Workplace English Certificate Program

Train your employees in English. The state covers the tuition.

Massachusetts businesses with 100 or fewer employees can be reimbursed for 100% of the tuition through the Workforce Training Fund Express Grant. High Expectations English Language School delivers the training in Malden.

Check if you qualify Call (781) 388-2222

Of tuition reimbursed by the state: 100%
Available to your business per year: $15,000
Per course, six hours a week: 12 weeks

Your employees are limited by English, not by ability.

An employee who cannot read a safety label, understand a shift instruction, or explain a problem to a supervisor is a risk and a bottleneck — no matter how skilled they are at the job itself.

What changes when they train

Fewer errors from misunderstood instructions
Safer worksites — employees can read warning labels and report incidents
Less supervisor time spent translating and re-explaining
Employees ready for customer-facing and supervisory roles
Stronger retention — training is an investment employees notice

How the money works

What the state provides:

the tuition — up to $3,000 per employee, per course.

What you provide:

the time. Your employees are on the clock during class.

How the money moves:

you pay the tuition, the course runs, the state reimburses you.

What the grant pays

Up to 100% reimbursement of tuition
Up to $3,000 per employee, per course
Up to $15,000 per company, per calendar year
Companies with 51–100 employees receive up to 100% reimbursement for English courses — larger employers normally receive a reduced rate

Who qualifies

Massachusetts business with 100 or fewer W-2 employees working in Massachusetts
You pay into the Workforce Training Fund — most Massachusetts employers do, as part of unemployment insurance contributions
A physical Massachusetts location, owned or leased — not a home address or P.O. box
Business in good standing with the Department of Revenue and the Department of Unemployment Assistance
Trainees are W-2 employees, full- or part-time, working in Massachusetts. Contractors, temporary staff, and owners' family members are not eligible.

A four-level pathway

Employees don't have to start at Level 1. A placement test at intake puts each person at the right level.

Level 1

Enrolling now

Foundational Workplace English

12 weeks · 72 hours · CEFR A1–A2

Express Course Directory № C-16245 ↗

For employees at the beginning of their English journey — the skills needed to navigate a workplace with confidence.

After this course, employees can:

Introduce themselves to coworkers and supervisors
Read work schedules, calendars, and workplace ID documents
Describe their job skills and daily work
Ask and answer simple questions about workplace information
Complete a basic job application

$3,000 tuition per employee — reimbursable through the grant

Apply — check if you qualify

Level 2

Enrolling now

Workplace Communication Essentials

12 weeks · 72 hours · CEFR A2–B1

Express Course Directory № C-16246 ↗

The safety level. Employees learn the English that keeps a worksite compliant and incidents properly reported.

After this course, employees can:

Read warning labels and hazard information
Take appropriate action after a workplace accident
Complete an accident report form
Make polite requests of supervisors and coworkers
Read a timesheet and describe work history

$3,000 tuition per employee — reimbursable through the grant

Apply — check if you qualify

Level 3

Coming soon

Intermediate Workplace Communication

12 weeks · 72 hours · CEFR B1

For employees ready to communicate independently — raising problems, writing professionally, handling the unexpected.

After this course, employees can:

Raise a problem or complaint in person and by email
Write professional workplace emails
Prioritize tasks and discuss time management
Respond to a workplace emergency
Prepare for an interview or internal promotion

$3,000 tuition per employee — reimbursable through the grant

Join the waitlist

Level 4

Coming soon

Advanced Professional Communication

12 weeks · 72 hours · CEFR B1+–B2

Preparation for supervisory and customer-facing roles — polite professional register, advice, and complex workplace conversation.

After this course, employees can:

Use polite and indirect professional language
Explain job responsibilities and give advice
Discuss workplace stress and coping strategies
Write a cover letter
Deliver a capstone presentation in a workplace context

$3,000 tuition per employee — reimbursable through the grant

Join the waitlist

How the program runs

Schedule: Two 3-hour sessions per week, 12 weeks — built around your operation. Weekday, Friday, and Saturday options available.
Class size: 8–20 employees
Curriculum: Ventures, 4th Edition (Cambridge University Press) — a standardized adult English series used by workforce programs nationwide
Placement: Ventures Placement Test at intake
Homework: 2–3 hours per week, self-directed. Audio practice by QR code or free app — employees can practice on their phone.
Certificate: 75% on the end-of-course assessment plus 80% attendance earns a Certificate of Level Completion
Your reporting: A completion report for your group — attendance, assessment scores, completions — prepared for your reimbursement paperwork

How to apply

Talk to us.
We'll assess how many employees need training and at what level, and build a class schedule around your operation.
Gather three documents.
A Certificate of Good Standing from the Department of Revenue, a Certificate of Compliance from the Department of Unemployment Assistance, and a signed IRS Form W-9.
Apply online at commcorp.org.
Applications are accepted year-round. Apply at least three weeks before you want training to start — the state sets your official start date 21 days after you apply, and training cannot begin before it.
Train, then get reimbursed.
You pay the tuition, the course runs, and you submit for reimbursement once it's complete.

When you apply, select Foundational Workplace English (C-16245), High Expectations English Language School, from the Express Course Directory.

When you apply, select Workplace Communication Essentials (C-16246), High Expectations English Language School, from the Express Course Directory.

Frequently asked questions

What does it cost my business?

The grant reimburses 100% of the tuition, up to $3,000 per employee per course. Your cost is the wages you pay employees during class. You pay the tuition first and the state reimburses you after the course is complete.

How many employees can I put through?

The grant covers up to $15,000 per company per calendar year — about five employee enrollments. You can apply more than once a year, but the annual cap applies across all your applications.

When are classes held?

Twice a week, three hours a session, on a schedule we build with you. We offer weekday, Friday, and Saturday options so the timetable fits your operation rather than the other way around. Your employees are on the clock during class.

What if I only have two or three employees to train?

That works. We combine employees from several businesses into a single class, so you're not waiting to fill a room on your own.

What if my employees aren't beginners?

A placement test at intake determines each person's level. If they place above the course we're currently enrolling, we'll add them to the waitlist and contact you as soon as the next level opens.

Can an employee take more than one course?

Yes. English language training is exempt from the five-year restriction that applies to most state-funded training.

How soon can we start?

Plan on at least three weeks from the day you apply. The state sets your official start date 21 days after your application, and training can't begin before that date.

See if your business qualifies

Tell us about your business and we'll confirm your eligibility and walk you through the application. No cost, no obligation.

High Expectations English Language School
2 Florence Street, Floors 2 & 3, Malden, MA 02148
(781) 388-2222 · market@highexpectationsusa.com

High Expectations English Language School is an approved training provider listed in the Commonwealth Corporation Express Course Directory. Grant eligibility, funding amounts, and application requirements are set by Commonwealth Corporation and are subject to change. Grant reimbursement covers tuition; employee wages during training hours are not reimbursable. Full program guidelines are available at commcorp.org.