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STC Workplace Literacy Program off to a great start

Thursday, February 4th, 2010


English Instructor Sonia Salinas puts students in a real world situation to help them improve their communication effectiveness in the workplace.

Texas Border Business

By: David Ramos, Training Specialist for South Texas College’s Institute for Advanced Manufacturing

      More than 100 employees from several maquiladora manufacturing companies are attending English and Spanish-language classes at STC’s Technology Campus. As part of the North American Advanced Manufacturing and Research Initiative, private partner companies have taken advantage of intense workplace literacy training at STC’s Institute for Advanced Manufacturing (IAM).

      The program consists of three levels of English and Spanish language classes that help participants refine their oral, written and listening skills, and gain an understanding of commonly-used vocabulary terms to enhance their job productivity.

      “Our program is experiencing phenomenal growth with three new English and Spanish classes starting each week this year,” said Raul Ruiz, project training specialist for STC’s IAM. “Classes begin as early at 9 a.m. and they are offered throughout the day until 9 p.m. We customize each class to suit our private partners’ needs and we hope that more companies will take part in this unique professional development opportunity.”

      Employees from ALPS Automotive, JVC, AM-MEX, Rio Grande Pak Foods, Corning Cable Systems, Coca-Cola and GE Engine Services have already taken these classes at STC and have dedicated their time and efforts to improving their communication skills. And partner companies who have participated are realizing the benefits of this program.

      “We have more than 4,300 employees at our Reynosa plant and an additional 50 U.S.-based employees,” said Maurice Rodriguez, human resource director for Corning Cable Systems in McAllen. “We are very appreciative of the offerings, given that 25 percent of our team is working hard to improve their Spanish language skills to help them with day-to-day communications. We have seen great results and have received positive feedback from the employees who have taken the courses at STC. Many of them have commented on how helpful the courses were to them, and now I’m actually receiving some e-mails from them written in Spanish.”

      Through this initiative and many others, STC is building on its solid reputation of delivering high quality education to become the region’s premier manufacturing training institution.

      “Since the beginning of our skills development grant, we have expanded our workplace literacy program and continue to enhance the curriculum to suit our companies,” added Carlos Margo, regional manager for STC’s IAM.

      To find out more about the Workplace Literacy Program at STC’s Institute for Advanced Manufacturing contact Raul Ruiz at 956-872-6141.

More Photos


English Instructor Sonia Salinas puts students in a real world situation to help them improve their communication effectiveness in the...

English Instructor Sonia Salinas puts students in a real world situation to help them improve their communication effectiveness in the...

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