Reading Hospital employees completed the hospital's first English as a Second Language (ESL) course on Wednesday, June 13. The free one-hour classes, provided in collaboration with the Literacy Council of Reading – Berks, occurred twice weekly over 12 weeks. The first session hosted 21 individuals from the Reading Hospital Environmental Services department; employees could attend classes during work shifts and receive their regular hourly wage. A second session is scheduled for later this summer.
The program is made possible by United Way grant funds and the curriculum developed by The Literacy Council of Reading-Berks in partnership with the Reading Area Community College. Students focus on listening, speaking, reading, writing, study skills, content vocabulary, and cultural orientation. After completing the 12-week program, participants will have gained basic conversational skills. They can then progress to the next level of ESL instruction if they wish to do so.
Charles F. Barbera, MD, Reading Hospital President and CEO, shared, “I was honored to present the English as a Second Language Certificates to the first graduating class of students. They are energetic, grateful, and proud to be part of the Reading Hospital team. They shared how the classes changed their lives, both within and outside the hospital. To see the impact these classes have had on our colleagues is incredibly moving.”
“I’m really proud of this program,” said Desha Dickson, Tower Health Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and Community Wellness. “It’s something we've wanted to offer for some time, but we needed to find the right community partners to ensure we presented the most valuable program to our team. We developed strong partnerships with the Literacy Council, RACC, and the United Way, and they all helped make this program possible. Our course was designed specifically with healthcare employees in mind and includes common medical language. One class involved walking around the hospital to test participants' knowledge of signage. The curriculum was truly formulated with their everyday lives in mind.”
Pamela Hernandez, Senior Vice President of Human Resources, and Chief Human Engagement Officer, Tower Health, added, “One of Tower Health’s goals is to help all employees advance within the organization. Programs like ESL benefit our employees and strengthen our entire team. We strive to lift everyone in the community.”
Team members across the organization were excited about this opportunity for their colleagues.
One team member who shared her success story is Paula De La Rosa. Paula began her career at Reading Hospital as an Environmental Services Worker in 2005. At the time, she could read English but not speak it, which made her job far more challenging. “I like to speak with the patient when I’m in their room so I can explain what I’m doing and have a conversation with them,” Paula says. To improve her English, Paula registered for ESL classes at RACC, which she completed on her own time. She credits her improved English with her hospital career advancement. While serving as a housekeeper, she was promoted to team lead and is now a supervisor in the Environment Services Department. Paula's success with ESL classes encouraged her to continue learning and eventually earn her Associate Degree in Business Administration from RACC.
Upon discovering that ESL classes would be offered to hospital employees, Paula said, “I knew I needed to encourage people to take the class.” She says her team members were excited about the opportunity but also, understandably, nervous. She reminds them they have a team to help, and she knows they can do it. “They are working hard to improve. They are learning a lot, getting better, and some now speak more English at work to practice.”
“We’ve seen the positive impact these classes can have on individuals’ personal and professional lives. We want to be a part of that success with our employees,” shared Ms. Hernandez.
About Reading Hospital
Reading Hospital is the flagship, Magnet Recognized, acute care hospital of Tower Health. Located in West Reading, Pa., Reading Hospital is a 697-bed hospital that is home to many top-tier specialty care centers, including Reading HealthPlex, McGlinn Cancer Institute, Miller Regional Heart Center, Emergency Department, Level I Trauma Center and Beginnings Maternity Center, which houses the region's only Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). With more than 1,000 physicians, specialists, and advanced practice providers across 49 locations, Reading Hospital has been recognized for its quality outcomes and clinical expertise across service lines. It is listed as one of America's 100 Best Hospitals for four consecutive years and has been named one of America’s 50 Best Hospitals in 2022 and 2023. For more information, visit towerhealth.org.