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Esl Program Works for Bal Seal Employees
The English as a second language (ESL) program, which yielded its first group of 49 graduates in late 2008, is improving communication, cooperation and customer service at Bal Seal. But according to the company, it’s also motivating a large number of participants to continue their pursuit of education outside the workplace.
Mario Diaz, Bal Seal’s Corporate Technical Trainer, attributes this positive development to the “empowering effects” of his company’s ESL program. Although they may have previously dismissed the option of going back to school, many students are successfully stepping into GED programs, community college courses – even citizenship classes, he says.
“Employees who participate in the [Bal Seal ESL] program are realizing that they still have what it takes to learn,” says Diaz. “They’ve successfully completed our classes, and all of a sudden, they’re seeing that other educational milestones aren’t out of reach.”
Combining university-style classroom sessions with at-home study, instructional CDs and DVDs, the Bal Seal ESL program is designed to help Spanish-speaking employees improve their verbal and written English language proficiency.
The program is administered over a 12-month period, and it emphasizes the vocabulary and terminology commonly used in the Bal Seal manufacturing environment. Course materials include the popular Inglés sin Barreras® series produced by Lexicon Marketing of Los Angeles, Calif.
According to Diaz, 22 of Bal Seal’s 2008 graduating ESL class went on to pursue outside educational opportunities. With a new pool of students scheduled to begin coursework in January 2009, he expects this trend to continue.
About Bal Seal Engineering, Inc.
Bal Seal Engineering, Inc. is a global provider of custom-engineered connecting, sealing, conducting, and shielding solutions for OEMs. Its products include Bal Seal™, Bal Conn™, and Bal Shield™ solutions, all of which employ unique canted-coil™ spring technology for enhanced performance and reliability. For the latest news and information about Bal Seal, visit http://mediaroom.balseal.com or call 800.366.1006.
Mario Diaz, Bal Seal’s Corporate Technical Trainer, attributes this positive development to the “empowering effects” of his company’s ESL program. Although they may have previously dismissed the option of going back to school, many students are successfully stepping into GED programs, community college courses – even citizenship classes, he says.
“Employees who participate in the [Bal Seal ESL] program are realizing that they still have what it takes to learn,” says Diaz. “They’ve successfully completed our classes, and all of a sudden, they’re seeing that other educational milestones aren’t out of reach.”
Combining university-style classroom sessions with at-home study, instructional CDs and DVDs, the Bal Seal ESL program is designed to help Spanish-speaking employees improve their verbal and written English language proficiency.
The program is administered over a 12-month period, and it emphasizes the vocabulary and terminology commonly used in the Bal Seal manufacturing environment. Course materials include the popular Inglés sin Barreras® series produced by Lexicon Marketing of Los Angeles, Calif.
According to Diaz, 22 of Bal Seal’s 2008 graduating ESL class went on to pursue outside educational opportunities. With a new pool of students scheduled to begin coursework in January 2009, he expects this trend to continue.
About Bal Seal Engineering, Inc.
Bal Seal Engineering, Inc. is a global provider of custom-engineered connecting, sealing, conducting, and shielding solutions for OEMs. Its products include Bal Seal™, Bal Conn™, and Bal Shield™ solutions, all of which employ unique canted-coil™ spring technology for enhanced performance and reliability. For the latest news and information about Bal Seal, visit http://mediaroom.balseal.com or call 800.366.1006.