Workplace English Foundations: A Curriculum for Beginning English Learners

Building English and workforce readiness from the beginning

Workplace English Foundations is a beginning-level curriculum designed to integrate English language instruction with practical workplace skills for adult multilingual learners.

The curriculum connects everyday language with authentic workplace communication through explicit instruction, contextualized stories, real-world tasks, assessments, and instructional supports. Learners practice the English they need for everyday life while building skills they can use at work.

From Life to Work

Beginning English learners use many of the same foundational language skills in their daily lives and in the workplace. Workplace English Foundations builds from familiar, accessible language toward authentic workplace communication and tasks.

EVERYDAY LIFE → LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT → WORKPLACE APPLICATION

The curriculum pairs two complementary resources: Maria at Work: Easy English Stories provides accessible, contextualized reading and communication practice, while Workplace English for Beginners extends those skills through explicit instruction and authentic workplace tasks.

Curriculum Materials

Workplace English Foundations

Practical Activities for Beginning English Learners

Student Workbook

Ten beginning-level units that connect foundational English with practical workplace communication. Learners practice vocabulary, grammar, reading, writing, listening, and speaking in everyday workplace contexts.

10 workplace-focused units
Prepare → Practice → Apply → Assess structure
Forms, communication tasks, assessments, and workplace scenarios

View Student Workbook

Maria at Work

Easy English Stories for the Workplace

Companion Story Workbook

Ten beginning-level stories following Maria through everyday life and work. Each story connects to a unit in Workplace English Foundations, giving learners a familiar context for the language and skills they are developing.

10 beginning-level stories
Reading, comprehension, speaking, and writing activities
Companion videos for additional listening support

Student Workbook → View Maria at Work

Story Videos → Watch Story Videos

Teaching Slides → View Slide Decks

Teacher Guide

[Teacher Guide — Coming Fall 2026]

About the Curriculum:

Developed and classroom-tested with adult multilingual learners and informed by student and instructor feedback. Materials are aligned with the English Language Proficiency Standards (ELPS) and designed to support workforce-integrated adult ESOL instruction.

Using These Materials?

I’d love to know how Workplace English Foundations is being used. If you use these materials with your students, please consider sharing a little about your teaching context or feedback.

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