McDonald's Taught Me How To Read English

What does it say about the American education system when immigrants are taking their English as a second language classes at McDonald’s?

On Monday, the multi-national corporation announced that it graduated its first N.J. “English Under the Arches” in Fairfield, capping off a program that’s intended to “teach [employees] the English they need to communicate effectively and confidently with customers and staff on a daily basis.”

The eight-week program included courses in listening, speaking, reading and writing, according to a release from McDonald’s.

Altogether, 16 managers and manager trainees from McDonald’s restaurants across the Tri-State area graduated from the program. Employees ranged in age from their early 20s to mid-50s; their countries of origin included El Salvador, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Haiti and Peru.

Employees who are selected to participate in the free program have been identified as “high-potential managers who would provide continued value and progress rapidly with the aid of language training,” according to McDonald’s.

Classes are held during work hours and student-employees receive regular wages for the time they spend in the program.

During the graduation ceremony, Marcos Quesada, Vice President of McDonald’s NY Metro, shared his personal experience of coming to the U.S. from Nicaragua 29 years ago without knowing the English language.

“I’m thankful to McDonald’s for the opportunity to improve my English,” said restaurant manager Charles Morillo, who immigrated from the Dominican Republic six years ago. “I already understand a lot more now than when I first started the class.”

The 16 graduates included:

• Marie Bremise Andre, 42, Nyack, NY
• Paola Arevalo, 22, Paterson, NJ
• Nancy Casco, 26, Ramsey, NJ
• Manuel A. Delgado, 31, Paterson, NJ
• Concepcion Hernandez, 40, Ramsey, NJ
• Rose Andre Hypolite, 34, East Orange, NJ
• Gloria Lemus, 32, Nyack, NY
• Carmen M. Lombardi, 31, Passaic, NJ
• Gerarda Mejia, 30, Ramsey, NJ
• Leticia C. Morales, 26, Boonton, NJ
• Charles Morillo, 28, Boonton, NJ
• Bernadette Nazario, 40, Ramsey, NJ
• Claudia Osis, 30, Clifton, NJ
• Adriana Perez, 32, Passaic, NJ
• Herminia Santana, Nyack, NY
• Josette Vilfranche, 54, Nyack, NY

Photos courtesy of the IW Group