Issue link: http://www.insightdigital.biz/i/130708
Cultural Connection continued McCain partnered with Fox Valley Technical College to offer onsite English Language Learners (ELL) programs to its employees, created language teams to improve communication among workers generally and sent 12 managers to an FVTC class to learn basic Hmong language and culture. "We strive to be as inclusive as possible with our workforce. We embrace the diversity of our workforce and look at it as a strength, a way that brings in new ideas and helps us grow," says Ben Waddell, plant manager of McCain Foods in Appleton. Working with a nonEnglish speaker Many manufacturers may not have enough non-native English speakers on staff to make offering ELL courses practical. Marie Martin, director of FVTC's Global Education Services, provides these pieces of advice when working with someone who doesn't speak English proficiently: » Speak slowly » Don't talk louder » Enunciate "Think about the waste that might happen if someone doesn't understand the language and then maybe doesn't 'get' all of the instructions. The best thing about the onsite ELL programs is that employees can walk right out of the classroom and put what they just learned to work in their interactions with fellow employees or supervisors." – Sandra Huenink, dean of basic education at Moraine Park Technical College Somkuan Hill, an employee of McCain for more than 15 years, participated in a course about two years ago designed to improve her English skills. "I was so appreciative and it really helped me a lot. I would go to class before my work shift and was able to really improve my English, which 10 | / insight on manufacturing • May 2013 » Use ordinary words, such as "big" instead of "expansive" » Cut out jargon, irony or sarcasm » If possible, speak in person instead of on the phone so facial expressions can be seen. » Avoid idioms and colloquialisms. "For example, don't say 'let's wrap this up.' Instead, say 'let's finish up,'" Martin says. "It seems like a small thing, but you need to think carefully about the words you're using." helped me a lot at work and outside of my job," says Hill, who is Hmong. "I knew some English before the class, but it really helped me so I could communicate better with the people around me." McCain Foods isn't the only area manufacturer with a diverse workforce. As the region's population diversifies with people who not only speak Hmong, but also Spanish and other languages, manufacturers are realizing they need to take steps to make sure those employees aren't left behind. M Onsite Classes cCain Foods is one of the trailblazers in manufacturing when it comes to language programs. In addition to the onsite English classes, the company also created language teams on which a bilingual employee serves as a bridge between the nonEnglish speakers and the rest of the staff, Waddell says. The HR department also has employees fluent in both English and Spanish. "Our training process is very intensive and employees need to show us they know what to do. It's a four-step process and a lot of it is modeling, so there's not a lot of written material. So that's why it's important to have some of those basic language skills down, so employees w w w.in s i g h t o n m f g .c o m