Seattle Marriott Hotel
Education Partner: Tacoma Community House	lodging industry	375 employees	Contact: Ty Dunning, tydunning@aol.com
Leadership from the Human Resources Director and support from immediate supervisors has allowed Marriot to establish job-specific English as a Second Language instruction for its Seattle employees. Twice per week classes, with full release time, have helped employees greatly improve communication with guests and staff. The program has been so accepted at the corporate level it is being expanded to other Marriott Hotels.

Ildiko Szoros, Assistant Housekeeping Manager

"In 1988 I got a job at the Seattle Marriott Hotel. I had to struggle every single day. Five days a week I came to work. I had nobody to talk to. I tried to avoid any kind of contact with the guests or other employees; I didn't want to look stupid because I didn't understand. At home, I couldn't watch the news, go to the movies or read because of the language barrier. Then the Marriott started the ESL proram and I was one of the lucky ones who could go and learn English at work. I cannot tell you how much easier it was for me and I'm sure it is for other employees; they don't have to go after work to the community college and learn the language there. In 1995 I went to the University of Washington, got my degree and became Assistant Housekeeping Manager. Now I understand how to help new employees go through the same struggles I did. I tell them, 'You can do it.' I know because I started the same way. but thanks to the Marriott I have a good job and a much better life."