skills. This is because they facilitate effective communication, as well as logical and critical thinking and problem-solving abilities. These are skills that employers value in all employees because of the immense value that they add.
Despite being one of the country’s official languages, many low-skilled and semi-skilled employees struggle to communicate effectively in English. In 2019, 4,4-million South African adults were functionally illiterate. The vast majority of these individuals were of working age. Refer to DHET PSET Monitor Report – Factsheet.indd for more reading on the topic. People who are functionally illiterate lack the English literacy skills that they need to cope with most jobs and many situations in everyday life. They may be able to read and write but they do not have the ability to apply these skills to function effectively. Refer to Functional literacy | UNESCO UIS.
ABET imparts English communication abilities
ABET imparts English communication abilities in a country that is grappling with these skills. Many young South Africans are joining the workforce with scant English literacy skills. This is considering the poor quality of English teaching skills in the country. Research undertaken by North-West University [https://www.nwu.ac.za/] reveals the real extent of the problem. The average English skills grade profile of English teachers at former model C schools is equivalent to those of a Grade 12 learner.
Meanwhile, the average English skills grade profile of English teachers at the township schools is the same as those of Grade 9 learners. The English literacy skill profiles of average Grade 12 English second language learners is equivalent to their Grade 10 counterparts. Meanwhile, those of Grade 12 English second language learners of township schools are equivalent to someone who has completed Grade 8. It is, thus, clear that the language proficiency of teachers influences those of their learners. Refer to https://www.researchgate.net/publication/321204642_Concerns_for_the_Language_Skills_of_South_African_Learners_and_Their_Teachers for more reading on the topic.
Also bear in mind that the majority of South Africans only speak English as a second, third or even fourth language. This places many South Africans at a disadvantage. The most widely spoken home language in the country is Zulu, followed by Xhosa and Afrikaans, another colonial dialect. Therefore, many individuals only communicate in English in the workplace. They do not practice the language as often as they should. This means that they do not have English literacy skills at the required level to communicate effectively in the language. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1187814.pdf provides more reading on the topic.
ABET and English literacy training
ABET and English literacy training have a long history in South Africa. Their roots in the country can be traced as far back as the early 1650s. However, then they served a completely opposite purpose of “westernising” indigenous South Africans in newly acquired colonies. It was only in the 1920s and onwards that ABET evolved into an important means of empowering people. ABET would also later become an essential component of the struggle for freedom. This is by providing many South Africans who were denied an education the opportunity to obtain fundamental skills.
English was brought to South Africa by British Settlers at the Cape of Good Hope in 1795. It took root as a southern African language when British settlements were established in the now Eastern Cape. The subsequent “diamond rush” also played a role in promoting the use of English in the country. To this day, mining is associated with ABET and English literacy training. This type of training helped to ensure that many different migrant mining workers were able to speak in a common language. They fulfil this and other important purposes today. Interestingly, the need to have a lingua franca in the industry also led to the development of Fanagolo.
A blend of English and Zulu, it is one of a number of African pidgin languages that developed during the colonial period. Fanagolo is still spoken to this day, although its popularity is waning. Its use is also not condoned by the relevant trade unions who would prefer workers to communicate in English. They believe that it threatens health and safety on the mines.
ABET’s English literacy training prioritised
During South Africa’s transition to democracy, ABET’s English literacy and numeracy training was prioritised. This is considering the many South Africans who had been deprived a basic education under a previous regime. Therefore, many citizens did not have fundamental skills that were needed to transform and grow the new economy. Unfortunately, most of the public sector, non-government organisation and university driven ABET programmes at the time failed to make a real impact. They were marred by challenges right from the outset. To this day, the private sector remains a major driver of ABET in the country, considering that it is also incentivised by government to provide adult literacy training.
In 1996, the Constitution of the new South Africa recognised English as one of the official languages of the country.
The English spoken in South Africa today is an idiomatic version of the language. It is largely based on British English. Therefore, it uses “ise” instead of “ize” for suffixes when turning words into verbs. South African English has also adopted many United Kingdom terms. For example, South Africans refer to “petrol” and not “gas” as is the case with American English. They also talk about a “bonnet” instead of a “hood”.
However, there are instances when South African English deploys American English terms. For example, South Africans will use “pants” as opposed to “trousers”, which is deployed in British English. They will also refer to a “truck” and not a “lorry”. The language also has unique colloquialisms. For example, South Africans refer to a “bush” as opposed to a “wilderness”. They also “braai” instead of “barbeque”. Refer to https://www.ru.ac.za/media/rhodesuniversity/content/dsae/documents/articles/Gough_article.pdf for insightful reading on the history and make up of South African English.
ABET improves English skills
The obvious benefit of ABET for companies is that it improves your employees’ English comprehension; writing; and verbal communication skills. This reduces misunderstandings that lead to errors that cost time, money and resources.
Employees who have completed all four ABET Levels have English literacy skills at a National Qualifications Framework Level 1. Refer to National Qualifications Framework (NQF) qualifications and unit standards | Western Cape Government. This means that their English literacy skills are equivalent to someone who has completed Grade 9. At this level, your employees’ English literacy skills are considered sufficient to perform general and entry level-type work.
Importantly, they also possess the skills that they need to continue learning. Employees with English literacy skills can effectively grasp important concepts. They are also able to seek out information; explore subjects in-depth; and gain a deeper understanding of the world around them.
ABET imparts English reading skills
ABET imparts English reading comprehension skills to your employees.
Reading comprehension skills enable employees to understand written communication. They can identify the main idea behind a message; analyse it; and recognise what is being communicated. They then act in the appropriate way based on the information that they have received from superiors or colleagues.
In the workplace, most employees – if not all – receive important instructions from their higher-ups in writing. Providing a record that can be referred to, it is the most effective way of communicating these types of messages. However, employees will not be able to perform their tasks well if they are unable to understand what exactly is being communicated to them.
Types of reading materials in the workplace include, among others, charts, forms, memos, manuals and handbooks. The latter two are some of the most important materials that employees will be expected to read as part of their jobs. This content enables them to learn procedures and reference information that they need to perform their jobs well. Certainly, employees must also relate to their companies’ vision, mission and ethos. These are usually displayed on posters in work environments to constantly remind employees of core values. It is also common practice to communicate these in writing in handbooks; standard operating procedures; and marketing materials.
Critical safety, health, environment and quality-related information is also usually conveyed in writing. This is considering the importance of compliance. Employees who cannot read, therefore, place companies at risk of civil and criminal action.
ABET teaches English writing skills
ABET teaches your employees English writing skills.
At the most basic level, your employees need to be able to complete time sheets and forms or respond to managers formally in writing. It is impossible for them to do so if they cannot write.
Employees who have completed all four ABET levels also have sound verbal communication skills. These ensure that everybody is working towards the same objectives. In this way, they also help to build trust and rapport between employees and co-workers and their managers or supervisors. This is essential for effective teamwork and collaboration.
ABET overcomes English communication barriers
In this way, ABET also overcomes English communication barriers in the workplace that lead to “idea traps”. This is a common problem in companies that have adopted English as the dominant means of communicating in the workplace. “Idea traps” occur when employees have great ideas but lack the ability or confidence to communicate them with their team members or higher-ups. These ideas, therefore, remain with employees and never have time to materialise and develop. This is a lost opportunity for companies to improve their processes so that they can hone their competitive edge. Bear in mind the intricate knowledge that employees have of their jobs and their working environments.
Another challenge encountered in these work environments is the erosion of trust between native and non-native English speakers. Misunderstandings that occur between native and non-native English speakers are commonly referred to as the “illusion of communication”. There are many communication barriers between native and non-native English speakers that distort messages. Among others, they include tone, accents and speech delivery. Distrust due to misunderstandings leads to tension in the workplace. This is exacerbated by mistakes and inefficiencies caused by miscommunication.
ABET’s focus on English
ABET’s focus on imparting English literacy skills also helps to develop inclusive workspaces where all employees have an opportunity to grow and develop,
Employers must safeguard against discrimination against employees who struggle with English. The need to adopt one official language may have resulted in a complacent attitude towards the dominance of English in the workplace. Add to this the fact that it is the most obvious choice of the other official languages for business communication. This is considering that it cuts across social, ethnic and cultural groupings. Therefore, English proficiency policies in the workplace are not viewed as inherently suspicious or potentially prejudicial. However, developments in South African law on workplace discrimination and scope of protection afforded to potential claimants needs to be considered. Refer to http://www.scielo.org.za/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1727-37812022000100004 for more reading on this topic.
There have also been instances where employees have been overlooked for promotion simply because they struggle to speak English. This is also referred to as “good English bias”, clouding business leaders’ judgement about the suitability of candidates for certain vacancies. This is a challenge that many multi-national companies that employ expats face.
ABET and adult literacy training
Triple E Training is a leading provider of ABET, including adult literacy and numeracy training.
We have proudly imparted fundamental English literacy and numeracy skills to hundreds of thousands of employees since inception more than 30 years ago.
Learn about how we are also able to assist you with your ABET requirements. www.eee.co.za
