Clarke makes learning English Job No. 1; Former Farmland workers: 22 Bosnians, Filipinos, Koreans and Mexicans improve language skills to secure employment

Clarke College last week began a program to help some formerFarmland workers develop their English skills.

Twenty-two former Farmland employees began the free, 11-weekclass Oct. 2. The class, which includes Bosnians, Filipinos, Koreansand Mexicans, meets for three hours every weekday through Dec. 15.

"The focus is to enable these workers to increase their languagedevelopment so they can secure employment, understand our cultureand function effectively in an English-speaking workplace," saidNancy Van Milligen, vice president for adult and continuingeducation at Clarke.

Funding for the Clarke program comes from a $10,674 grant fromIowa Workforce Development.

Farmland Foods Inc. sold its Dubuque meatpacking plant toSmithfield Foods Inc. in June. Smithfield closed the plant forrepairs, putting 1,100 people out of work.

Smithfield has said it plans to reopen the plant in December butwill only hire 150 to 200 workers to start.

About 200 of the displaced workers have a limited understandingof English, Van Milligen said.

The Clarke program teaches participants to fill out jobapplications, use the Internet as a resource, write a cover letterand resume, interpret work- related vocabulary, and understand andrespond to typical job interview questions.

The class also will visit some local employers and conduct mockinterviews.

"They're good students, and they're very motivated," saidCatherine Andre, who teaches the class along with Marcia Sola. "Theylove Dubuque, and they want to stay here. This is a greatopportunity to increase their skills and become more employable sothey can stay in the area."

The program is facilitated by Clarke's English-as-a-Second-Language program, which in the past has helped internationalstudents seeking admission, Van Milligen said.

"This is a new venture for Clarke," she said. "We're happy we canmeet the needs of the community this way."

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