Demand for English classes grows from laid-off workers

By Timothy Pratt

Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2001 | 9:13 a.m.

Across the Community College of Southern Nevada's three campuses and in nonprofit institutes around Las Vegas, the demand for classes in English is increasing as laid-off workers, many of whom are Hispanic, seek to improve their chances of finding a job.

"During the last few years, with the growth in the Hispanic population in the Las Vegas area, there already weren't enough programs to meet the need," said Terri Kaulentis, director of Adult Basic Education.

"But now it's worse than ever."

There will be three new English classes in January in her program, Kaulentis said, adding that her phone lines are constantly busy with people seeking classes.

The eight publicly funded programs for learning English in the Las Vegas area also are full, she said.

The demand for English classes at the Nevada Association of Latin Americans has gone from about 25 calls weekly to 100. Most of the calls are coming from recently laid-off workers, said Ana Marshall, who is the client services coordinator at the center.

At CCSN's Charleston Boulevard campus, about 300 calls come in weekly from people who want to be tested for placement in English classes, or 10 percent to 15 percent more than usual, Helen Jones, who oversees testing, said.

Richard Nuzzo said some of his English-as-a-Second-Language students were working when this semester's classes began Sept. 4.

"Since then, they have gotten laid off, and they see the importance of learning English more than ever," he said.

The Board of Regents of the University and Community College System of Nevada discussed helping the displaced workers at last week's meeting in Fallon -- including offering short-term intensive English classes, said Theo Byrns, CCSN interim academic vice president. Funds are being sought to offer tuition assistance with these classes.

"Whether Russian, Arabic or Hispanic, these people need to get back to work, and unless they learn English, they won't be top candidates," said Debra Solt, site director for the CCSN Green Valley Tech Center.