Language buddies in practice

This year, TopTaal and Jumbo Supermarkets are organizing a joint workshop during the Tel mee met Taal Congress. The subject of the workshop is 'Securing Language Training in the workplace: Language buddies in practice'. Because how do you ensure that your language training is actually applied on the shop floor? How do you make sure your employees also apply the language in practice?

The annual Tel mee met Taal Congress will take place in Utrecht on Thursday, February 13, 2020. This year's theme is 'Working together on better basic skills for young and old'. The congress consists of various workshops and presentations. For more information about the program, please visit: https://www.telmeemettaal.nl/evenementen/tel-mee-taal-congres/.

All participants were invited to submit a proposal for active participation in the program. Together with Jumbo Supermarkets, TopTaal submitted the proposal 'Securing Language Training in the workplace: Language buddies in practice', and it has been approved by the organization. We are, of course, very proud of this!

Language training in the workplace

At Jumbo, they want to exceed expectations. Every day, everywhere, for every customer. That is why it is important for every colleague to have the Jumbo DNA in sight: together, entrepreneurship, winning. In the distribution centers, too, they work together every day to provide the best service for the customer. People from many different countries work in these distribution centers. To make a difference for the customer together, good communication is very important. Communication to be able to do the job well, but also to be able to work safely. That is why they offer Dutch language training in the workplace from TopTaal.

Securing the language training

The goal of the training is to learn and/or improve the Dutch language (general language proficiency) and, within that, to train skills that facilitate communication on the shop floor. Learning is often made more difficult because Dutch is not always spoken in daily practice on the shop floor. And with lessons alone, learning remains limited. Only when participants start practicing do they progress at a high pace, because that is when the link to the workplace is made. They can then apply the lesson material immediately. Securing this in the workplace is therefore very important. But how do you make that link with the shop floor? How do you ensure that employees apply the language in the workplace?

To be able to apply the learned language skills in the workplace, language buddies play an important role in language development. Colleagues see the importance of speaking the Dutch language on the shop floor and have an important role in carrying out the practical assignments that participants are given.

Toolkit

We secure language training in the workplace by means of a toolkit for managers developed by TopTaal, a structured portfolio for participants, and the use of language buddies (colleagues). We work with practical assignments that match the level and activities of the employees.

The result of the resources we use at Jumbo to safeguard the quality of the language training is very positive. We see that colleagues apply the language in practice. We notice an improvement in communication and, above all, we see that colleagues have more self-confidence to use the language. All this ensures an even more enjoyable way of working and a safer working environment.

The workshop

During the session, we show how you can involve colleagues to safeguard the learning process. We show how you can encourage participants to put theory into practice. TopTaal has designed a toolkit for this purpose. The toolkit for managers contains concrete and practical tools for practicing with employees. During the session, we will show what the toolkit consists of, how we use it, and what the results are.

Another tool we use is a language buddy. A colleague or manager is paired with a participant to help with carrying out assignments. During the session, Jumbo's experiences with working with language buddies and the toolkit will be shared.

In addition, we will talk about the portfolio for participants. An important part of this are the practical assignments they carry out with their colleague language buddies. They also receive tips at the end of the training for further learning. For example, a list of websites, TV programs, and language apps that are relevant to them. And tips on where you can practice the language. Based on these tips, they create an action plan for themselves: where, when, how, and with whom they will maintain the language when there are no more lessons.”

What are the benefits?

This session provides concrete and practical tools for involving managers and other colleagues to safeguard the quality of language training.

Would you like more information? Please contact us.

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