Edenia Nodarse is a customer service clerk at Publix in Miami. She is studying contextualized English at the worksite with Skills and Opportunity for the New American Workforce. Her Miami Dade College instructor, Professor Yenesis Alfonso, proudly shared that Edenia advanced to be a full-time employee, just a few month before her 10-year employment anniversary with Publix. Edenia feels extremely appreciative of the fact that she was given the opportunity to take this English course, giving her the confidence to communicate more effectively and openly with customers and co-workers.
“I am very happy! The manager called me to the office yesterday to let me know that, effective next week, I would become a full time employee. I am very grateful to my Customer Service Manager, Assistant Manager, and co-workers who have supported me to get to where I am today, and improve myself,” said Edenia.
Professor Alfonso, who is also a curriculum developer, believes that this contextualized English class is exactly what retail workers need to overcome the language barrier and reach their fullest potential. “I am so proud of her accomplishments because going full-time at Publix is not always an easy task. Even though she is quite shy, she puts maximum effort in every class and is always eager to partake in role plays and other activities.”
Edenia is also grateful to the Store Manager for allowing her to take this English course, and to her instructor, Professor Alfonso, who is incredibly dedicated, dynamic and pushes her students to study hard and excel. “This program has helped me tremendously! Now I feel more confident when I interact with customers,” she added.
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Skills and Opportunity for the New American Workforce is a project of the National Immigration Forum, funded by the Walmart Foundation, in partnership with Miami Dade College and the Community College Consortium for Immigrant Education.