Why Skanska Helped Create Wake Tech’s Spanish For Construction Course
Sometimes there is more to a construction job than building a building. Opportunities arise that surprise us. This happened for Skanska.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately 30 percent of workers in the construction industry are of Hispanic origin. Construction companies like Skanska have translators on jobsites who provide safety instructions and communicate project tasks in Spanish, but sometimes information gets lost in translation.
Superintendents on a Skanska jobsite in the Research Triangle region wanted to better communicate with non-native English speakers on the project site. Skanska approached Wake Technical Community College (Wake Tech) which is well known for its Workforce Continuing Education programs with non-degree programs for English as a Second Language, high school equivalency preparation, small business support, and courses for personal enrichment. Wake Tech helped to build a self-paced, online Spanish course for construction workers, contractors, foreman and anyone who works with Spanish-speaking colleagues in the construction industry.
In the Spring of 2020, 15 Skanska employees participated in the pilot offering of Wake Tech’s Spanish for Construction course. The course provided participants lessons focused on workplace Spanish vocabulary and conversation skills which were taught through the use of pictures, readings, quizzes and cultural information.
The response was overwhelmingly positive from both the Skanska participants and their Spanish speaking colleagues. Native Spanish speakers on Skanska job sites said that they felt a sense of comradery and respect from those who put in the effort and took the class, especially when they saw it incorporated into day-to-day activities.
Skanska employees who participated in the course not only received college credits, but said the skills learned during the course have allowed them to build stronger relationships with team members and subcontractors.
Given the positive response, Wake Tech added Spanish for Construction to its fall 2021 course.
In construction, we are acute problem solvers. When we are presented with challenges and opportunities to improve our work, we seek innovative solutions. That is what we did and we will continue to do the same in the future when building a building is not the only thing we can help create.
Written By: Johnny Ortiz
Regional Vendor Diversity Manager
Skanska