CBET/English for the Workforce Award Program-Off Campus

The CBET program is funded by proposition 227 and offers beginning level English as a Second Language (ESL) classes to parents and community members throughout California who pledge to tutor school-age children. The Cañada College CBET program is a collaboration between the San Mateo Community College District (SMCCD), the Redwood City School District (RCSD), and Silicon Valley Community Foundation.

The English for the Workforce Award Program is a new program within the CBET Program housed under the ESL Department at Cañada College. The Workforce Award program provides language and computer skills classes for the workforce. The community-based classes serve as a bridge to on-campus academic and career programs. Upon completing the program, students receive the English for the Workforce Award. This program has been made possible in part from a grant by Silicon Valley Community Foundation.

For more information, please contact:

Linda Haley, CBET/English for the Workforce Program Coordinator – haleyl@smccd.edu
Diana Espinoza, CBET/English for the Workforce Staff Assistant - espinozaosunad@smccd.edu

Join CBET on Facebook

Click here for the following informational materials:

What courses are offered?

See the course descriptions for:

ESL 800 Preparatory Course
ESL 911 Listening, Reading and Speaking I
ESL 921 Grammar and Writing I (focus on Vocational English)  Equivalent to ESL 821 and 841.

Where and when are courses offered?

CBET/English for the Workforce courses are offered off-campus in the evenings at all sites *except for Hoover, which hosts one morning class (9-11am) during the fall and spring semesters:

Redwood City Locations:

Hawes Elementary School
Hoover Elementary School*
John Gill Elementary School*
Taft Elementary School

East Palo Alto Location:

Boys and Girls Club of East Palo Alto

Half Moon Bay Location

Cunha Middle School

What happens to students when they finish the CBET program?

CBET students usually study two or three semesters in the community-based CBET classes and then transition to campus to continue studying ESL and other careers. To date, over 600 CBET students have moved to campus to continue their studies.

Who is eligible to participate in the CBET/English for the Workforce programs?

The CBET program is designed to serve parents and community members of the RCSD and SUHSD who pledge to tutor school age children once their English is proficient. Participants must be at least 18 years old and meet financial aid requirements for free tuition if they want to receive credit for the courses. Half Moon Bay courses are open to any parent or community member who qualifies.