Oxnard College offers free English classes for workers

Oxnard College is offering free English classes for workers at local businesses.The idea is to teach employees the English they need to do their jobs, said Christopher Jones, project director. So a hotel might request a class focusing on housekeeping terms. Or a hospital could offer a class on medical terms.

The college received a $399,000, two-year grant from the chancellor of the California Community College System to start the pilot program, which has 400 spaces available.

So far, two companies have signed up — Catalytic Solutions Inc. in Oxnard, which makes catalytic converters, and Deckers Outdoor Corp. in Camarillo and Ventura.

Deckers, which markets Ugg boots and Teva sandals as well as other products, has about 30 people in the classes, said Lou Flores, human resources manager.

The company signed up for the program because it wanted to improve communication between workers and managers, he said.

“Our manager likes to go out on the floor and talk to people directly,” Flores said. “We also wanted to give employees opportunities to take new positions. We look at it as an opportunity for both the employees and for us.”