Workplace Learning

CLS partners with UW–Madison departments to offer on-site classes for English Language Learning (ELL) employees. Classes improve communication between employees and supervisors and increase employee engagement in the campus community.

Employees develop listening, speaking, reading, writing, grammar, and pronunciation skills around workplace topics such as:

• daily interactions
• culture
• safety
• human resources
• job duties and responsibilities
• tools and equipment
• competencies specific to individual departments

First Wednesdays English Conversation Time is a drop-in program that helps UW–Madison employees (including J-1 visa scholars) improve their English skills to advance in the workplace.

First Wednesdays is open the first Wednesday of every month from 4–5:30 pm at 21 N. Park Street in room 1108 (1^st floor). Employees do not need to register or make an appointment.

Common topics of instruction:

• English conversation, pronunciation, and listening
• Workplace and research vocabulary
• US culture and American idioms
• UW–Madison culture and events

Employees can improve their computer skills at the Open Computer Lab.

Open Computer Lab takes place the third Tuesday of every month at 21 North Park Street, in the computer lab (Room 5041, 5th floor). Employees can arrive anytime between 3:30‒5 p.m. Employees do not need to register or make an appointment.

Open Computer Lab is free. Employees who wish to attend during their work time should ask their supervisor if they can attend.

Instruction on using workplace computer tools:

• Emails and attachments
• Word and Excel
• MyUW
• And other tools

Support with common tasks:

• Finding the earnings statements
• Checking leave balances
• Reviewing training history
• And more

Employees should bring:

• NetID and password
• Duo device or smartphone
• Questions