Individuals at NISOD member colleges can register for this event by logging in or creating an account.
Total Credits: 0.1 CEUs
Discover the powerful role tailored English language curricula within college workforce preparation programs play in empowering immigrants for workforce integration and career advancement. Industry-focused English language training bridges the gap between language proficiency and professional success, equipping non-native students with the skills necessary for specific industries. Many adult learners bring extensive knowledge, technical skills, and years of experience from their home countries, yet limited English proficiency often prevents them from demonstrating their full potential. Such programs provide the linguistic tools, professional vocabulary, and confidence learners need to apply existing expertise effectively in new work environments. Without targeted instruction, skilled workers can remain underemployed and disconnected from their fields of expertise. This webinar explores how colleges can integrate English for Specific Purposes (ESP) into workforce programs to promote equitable access to career advancement. Participants will learn practical strategies for developing customized, industry-aligned curricula; designing authentic workplace communication tasks; and assessing progress in measurable ways. By the end of this session, educators and workforce professionals will be equipped to implement programs that not only strengthen language proficiency, but also recognize, validate, and build upon the talents immigrant students already possess—empowering them to thrive in their careers and contribute fully to their communities.
By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:
Note: Webinars are only available to individuals at NISOD member colleges.
Certificate and CEUs for Webinars
Learners will have the option to earn a certificate of attendance or a certificate with Continuing Education Units (CEU) upon completion of the webinar. To earn a certificate with CEUs, the learner must successfully pass the learning assessment with a score of 80% or higher. All learners must complete the post-event evaluation to earn credentials.
The duration of this webinar is one hour, which is equal to 0.1 Continuing Education Units (CEUs).
Lena Shaqareq is an experienced TESOL professional with over 15 years of practice in adult education and English language instruction. Born and raised in Qatar, she moved to the United States at age fifteen and has since dedicated her career to empowering non-native English speakers. She holds a Master’s Degree in Adult Education with a TESOL concentration and a Cross-Cultural Management certificate. Lena has extensive classroom experience teaching ESL courses at Florida State College at Jacksonville. She currently teaches TESOL undergraduate courses to teacher candidates in the College of Education at the University of North Florida and has coordinated ESOL programs at the university level. In addition to her teaching, Lena has served in leadership roles within TESOL organizations, including as President of Northeast Florida TESOL, and English for Occupational Settings (EOS) Representative at TESOL International. She has presented at numerous national and international conferences. She is the founder of LENa (Learn English Naturally) Institute, which provides specialized, industry-specific English courses for non-native professionals. Lena has also developed and managed English, Civics, and Citizenship programs for immigrants and refugees through Beyond90 and has served as a Virtual Educator for the U.S. Department of State’s English Language programs, serving institutes in countries such as Mauritania, Ethiopia, Tunisia, and Turkey. Lena’s work bridges classroom instruction, workforce preparation, and community empowerment, providing practical strategies to help learners thrive in professional and academic settings.
