How Do We Know It Works? Measuring the success of a workplace language-training program

EnGen has developed a framework to measure the success of our English courses along with real data illustrating that our approach is effective. We continued to use these criteria to demonstrate the success of our programs. Here’s how:

Measure 1—Time-on-Task: Because learning a language is learning a skill, the single biggest predictor of workplace language training success is the amount of time learners spend practicing. Time-on-task is the total time a learner spends actively engaging with our learning materials—simply keeping the application open and doing other tasks in the background does not count!

Measure 2—Mastery of Language & Content: In addition to measuring how much time learners spend practicing, we also need to make sure they are learning. A successful workplace language program will improve learners’ overall proficiency and also give them the language they need to complete their job tasks. Measuring these things is key to demonstrating success.

Measure 3—360° Satisfaction: A great way to make sure a language learning program is working is by asking stakeholders, including learners, their teachers, and their supervisors. By asking stakeholders specific questions, we can measure exactly what is working and what might need improvement.

Measure 4—Real-World Success: Fundamentally, language is a tool we use to accomplish real-world tasks, so we should make sure that our learners are able to meet their goals. The true measure of a workplace program’s success is the number of employees who are able to complete their job tasks in English.

Setting up a workplace language-training program requires investment from learners, supervisors, and other stakeholders, so it goes without saying that it should work. By making sure that the program can report clear outcomes and that those outcomes can be used to measure ROI, talent development professionals are setting themselves—and their learners—up for success.

Interested in learning more about how EnGen works? Schedule time to meet with one of our workforce development experts.