English language training doesn't need to be a "one-size-fits-all" experience. It doesn't have to be the same, standardized curriculum that only teaches phrases that are just somewhat useful. As language training providers, of course we understand this. Yet for the most part, it is this general misconception that needs to be explained to business owners. Because the reality is, each company in the same industry does things a little differently. Yes, even the corporate and residential cleaning industry do things slightly different.
So what do you do when you need a corporate English training provider to teach your Limited English Proficient employees (LEP)? You don't need them to become fluent English speakers, but you do need them to learn enough English, that communicating isn't a barrier at work. For the cleaning industry- like housekeeping and sanitation- learning English for work is a matter of safety.
3 ways English language training makes cleaning industry jobs safer:
1. Chemical reactions
Our expert instructors meet with your leaders or management to create a customized curriculum that addresses your actual business needs. For example, some employees struggle with pronunciation, while others have difficulty reading. For cleaning industry workers, both of those struggles are common, yet raise serious issues specifically when handling chemicals. Avoiding harmful chemical reactions in the cleaning industry, presents physical damage to your clients' space and your workers' health. Developing an employee language support plan involves creating a relevant vocabulary, and ensuring that the corresponding safety trainings are understood in English such as:
- Corrosive
- Flammable
- Ventilate
- Ammonia
- Bleach
- PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) and where to find it
- Dilution ratio
- "Do not mix... or "do not mix bleach with ammonia"
- "Safety data sheet"
2. Handling equipment
The cleaning equipment- like buffers and vacuums for instance - whether industrial sized or not, can also present safety issues at work. Even if you are a fluent English speaker, the equipment can pose a safety risk. So if you want to remain a reputable cleaning service, you must ensure that you equip your ESL workers (who speak English as a Second Language) with the appropriate language tools. Language training for sanitation workers can emphasize equipment trainings by teaching ESL employees:
- safety protocol for operating machinery in English
- equipment maintenance trainings in English
- how to explain malfunctioning equipment in English
- equipment communicating like "you have to unplug the buffer before changing the pad"
- proper equipment storage
3. Emergency preparedness
One moment, everything is fine. Then before anyone even realizes what is happening, you are in the middle of an emergency situation. It could be a fire, or maybe an alarm is going off, or maybe someone collapses or starts choking. These are all emergency situations that your team might experience while at a worksite. Communicating during an emergency- whether big or small- can save lives. And sure, it probably won't happen while working a job... but what if something goes wrong, and they can't explain it to other people in the building? Employee English training can focus on emergency preparedness by teaching ESL employees:
- emergency and evacuation protocol
- general safety communication phrases like "someone collapsed in the bathroom" or "where is the emergency exit?" and "my coworker is still in the room."
- building safety terminology like: spill, evacuate, fire, first aid kit, eye wash station
- Job-specific and role-play scenarios that are relevant safety hazards
Our interactive and engaging In-Person and Online Corporate Language Training provides English Classes for Companies online and on-site with live highly qualified native-speaking language instructors. We offer Real-Time Private and Group Corporate English Language Training. Get a Free Quote for your Industry Specific Onsite or Online Corporate English Training for employees.
