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Inglés para trabajadores de la construcción
New English-as-a-Second-Language in the Building Industry
Home Builders Institute, National Association of Home Builders and Lowe’s
Unveil Sed de Saber(TM)-Construction Edition at the International Builders’ Show
A new self-paced learning program is now available to help the home building
industry’s 2.5 million Hispanic workers learn English. Sed de Saber(TM)-Construction
Edition, sponsored by Lowe’s, was custom-created by the Home Builders Institute
(HBI), the workforce development arm of the National Association of Home
Builders (NAHB), to address job site communication challenges presented by the
language barrier.
Sed de Saber(TM)-Construction Edition uses a seven-book, fully interactive
curriculum to teach Spanish-speaking workers a functional level of English
language conversation and comprehension. It runs on LeapFrog Quantum Pad(TM)
technology, enabling users to record, play back, and compare their pronunciation
to that of the words and phrases they are learning. The complete curriculum
teaches sentence structure, 500 vocabulary words and 340 phrases, covering basic
life skills such as following driving directions, as well as detailed job-site
scenarios, tools, equipment and scheduling. To address safety-related issues
because of the language barrier, the program’s seventh book focuses entirely on
safety practices, mirroring the NAHB/OSHA Job Site Safety Handbook protocols.
“Sed de Saber(TM)-Construction Edition is an opportunity for builders to take a
leadership role as it relates to a critical workforce issue for our industry,”
said Mike Sivage, immediate past chairman for HBI and a leading force behind the
effort. “Empowering workers to learn English can impact safety, communication
and quality, as well as boost loyalty, recruitment and morale.”
The program allows workers to practice on their own time, at their own pace and
in the comfort and privacy of their own home. Each learning system comes with a
pre-, mid- and post-program skills assessment, so builders can evaluate their
employees’ progress. Workers who follow the study guidelines of 30 minutes each
day will complete the program in four months.
“What’s so unique about this program is that it helps us give back to builders
in a way that can positively affect the way they do business,” said Mike Horn,
vice president of commercial sales at Lowe’s. “Yes, it’s about overcoming
language barriers -- but for Lowe’s, it’s also about enhancing our commitment to
our customers and becoming the valued partner we know they deserve.”
In December 2006, HBI and Retention Education initiated a five-week pilot
program of book one of Sed de Saber(TM)-Construction Edition in Washington,
Seattle, Indianapolis and Las Vegas. Eighty two participants completed book one
with an average English language proficiency score improvement of 40 percent.
“Using the program on job sites resulted in an increase in productivity and
efficiency," said Oliver Prock of Rehabitat Northwest, a Seattle-based home
builder. “Our employees were able to work better as a team due to the decreased
language barrier.”
Developed by a team of superintendents, trade skills experts, builders and
remodelers, Sed de Saber(TM)-Construction Edition meets government learning
standards set forth by the Department of Education and the Department of Labor.
Sed de Saber(TM)-Construction Edition will be available for sale and delivery
March 1, 2007. The system includes one Quantum LeapPad(TM) Plus Microphone,
seven books with cartridges, headset, power adapter, carrying case and pre-,
mid- and post-skills assessments. The system retails for $395 for NAHB members
and $495 for non-members. Lowe’s customers can order the kit with a $40 discount
through the LowesForPros.com Web site. Additional skills assessment packages can
be purchased for $75 each.
Home Builders Institute (HBI) is the workforce development arm of the National
Association of Home Builders (NAHB). HBI is a non-profit organization offering
craft education, training and placement programs for the residential
construction industry. For more than 30 years, HBI programs have trained people
in the trades, promoted the industry as a career and helped the residential
construction industry and NAHB membership address its workforce needs.
Lowe’s has about 12 million customers a week at more than 1,350 home improvement
stores in 49 states. For more information, visit Lowes.com.
Retention Education, LLC is a workforce development company committed to the
development and distribution of educational products that help Hispanic adults
improve their work skills and their daily lives. Retention Education, LLC first
released Sed de Saber(TM) for the hospitality industry in 2005. Since then, over
30,000 units have been sold.
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