Queensborough Community College (QCC) in its 37-acres epitomizes the melting pot image that New York City is renowned for.
The students originate from 140 countries and speak about 60 different languages. This isn’t a surprising fact since Queens has long been recognized as the most diverse county in the United States.
In an effort to meet the needs of an eclectic student body, QCC has implemented a plethora of network support services, transfer and career programs, certificate programs and a variety of foreign language course offerings.
Not only has QCC created these programs to aid students by giving them options of earning a college degree through accredited programs, but the institution also offers credited and non-credited certificates and workforce development programs.
QCC services a varying group of individuals – from high school aged students who need to learn English to adults who need to learn English to take certificate courses to enter the workforce. Additionally, they serve Asian Americans who speak English and want to learn Chinese – to students with degrees from other countries who are finding that their limited proficiency in English is preventing them from getting a job or advancing in their career.
QCC also offers instruction in seven foreign languages, which include French, Italian, Spanish, German, Mandarin, Hebrew and Arabic. Also, in response to an ever evolving global marketplace for most majors in Business Administration, Liberal Arts and Sciences, and Liberal Arts students must complete up to eight credits in foreign languages.
Jack Friedman, the executive vice president of the Queens Chamber of Commerce echoes the importance of multilingualism.
“In today’s business environment, more and more companies are trading in a global market,” he said. “I can’t stress the importance of multi-lingual skills while seeking employment or furthering one’s career development.”
