Through a program called Command Spanish the College provides customized Spanish language training for non-Spanish speakers who interact with Spanish speakers at work. Command Spanish teaches work specific phrases and the training includes explicit commands.  Participants taking the course do not require a prior knowledge of the Spanish language.

Sherry Jones, Executive Director of the CPD division, explains how the program enables managers to better communicate with their Spanish-speaking employees. “In 16-20 hours of instruction time, we teach supervisors to ask specific phrases to get yes or no answers, not explanations. Participants learn how to give commands that communicate a specific action, which are unique to every industry.  When a supervisor knows and uses them routinely, this verbal exchange leads to being able to better manage Spanish-speaking employees and ultimately promotes team building.”

According to Jose E. Perez, Director of Human Resources at Texas Port Recycling (TPR), the Command Spanish courses have helped his company minimize the barriers to communicating in the workplace. “Our company culture embraces its range of ethnicities.  The Command Spanish courses have helped our English-speaking supervisors to better manage Spanish-speaking employees, which has improved productivity in our organization. For example, during our class sessions, we focused on phrases regarding safety issues.  In our industrial setting, our supervisors can now easily re-enforce to our Spanish speaking workers safety practices to let them know what they should and should not do.”

Command Spanish language training is available for professionals in fields such as customer service, auto sales and service, banking, industrial, manufacturing and warehousing, and medical and public safety.

The Continuing & Professional Development division of San Jacinto College offers programs and courses for individuals to retain or advance in their jobs, or make career transitions.  The division provides training to companies and their employees to meet employers’ demands for a highly skilled workforce, while helping incumbent workers reach their potential.   For information on training, call 281-476-1839.

Texas Port Recycling is a wholly owned subsidiary of Cincinnati-based The David J. Joseph Company (DJJ). Headquartered in Houston, TPR was formed in February 2006 when DJJ purchased the business and assets of Northwest Recycling. This acquisition included a well-established metals recycling facility on the Northwest side of Houston. TPR recently opened a new processing site on the Houston Ship Channel.  The Houston Ship Channel facility includes a 40,000-ton per month mega-shredder, making TPR the home of Houston’s largest auto shredder.

For more information about San Jacinto College and the CPD division, visit http://www.sanjac.edu/.