1. What is Workplace Spanish®?

Workplace Spanish® (a trademarked brand name) is a series of job-specific learning programs developed to help people with little or no Spanish-speaking ability communicate with Spanish speakers in a workplace environment. It is all about human communication and connection – not language proficiency.

Our programs are designed for specific, short duration learning and self-study thereafter. They do not contain or require the learning of grammar, verb conjugations, language rules, male & female gender, etc. Our programs are used in class environments and as self-study tools.

Teaching methods rely on frequent repetition, role-play, practice conversations and quick-paced drills. Our materials are designed from an end-user's perspective and are meant to be useful at a work site. They are not text books; they are training manuals.

 2. Workplace vs. Academic Spanish

The most important difference between Workplace Spanish® and standard academic Spanish is the objective of the instruction:

• Academic Spanish is taught with the intent of helping students gain proficiency in the "entire language." It encompasses all of the aspects of the language: vocabulary, pronunciation, grammar, gender, rules, verb tense, etc. Typically, in the early stages there is more emphasis on learning & study, and less on communication.
   
• Workplace Spanish® has very different objectives. It is taught with the intent of helping people communicate, simply but effectively, in Spanish. Within each job-specific area, our programs are used to improve communication, teamwork and efficiency.
  
  We focus on processing "human transactions" – for example: depositing a check at a bank, giving safety instructions at a jobsite; helping an injured person at an accident scene; or helping a Hispanic customer find what they need at a supermarket or retail store.
  
  In workplace communication there is no need to know grammar, memorize masculine and feminine nouns, or conjugate verbs. The need is VERY SIMPLE -- 2 people need to communicate in a specific context with limited knowledge of each other's language. Workplace Spanish® facilitates this type of communication.
   
• Another difference between academic and Workplace Spanish® is the duration of the language training. Workplace Spanish® courses are short in duration, generally ranging from 12 to 24 hours. Academic instruction is targeted to a different audience – primarily students or adults who wish to, or need to, become proficient in Spanish.
  
  
• Let's summarize by paraphrasing one of our class students: "make it specific for my job and make it simple so I can say it."

 3. Adults Want Instant Gratification

Workplace Spanish® is designed for adult workers who need to communicate with employees, customers, patients or citizens.  BUT -- Adult workers want instant results!

Just like anything else in this multi-tasking, no patience world; adults want simple, effective Spanish that they can use QUICKLY! In fact, the ideal solution would be to have a "fluency pill" that could be taken once a day. Adults expect RESULTS - ACTION - FUN - EASY LEARNING - HIGHLY FOCUSED TRAINING – and NO, they do not want to do homework!

It's important to always keep these expectations in mind. Sometimes academic instructors let their own preferences, or grammar questions from one or two students, interfere with achieving group objectives.

4. Why Workplace Spanish® is popular and effective

• No prior Spanish experience is necessary

• Training is short duration – courses generally run about 16 hours in length

• Classes focus on effective communication — not language proficiency

• Repetition, Role-play and Practice Conversations are the key teaching methods

• No grammar - No conjugation - No rules to memorize

• Class participants can "Learn it today – Use it tomorrow"

• Our easy-to-use Training Manuals include an audio CD

• Training can be customized to meet specific client needs
  

5. What do I Need to Get Started

• An understanding and belief in the purpose & concept of Workplace Spanish®

• A sample of one of our manuals and a copy of our DVD so you can see, touch, feel, discuss

• An instructor who is on the same wavelength with this philosophy (see separate instructor info)

• A plan to launch Workplace Spanish® in contract training and continuing education arenas

6. Role of The Instructor

Of course, the instructor plays the key role in Workplace Spanish® training. Not as a traditional teacher, but rather as a coach, facilitator, and cheerleader. Maybe as the quarterback who leads the team to the goal -- which is being able to communicate simply, but effectively with Spanish speakers.

The instructor must know the objectives, priorities and challenges of the group, and must help solve them. This is a totally different role than that of a teacher imparting wisdom. The instructor must be flexible, adaptable, creative and constantly on the lookout for examples of relating the material to its use in the workplace.

Knowledge of Latin American Spanish and being bilingual are necessities. Great academic credentials are not. In fact, it is extremely helpful to have an instructor with business or government experience in order to better relate to the workplace environment of your customers.

Another key factor is building rapport with the class -- the class is not a lecture and normally the students are not being graded for credit. Coaching and facilitating the learning of simple, everyday workplace conversation is the instructor's key role. Read more about this on the Role of the Instructor page.

7. Getting the Message Out

Naturally, their are many marketing methods that can be used to get the word out about your Workplace Spanish® training. We'll review the most commonly used methods and provide some examples of what you can do to serve your community workforce needs while building revenues for your organization.

MARKETING METHODS	COMMENTS OR ACTION TO CONSIDER
College Catalogs	A standard media that you can use 4 times a year; pick up the key paragraph from our course descriptions and offer as many classes as may provoke interest – or as you have instructors and facilities for.
Publicity	Let the local paper know what you are offering when you catalog comes out.  What new course is on the schedule?  Who have you trained in a specific course?
Flyers / Brochures / Mailers	Whether for a network meeting or to be used as a mailer, these can be extremely effective in showcasing your ability to meet community Spanish needs.
Your Own Website	No better place to show the Workplace Spanish® logo and state you offer Workplace Spanish® training -- then list the courses.  It compliments your catalog.  There is no fee to be an "official provider" -- so move ahead and get it done.
e-mail Marketing	A great way to keep your clients & prospects up to speed. It's quick, and can deliver the message instantly.  Copy the key parts of our monthly newsletter and include them in your prospecting e-mails.  Let your clients know that the need for Spanish training is growing astronomically — and no one is better to meet their needs than you.
Direct mail Marketing	Effective to announce a new product or service — or maybe entry into a new business (Workplace Spanish for example).  You can do these in small batches using your brochure or a one-page flyer.
Networking	Face-to-face communication at chamber meetings, Rotary meetings or civic / charitable evens can work wonders.  Language barrier stories are always in the news, use them to your advantage when meeting prospective customers at these events.
Cold Calls	When done selectively this can be a very successful marketing method.  On a small basis, use it to follow-up on a news article or community occurrence (frequent examples are police or fire dept. problems speaking Spanish in an emergency).
Test Drive / Free Sample	This works best when you have a great instructor doing a Continuing Ed class; then you can invite key prospects for contract training to spend an hour with you to see how effectively you train. Even, if you don't have a Cont Ed class going, you can always offer a 1 to 2-hour "test drive" to a group of prospects.  Demonstrate that this isn't boring old school Spanish — it's energetic, interactive, focused and fun!  Workplace Spanish® pays dividends.
Cross-course Promotion	Have a paramedic or nursing class going on?   Give out a sample of our Health Care or Fire/EMS table of contents and let these folks know you can help them cut through the Spanish barrier.  There are usually many opportunities to cross-promote.
Use our Marketing Materials	We create a wide variety of info sheets, PDF brochures, 1-page flyers, etc.  They are all available on the website for downloading.  You can edit them and use them for your prospects (assuming they are Workplace Spanish prospects).
Use our Website	You can download and e-mail sample pages and audio excerpts from the program pages on our website.  Send them to prospects with your cover page and pertinent facts.  Don't sit and wait to receive a sample manual — satisfy their instant gratification desire! Also, use our customer list if yours is not strong.  We have trained or supplied materials to many of the nation's largest and most prestigious organizations – take a look at our customer list & make it work for you!
Have a better idea?	Tell us so we can share it with your peers!

8. Meeting with Prospective Clients

When you meet with prospects, don't start selling – rather, ask questions and start listening! These meetings are not about teaching people to speak Spanish. They are about helping others solve business problems by teaching their managers or associates to COMMUNICATE IN SPANISH.

REMEMBER: "You don't have to be fluent to communicate effectively!™ Tell your prospect that; manage their expectations; work with them to achieve the results they have in mind.

1. Determine what your client (or students) want to achieve when training is completed? Probe for workplace objectives, problems, mistakes, accidents. This training is all about solving or preventing problems, improving service, etc. It is NOT about language excellence.
   
   
2. Who are the people to be trained? What are their positions; how do they interact with Hispanics; what are their priorities and objectives? Addressing their needs will determine the success of the class.
   
   
3. What SPECIFIC THINGS do they need to learn? Workplace Spanish® training must focus on what the participants need to say or ask. Each of our programs contains 400 to 500 key terms & expressions for a particular industry or occupation -- there is never enough time to teach all of the material. The class must be tailored and focused on the specific needs of the group.
   
   
4. What time & budget are available for the training? You must assess whether there is sufficient time and budget to meet the client objectives. Use our Prospect Questionnaire to help pinpoint the client expectations.
   
• Workplace Spanish® training programs usually range from 12 to 20 hours, depending on the program complexity, and client time/budget.  Again, the objective is not to teach everything in the manual -- it is to teach what is relevant and important to your client.
  
  
• To maximize attendance & participation, we strongly suggest completing the training within 4 weeks. Meeting twice a week for 2 to 3 hours has proven to be the best approach.  There is never a shortage of material for additional classes or for a "Phase 2" program."

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