Debbie Mattina (center) teaches Luis Chavez (l) and Yesenia Pereira during a Bridge class

"In the future, maybe I’ll pursue teaching, or maybe I can take a management class and be a manager," said Peralta. "I want to keep learning."

Created in 2000, the Bridge program is aimed at Harvard workers and Harvard-contracted employees who wish to improve their English skills. The classes are free and generally take place near or in the schools where the workers are employed. For example, the HSPH workers participating in the program attend their classes at HSPH, the Tosteson Medical Education Center at HMS, and the Countway Library. Bridge students can spend part of their work time–up to four paid hours each week–taking classes.

Bridge program director Carol Kolenik said that the courses accommodate students who have widely divergent levels of education, language, and literacy skills. The classes range from improving basic literacy to learning computer skills to preparing for college classes or other academic work. More than a dozen HSPH workers are taking Bridge classes, and they are largely focused on learning English.

Luis Chavez, who works at HSPH as an employee of the custodial services company One Source, came to the US in 1992 after political and economic troubles roiled El Salvador. More than 10 years later, his command of English remains a little shaky, but he is determined to improve. This February, he enrolled in the Bridge program and says he already feels that his skills are better.

Chavez made his comments with the help of his wife Yesenia Pereira, who also works at HSPH for One Source and who speaks English more proficiently. Pereira left the Dominican Republic in 1996 because she could not find a job. She has been enrolled in the Bridge program for two years, and her focus is on improving her reading and writing skills.

Their supervisor, Luis Zamora, has seen a change in Chavez and Pereira. They had generally shied away from speaking English, he said. Now, they are less afraid to use the language and engage with other HSPH members, he said.

"They’re interested in learning and that’s the best part," said Zamora.

Even though the Bridge students leave their jobs for several hours each week to take class, Zamora doesn’t mind because the studies improve their work.

"Communication is very important in any job," he said.

Both Chavez and Pereira describe their classes as helpful, and they even welcome the homework they are assigned. They particularly like their teacher, Debbie Mattina, coordinator in Academic Affairs. Mattina has arranged a flexible schedule at HSPH so that she can teach courses in the Bridge program.

"I love teaching because the Bridge students are completely self -motivated," said Mattina."They’re there because they want to be."

Mattina has worked and traveled overseas, holds a graduate degree in education, and has years of classroom experience, particularly with adult learners. She was hired by the Bridge program last summer when it was expanding in the Longwood area.

The Bridge program also seeks to help workers get better jobs and offers a full-time job counselor. Some students who already have proficient English come to the program to sharpen skills they will need to pursue a new profession or to resume a career abandoned after coming to the US, as is the case with Peralta. She strongly recommends the Bridge program to her co-workers.

"It’s going to help them to improve their English or whatever they want to study," she said. "Everyone should take the opportunity to do it."

The Harvard Bridge to Learning and Literacy program is open to all hourly employees and to members of HUCTW. For more information, go to http://atwork.harvard.edu/ed-literacy.html. Questions can also be directed to Carol Kolenik at 617-495-2535, carol_kolenik@harvard.edu, or Kris Locke at 617-496-9503, kris_locke@harvard.edu.

-- Paul Massari