The Landscape

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The Landscape

• Hispanics are the nations largest and fastest
  growing minority
• population, increasing by 60 from 1990-2000
  to 40,000,000.
• (U.S. Census Bureau 2000)

• The Hispanic English as a Second Language (ESL)
  population is
• 30,000,000 people. (NALS, 2000)

• The Limited English Proficient (LEP) Hispanic
  population is between 10,000,000 15,000,000.
  (U.S. Department of Education, 2003)

• The Hispanic labor force is growing four to
  five times faster
• than non-Hispanic workers. (U.S. Census
  Bureau and Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2004)

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The Challenge

• Worker turnover is likely to cost U.S.
  businesses more
• than 600 billion over the next two years.
• (One Straight Line, March 11, 2004)

• Labor is the number one issue facing operators
  today.
• (Workforce Solutions, 2003)

• Learning English is the single most critical
  factor in
• workforce advancement, improved income, and
  reducing
• poverty among working immigrants and their
  families.
• (Source Urban Institute, 2004)

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Industry is Asking for Help

• Customer Service Quality
• Customer, Employee Safety
• Worker Loyalty
• Employee Retention
• Promoting from Within
• Recruitment (Labor and New Customers)
• Consumer Community Relations

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L.E.P. Hispanics are
Asking for Help

• Communication Self-confidence
• Enhanced Job Performance
• Career Advancement Opportunities
• BoH gt FoH gt Management gt Ownership
• Increased Household Incomes
• Send-Back to country of origin
• Better Life for Children
• Higher Education
• Ability to Help Kids in School

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The Solution

• Sed de Saber (Thirst for Knowledge)
• Adult English as a Second Language (ESL)
  Curriculum
• Enhanced LeapFrog Quantum Pad w/ Microphone
• Fun, Familiar, Friendly Technology
• Six Books Cartridges, Batteries, Power
  Adapter, Headset, Case
• Record / Playback / Compare Voice
• Functional Conversation
• Comprehension in 4 Months
• 325, Infinitely Re-Usable

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The Ingredients

• Workplace Context
• 500 Vocabulary Words, 340 Phrases
• Lifeskills Content
• Parent-Teacher Conferences, Doctor, Banking,
  etc.
• Educational, Learning Standards
• Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment System
  (CASAS)
• U.S. Department of Education
• Secretarys Commission on Achieving Necessary
  Skills (SCANS)
• U.S. Department of Labor

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Why It Works

• Learning on their own terms
• Self-Paced
• Average 30 minutes per day x 4 months (paced
  evaluations)
• At Home
• Voluntary Benefit vs. Mandatory Training (Off
  Clock, No Payroll )
• Comfort, Privacy of Home
• Games, Novela Fun Results
• Confidence to Practice, Develop, Improve
  Pronunciation
• Family Learns English Together
• Customized for Hispanic adults with limited
  English proficiency

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Quantitative Measures English Language Learning
Average gain in English language proficiency 67
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Qualitative Measures User Feedback
 
95 - is easy to use. 96 - has helped me
learn English. 95 - increased confidence in
speaking English at work. 94 - boost to my
personal and professional development. 94 -
has been a worthwhile investment in my
career. 99 - demonstrates my employers
commitment to me. 95 - I feel more
connected to my employer. 96 - overall, has
been a positive experience. 97 - I would
recommend that others participate in SdS.
 
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Employer Feedback Increased Promotions

• Employees who gain English language proficiency
  can move up Retention Education customers report
  that 31 of their Sed de Saber users are promoted
  or promotable in just 4 months.

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Employer Feedback Reduced Turnover

• Employees are staying longer and are more
  career-oriented Retention Education customers
  report an 83 average annualized reduction in
  turnover among their Sed de Saber users.

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325 Customers25,000 participants
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Growing Adoption by Fed., States

• U.S. Department of Labor -- 1.1 Million Grant
• 8 Cities in Texas
• U.S. D.O.L. Purchases Matched by Private Sector
• Supported by SER National Jobs for Progress
• Nonprofit Hispanic workforce development agency
• California, Texas, Arizona
• School systems increasing parental involvement