Workplace ESOL goes digital: Expanding opportunities for English language learning

This article describes an innovative workplace English initiative that aims to improve access to English language instruction for immigrant workers. Developed by the National Immigration Forum, Skills and Opportunity for the New American Workforce (SONAW) is a first-of-its-kind, blended training program comprising 40% face-to-face instruction and 60% online learning. In 2018, the EdTech Center @ World Education worked with the Forum to develop and scale new delivery models that support anytime, anywhere mobile learning. The article shares learnings from testing a fully remote model, where instruction was delivered through live, synchronous virtual classrooms. An external evaluation of SONAW found it to be a highly effective solution for workers across industries who sought to build workplace English skills but faced barriers enrolling in traditional face-to-face learning opportunities. The model benefits both workers seeking to boost English proficiency and employers seeking to enhance workers’ skills and retain and promote a diverse workforce.