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It is difficult to miss the new television commercials ending with "Se habla español." Familiar stores in Baton Rouge are printing their logos in both Spanish and English.
According to the United States Census Bureau, there are 31 million people currently residing in the United States who speak Spanish in their homes. Companies are scrambling to cater to their needs.
Like many Hispanic people living in the United States, learning English has been a problem for Oswaldo Zacatias. He has been living here for six years but said he hasn't learned English because he works so much.
Zacatias was contracted to help build a house in the Riverbend subdivision for Haddad Construction Co. A spokeswoman for the company, Eileen Ravasis, said it is important to keep people on staff who can translate.
"Usually the lead man for a project has to speak both Spanish and English," Ravasis said.
The bilingual effect has trickled down to the University. Junfang Yu, University professor for the college of Construction Management, said the school encourages students to take Spanish courses.
"Naturally, we have been discussing the addition of a Spanish curriculum at our faculty meetings," Yu said. "I don't think it will be required to take Spanish in the short term but maybe later."
Christina Phillips, president of the Spanish Club, said learning Spanish has helped her tremendously because it is so commonly spoken language in Louisiana.
"My mom is a pharmacist, and she has Hispanic customers all the time," Phillips said. "She always calls me to translate."
Phillips hopes to promote awareness about the Hispanic population through her work with the Spanish Club.
"People don't realize that not all of the immigrants here are Mexican," Phillips said. "You cannot call every Hispanic person you see a Mexican."
After Phillips graduates she hopes to become a translator. There are many opportunities available for Spanish translators in Baton Rouge.
Michael Vice, general manager of Innovative RV, has hired several Spanish speakers since the company's start six years ago.
"We're the only RV rental company in the area that offers our services in Spanish," Vice said. "It gives us a leg up because it allows Hispanic people to articulate their needs so much better in their native language."
Vice's business has grown since Hurricane Katrina due to the surge of migrant workers who came to Louisiana.
"We're definitely seeing a rise in the number of people who are renting trailers," Vice said. "Many of them are workers who are using them as temporary housing while they're in the United States."
Law students could also benefit from learning Spanish. Lenny Cardenas, owner of a Baton Rouge law firm, proudly advertises "Se habla español" on his Web site.
"Hispanic people have the same disputes as anyone else," Cardenas said. "Coming from a Hispanic family has helped me to communicate better with my clients."
The Safety Council of Baton Rouge is making strides in offering Spanish language training to local workers. Melissa Sparks, the council's vice president of communications, said the company is in the process of translating all its training videos into Spanish. The council also helps install and demonstrate proper child car seat usage.
"It's been really interesting," Sparks said. "For Hispanic people, we have to install the car seats at Catholic churches because it is custom for a priest to bless the seat."With increasing requests for translators, the company is looking to hire Spanish students. Though many employers are seeking Spanish speakers, some still think it is important for Hispanic workers to learn English.
"I think that Hispanic people can't depend solely on us to speak their language," Phillips said. "They should try to earn English too."
----- Contact Kristine Breithaupt at kbreithaupt@lsureveille.com
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