What started as an innovative pilot program is now expanding and changing lives along the I-drive corridor.

Hundreds of hospitality workers are learning English thanks to a successful partnership between Orange County, UCF global, Rosen Hotels and resorts and the Aeras Foundation.

Ana Guerrero is well on her way to learning English. In the last seven weeks of classes, she’s already made big strides.

“It helped me with my communication at work and my daily life,” said Guerrero.

Guerrero, who is a housekeeper, is one of 192 students who are all employees of Rosen Resorts or Avanti Hotels, participating in the second round of the program. The English classes, called ESOL for Working Adults Program, launched in February 2023. For over a year, UCF global has collected data from employees, developing a sustainable language program to help these hospitality workers thrive.

“We created a class that really builds in those metalinguistics for people who don’t have literacy in their primary language and so that is huge for these folks because when we teach them, we teach them things such as what is a noun, what is a verb so we are helping them understand the basics of language in their primary language as well as understanding them in English,” said Jennifer Haddad, Director of Business Partnerships at UCF Global.

The program was so successful that this year, it was expanded. Now students, who range from 20 years old to 73, are able to take these classes. They take place inside the resorts at no cost to the students, who actually get paid to attend them, as it overlaps with their work day, making it easier for them to attend.

“So we removed that barrier of the transportation, of the child care and I think that really speaks as to why the retention rates are so high is that we are meeting people where it is convenient for them,” said Haddad.

For Guerrero, that’s been a big factor in achieving her goals.

“It’s a huge help that Rosen hotels allowed me to take this class while at work. It is very easy for me”

Orange county’s International Drive community development agency is continuing efforts to expand the program to other programs. The county is hopeful this program will help support professional growth and development in the area.