In the ESL for Hospitality class, students learn about customer service, workplace rights and policies, and the service industry. This month, students applied their knowledge from the Industry and Career Exploration unit by presenting a concept for a catering company to a small business consultant.

In a recent lesson, students presented business concepts for catering companies. They worked in groups to name their businesses, create a food menu with pricing, and define roles and responsibilities of their staff with an organizational chart. They created posters with their work and presented before an audience of students, who served as “small business consultants,” asking questions and making recommendations to the presenters.

Raul Medrano, Coordinator of Small Business & Entrepreneurship Program, visited the class to motivate students and share video case studies of successful small businesses as examples.

Dang Huyen Thi, a student who participated in the project, wrote: “It was very important to me because I could practice English in front of the class and present to them about my idea, my opinion and my plan. The lesson made me more confident when I talk with everyone.”

Students who are interested in building their business skills beyond their classes can also attend the Small Business Clubs at each campus or the Small Business Workshops on Saturdays.