by Caleb Fort
Daily Lobo
Taking an English course is a logical step for many Spanish-speaking UNM staff members, said Annemarie Werner-Smith.
"These people have come to the United States to have a better life," said Werner-Smith, an instructor for the University's new course. "That's the kind of people they are, so this class is an extension of that."
The six-week course, English Literacy Program for UNM Employees, began June 20.
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It is a pilot program meant to help UNM workers communicate with their supervisors, said Anne Mayer, human resource development manager, who helped organize the class.
"Given the feedback so far, it is very likely that this will be an ongoing thing," Mayer said.
She said the class will probably be offered again in the fall.
About 24 students are enrolled in the class. They are split into two sections depending on their English abilities.
Maria Rodriguez, a Physical Plant employee and student in the class, said she wants the opportunities available to English speakers in the U.S.
"This is important," she said. "This is necessary for the rest of my life."
Many people in the classes are qualified for better jobs than they have, Werner-Smith said.
"Some of them have really good educations in their language, and their lack of English holds them back in these entry-level jobs," she said. "And they know it."
The class is organized and run by Human Resources, and the teachers are provided by Continuing Education at UNM.
Werner-Smith's class works from a "visual dictionary," a textbook with exercises where students match words and sentences with pictures. One exercise had students match personal ads with pictures of the people who placed them.
The students also took turns describing each other - the color of their hair, their height and their personality.
The class often took small diversions to discuss the oddities of English such as the pronunciation of "her" and "hair," and why it's redundant to say "more better."
The instructors for both sections are certified in English as a Second Language. Werner-Smith speaks some Spanish in the classroom, but she said she prefers not to use it too much.
"I don't want the pressure to be on me to make sentences in Spanish," she said. "I want it to be on the class to speak in English."
The class costs $650 but accepts the tuition waiver available to staff members.
Ramona Vargas, a Physical Plant employee, said she would not have taken the class if she had to pay for it.
The cooperation of supervisors is critical for the success of the class, Werner-Smith said.
Supervisors let their employees off early to go to the class at 3:30 p.m. However, half of the time in class counts toward the employees' 40-hour week, she said. The class lasts until 6 p.m.
"They have to give some of their time, but some of their time in the class also counts as work," she said. "This program would not work if the supervisors did not help us."
The class also uses workplace documents, such as safety manuals, to help teach reading and writing, Mayer said.
New courses will be introduced to teach more advanced English skills, as well as more specialized English for use on the job.
Werner-Smith said it will probably be about two years before the students can speak English fluently.
"So we're in this for the long haul," she said.
