BENTON HARBOR — Looking to meet the growing demand for bilingualism in the workplace, Lake Michigan College is now offering students the opportunity to earn a Spanish language certificate of achievement.

The certificate, which is open to all students, can be earned by completing four classes — elementary Spanish I and II, and intermediate Spanish I and II — at LMC’s Benton Harbor, South Haven and Niles campuses. For students with Spanish language experience, testing options are available to move directly to the intermediate level.

“This gives our students the opportunity to not only learn a new language, but also to connect with cultures and peoples locally and around the globe,” said Nicholas Brittin, LMC’s foreign language and communications department chair. “In only four semesters, we can foster more connections and cross-cultural understanding.”

Spanish is one of the most popular languages in the world, next to Mandarin Chinese and English. About 425 million people worldwide use Spanish as their primary means of communication. It is the official language of 20 counties as well as the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico.

With the increasing socio-economic power of Spanish-speaking communities in the U.S., this certificate will be essential in industries ranging from hospitality and education to business administration and journalism, LMC officials said.

Credit earned also can be applied toward most associate degrees at LMC. The four courses also meet Higher Learning Commission requirements and are designed with both career and transfer in mind.

For questions or more information, contact the Lake Michigan College Foreign Language and Communications Department by emailing Nicholas Brittin at brittin@lakemichigancollege.edu, calling (269) 927-8759 or visiting lakemichigancollege.edu/spanish.