This page is written for colleges, school districts, and other adult education organizations who will market and deliver Workplace Spanish® training.  This page is a primer that will provide you with insight and understanding so you can successfully discuss the merits of Workplace Spanish® training.  On this page we cover these six key topics:

1.  What is Workplace Spanish®?

2.  Workplace Spanish® vs. Academic Spanish

3.  Adults want Instant Gratification

4.  Why Workplace Spanish is popular & effective

5.  What you need to Get Started

6. The Instructor

1.  What is Workplace Spanish®?

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

Our programs are designed for very specific, short duration learning.  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 much 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 talk about processing human transactions – for example: depositing a check at a bank, giving safety instructions at a jobsite; or 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 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 and sometimes adults who wish to become proficient in Spanish.
   

• Let's summarize by paraphrasing one of our 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 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.  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.

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