Housekeeping class gives immigrants chance to earn

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Wausau Daily Herald - Housekeeping class gives immigrants chance to earn

Posted December 21, 2007

Housekeeping class gives immigrants chance to earn By Charles Menchaca

Wausau Daily Herald

cmenchac@wdhprint.com

Most people would think it overkill to take a six-week class to learn how to clean a house or hotel, though new immigrants here did exactly that to improve their employability.

Twenty-five students, mostly Hmong, learned basic English, how to clean and how to remain safe doing so through a first-ever course offered at Northcentral Technical College.

Members of the Wausau Area Hmong Mutual Association approached NTC in October about collaborating on the course, which concluded Thursday.

Most new arrivals have little education, said Jean Miller, the course's English Language Learning instructor. Housekeeping is one of few jobs that does not require at least a high school-level education, she said.

With the training, the students can find housekeeping jobs to help support their families while they earn a high school equivalency degree, Miller said. Area hotels typically hire in winter because of the increase in seasonal tourism due in part to hockey games and downhill skiing.

"They're really looking for some staff that's going to stay around for awhile," Miller said.

The six-week course was divided into two sessions a week. Students spent half their time in the classroom and the other half working at hotels.

Pahua Yang, 19, received training at the Hampton Inn in Wausau and the Lodge at Cedar Creek. She arrived in the United States in July 2004.

If she becomes a housekeeper, Yang said the money will help her and her six younger siblings continue their education.

Yang will graduate from Wausau West High School next year and hopes to attend college.

Some hotels have committed to recognizing the student's course work, said Bethany O'Day, associate dean responsible for ELL at NTC. If hired, the students will be paid at a higher rate than untrained applicants.