In the world of global negotiations and big-deal signing, employers are clearly head and shoulders above the crowd if their employees can speak in another language. In order to facilitate second language needs, the North Harris College language center provides dynamic, innovative and interactive programs that facilitate each participant’s success in the culturally diverse world. By offering outlets for cross-cultural experiences and training through courses, workshops, translating and testing services, the language center affords effective cross-cultural communications programs in support of the community’s global needs.

In addition to its traditional modern language and ESL classes, the language center now provides interactive online language courses. Available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, these online courses are community resources for teaching and learning English and Spanish. Students can enjoy the advantage of the center’s unique array of lessons in a relaxed, learner-friendly environment with interactive exercises that are customized to meet their specific needs. Participants advance at their own pace as they control which lessons to take and when to take them.

In the ESL online courses, vocabulary and grammatical structures are presented through 30 theme-based, interactive lessons at the upper elementary, intermediate, and advanced levels. Lively interactive exercises in listening comprehension, reading, vocabulary and grammar enhance and strengthen language skills. Special grammar coaching exercises and listening and reading skill builders help with stubborn language problems. A report card allows students to keep track of their own progress, see individual strengths and weaknesses and go back and work on problem areas at their leisure. In addition to the lessons, participants enjoy free membership in the ESL community where they can participate in chat room discussions, use the bulletin board and pen-pal listings to meet new friends, play online English games, and take advantage of grammar reference and coaching materials. Enjoy this free membership by registering at nhc.dli.com

Native English speakers interested in Spanish can learn to speak, read and write the language through an innovative online course called Spanish for Speed. This course is designed for anyone wanting to learn Spanish ‘pronto’. Whether their business is going south of the border, they’re planning a trip to a Spanish-speaking country, they want to know what their Spanish-speaking in-laws have been saying about them, or they just want to learn Spanish for the fun of it, this course teaches them six easy recipes for gluing Spanish words together to form sentences. In no time at all, they’ll be able to go into any Spanish-speaking situation and converse in Spanish. ¡Qué Bueno!

For information about these courses as well as the NAFTA Spanish Certificate, conversational modern language courses, test preparation and testing services, call the Language Center at 281.618.5701 or visit the website at esl.nhmccd.edu

North Harris Montgomery Community College District, the fifth largest community college in Texas, comprises North Harris College, Kingwood College, Tomball College, Montgomery College, five satellite centers and The University Center. Cy-Fair College, the district’s fifth comprehensive college, will open in 2003.