Students in SCC’s English as a Second Language for Hospitality Class Receive Diplomas

~ Wyndham Hotel in Phoenix provides staff with valuable English language education to enhance communication, confidence and guest services ~

Scottsdale, AZ (February 13, 2009) – The Wyndham Hotel in downtown Phoenix hosted a breakfast last month to celebrate its employees who successfully completed an ESL for Hospitality class offered by Scottsdale Community College.  Seventeen students, including housekeepers, stewards and supervisors, proudly accepted their certificates from Cynthia Heu, Director of Human Resources.

Also in attendance at the breakfast were Linda Novoa, Director of Plant Operations, and Walter Pelton, Director of Operations at the Wyndham.  Dr. Dean Hermanson, Vice President of Occupational Education at SCC and Jean Maracle, SCC’s ESL for Hospitality Instructor who taught the class, were also at the Wyndham to honor the students. 

Based on the success of this first class, the Wyndham is planning to offer two levels of ESL classes to its employees this spring.

SCC’s ESL for Hospitality program addresses the needs of today’s workforce by offering a Certificate of Completion in English as a Second Language for Hospitality.  The ESL for Hospitality Program is unique in that it offers tailor made ESL classes to employees of many of the Valley’s service industries.  Through this program, employees who might never have had the opportunity to take an English course attend class where they work -- before, during or after their shifts. 

In addition to teaching in hospitality settings, SCC also teaches vocational ESL to businesses such as supermarkets, landscaping companies, construction companies, hospitals, assisted living centers, and automobile companies.  Associates working in these industries are taught to speak, read, and write English so that they may respond to colleagues, supervisors and guests with skill and confidence.

SCC’s ESL for Hospitality program has been offered for the past seven years, providing English language education to over 900 students, ages 16-60, from various locales such as Brazil, Congo, Haiti, Jamaica, Eastern Europe, and Mexico, who are now working in the Valley’s hospitality industry.

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About Scottsdale Community College
Scottsdale Community College offers over 1,500 academic and non-credit classes each semester. Located on the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, the campus is known for its serene atmosphere and beautiful plant and wildlife. With nearly 12,000 students, Scottsdale Community College is proud to offer high-quality, affordable programs in small class settings. From Motion Picture/Television Production and Culinary Arts to Nursing and American Indian Studies, students have a wide variety of programs from which to earn credits for university transfer, launch their careers, train for new ones, or pursue a special interest. The SCC Business Institute offers customized programs to meet the needs of local business. Scottsdale Community College is one of the ten Maricopa Community Colleges.

To learn about the many academic programs at Scottsdale Community College, call us at (480) 423-6000 or visit our website at www.scottsdalecc.edu.

Media contact:
Denise Kronsteiner
(480) 423-6567
denise.kronsteiner@sccmail.maricopa.edu

ESL for Hospitality contact:

John Liffiton

(480) 423-6447
john.liffiton@sccmail.maricopa.edu

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