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March 2, 2005

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT DEBBIE KRESGE AT 203- 332-5150 OR CARMEN MEDINA AT 203-332-5057

TO EDITOR: IF YOU USE THIS ARTICLE, PLEASE CONSIDER RUNNING IT UNDER THE FOLLOWING BYLINE. THE WRITER IS A JOURNALISM INTERN AT HOUSATONIC COMMUNITY COLLEGE. NO COMPENSATION IS EXPECTED.

HCC OFFERS SIX FOREIGN LANGUAGES

By Mike Russo

BRIDGEPORT --

Have you ever wanted to learn how to speak French? Or Spanish, Or German, Italian, or even Arabic?

Knowing a foreign language can help you in business and leisure. It can make traveling abroad a lot more fun and open up all types of opportunities.

This semester, HCC is offering six non-credit foreign language courses. These courses are ideal for teachers, counselors, health care professionals, and travelers.

“ These courses are designed for beginners who want to build foreign language skills,” said Deborah S. Kresge, HCC coordinator of Continuing Education. “This can make people more marketable in business, and find much more enjoyment traveling abroad.”

“These are fast track no- nonsense course to give you what you want when you want it,” she added.

The courses will focus on practical vocabulary, dialogue, basic grammar, and culture associated with each language. Each course is six weeks along with 12 hours of instruction.

Textbooks and other class materials are additional to the cost of the course and can be purchased in the HCC bookstore. The courses offered to be offered are;

• Chinese for Beginners- Instructed by Zongyi Wu, the class meets Saturdays from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. March 5 - April 6. The cost of the course is $99.00
• Conversational Arabic – Instructed by Lutfeih Abou Alnasr, the class meets Saturdays from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. April 2 - May 7. The cost f the course is $99.00.
• Conversational French – Instructed by Slande Chery, the class meets Sundays from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. April 2 - May 8. The cost of the course is $99.00.
• Conversational Italian – The class meets Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00a.m. March 19 - April 30. (There is no class on March 26.) The cost of the course is $99.00
• Conversational German – Instructed by Barbara Schmidt, the class meets Tuesdays from 5:15 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. April 5 - May 10. The cost of the course is $99.00.
• Conversational Spanish 2 – Instructed by Marta Laboy Acosta, The class meets Mondays and Wednesdays from 5:15 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. March 5 - April 6. (4 weeks) The cost of the course is $99.00.

Courses are available to all individuals and are graded on a pass fail system. Due to limited space, individuals are encouraged to register early.

To register for classes, or for more information, contact Deborah Kresge at 203- 332-5150 or Carmen Medina at 203-332-5057.

With an eight year old campus in the heart of Connecticut’s largest city, Housatonic is one of the country’s fastest growing public community colleges. Since it moved to the new downtown campus in 1997, Housatonic’s enrollment has increased 77 percent. According to the most recent statistics released by the Washington D.C.- based American Association of Community Colleges, Housatonic was the Northeast’s second fastest growing community college and its fastest growing in terms of full time students.

In response to increased enrollments and changing workplace needs both regionally and nationally, Housatonic has increased the number of programs offered from 43 to 63 since moving to its new campus.

The college is located in downtown Bridgeport one block from the Arena at Harbor Yard.

Mike Russo of Monroe is a journalism intern at Housatonic Community College.