New offerings on tap at Cascadia

A new window has opened for native Spanish speakers to get their feet in the business door.

Cascadia Community College is now offering a certificate program, called Via Nueva, geared specifically for Spanish-speakers that will strengthen their English and introduce them to business and technology courses perfect for new employment opportunities.

“The idea is building on people who already have Spanish as their native first language and treating that as a strength in the workplace,” Cascadia spokesperson Carl Young said.

There is a need in the local economy for business people with a bilingual background, said Nikki Lowin, the program coordinator for Via Nueva, which means new way, path or idea in Spanish.

“We’re answering the need for local employers,” Lowin said.

Via Nueva courses are taught during the evenings, so they could be a good fit for someone already in the workforce, she said, and it takes two quarters to complete the requirements.

Classes are most appropriate for individuals who are learning English as a Second Language (ESL) at an advanced level.

“A large part of the ESL is helping the students prepare for job searches,” Lowin said.

This portion of the courses will be geared toward introducing the students to business vocabulary and skills that will help them succeed in creating a resume, interviewing and landing a job, Lowin said.

“They’re working on customer service skills, collaborating with co-workers, conflict resolution” and other skills, she said.

The other important aspect of the program is the computer-skills classes.

Students will take business information technology courses that will certify them in a variety of Microsoft Office programs, depending on their need and interest.

Students register to complete Microsoft Office modules that will, by the end of the term, prepare them for Microsoft Office Specialist certification.

“It’s a self-paced learning environment,” Lowin said, with instructors present to assist throughout the training.

Instructors will create projects affiliated with the Microsoft programs students are learning, she said.

“If students are working on Excel, they could have a project on doing their monthly budget,” she said.

Via Nueva was piloted at Cascadia during the spring and summer, and students who completed the certificate are seeing success, Lowin said. Some have found new jobs, while others have decided to continue with their education.

In addition to Via Nueva, Cascadia is offering a number of new classes, including ones on game designing and new learning community courses, which integrate topics in multiple disciplines.

This fall, some new classes include: “Introduction to Philosophy Through Cinema,” “The Electronic Republic,” which combines a study of media and politics, and “The Psychology of the Story,” which integrates entry-level psychology and English.