Burien Goodwill is offering FREE eight-week English and Computer classes from March 15th through May 6th, with registration from March 1-3 at its location at 1031 SW 128th.

These courses are aimed at teaching people with significant barriers to employment valuable skills needed to find and keep jobs.

This session, students who are studying English but would like to build their computer skills immediately can take a new class, ESOL Computer Basics. And to satisfy a growing demand for English classes, the Center will offer a Level 1 course as well as an additional Basic class.

Classes fill up fast, and sign-up is on a first-come, first-served basis, so interested people are encouraged to sign up soon.

The center will offer the following classes:

English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL):

• Basic ESOL:  Mondays and Wednesdays (three different classes: 9 to 10:30 a.m.; 10:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. or 6:30 to 8 p.m.)
• Level 1:  Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:30 to 5 p.m. NEW CLASS!
• Level 2: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
• Level 3: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30 to 5 p.m.
• Literacy: Mondays and Wednesdays from 10:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

Computer Basics:

• Computer Basics: Mondays and Wednesdays (two different classes: 9 to 10:30 a.m. and 10:45 to 12:15 a.m.)
• ESOL Computer Basics 1: Mondays and Wednesdays (two different classes: 1:30 to 3 p.m. or 3:30 to 5 p.m.) NEW CLASS!
• ESOL Computer Basics 2: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:30 to 3 p.m.
• Microsoft Word: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 to 10:30 a.m.

For class availability and enrollment information, please call (206) 957-1026.

We’d like to shout out a big Bonjour/Bienvenuito/Hola and even a hearty “Xin Chào” to our latest Advertiser: LC Interpreters!

LC Interpreters offers professional language interpretation and translation services in Burien and the Greater Seattle Area.

How can LC Interpreters help you?

Let’s say you are a business person interviewing a prospective employee who may not yet be fluent in the English language. LC Interpreters will provide an interpreter for you to help complete the job interview.

You will know both parties are understanding each other clearly.

Over 150 languages are currently supported via telephone. LC Interpreters’ experienced interpreters and translators are certified and produce timely, accurate interpretations and translations at affordable rates.

LC Interpreters also provides expert document translation services in over 25 languages. Each translation is double-checked for quality and accuracy before it is delivered in electronic form to the client. Translations are also delivered as print materials, upon request.

Some of the many types of documents LC Interpreters translators cover are:

• Medical records and legal documents
• Employee handbooks
• Contracts, letters and marketing materials
• Academic transcripts and diplomas
• Wedding and other social announcements

LC Interpreters was founded by Perlita Matta in 2005.

“Our main focus is medical settings. Many of our services are covered by the state,” Perlita told us. “Medical providers can call us in for workers compensation claims and not have to pay anything out of pocket.

“Sometimes our work is done over the phone,” said Perlita. “But we mostly provide interpreting services onsite.”

LC Interpreters pricing is quite reasonable. They are more than happy to provide a quote in advance.

LC Interpreters is a Certified Washington Women’s Minority Owned Business and is a member of many professional groups including:

• ALC – Association of Language Companies
• Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
• ATA – American Translators Association
• NOTIS – Northwest Translators & Interpreters Society
• OMWBE- Office of Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises
• PWC – Professionals in Workers’ Compensation
• WITS – Washington State Court Interpreters and Translators Society

Setting up an appointment or requesting a quote is easy – just call 206-901-9834 or e-mail: service@lcinterpreters.com.

In most cases an appointment can be scheduled and completed with just 48 hours notice.

Or feel free to stop by their new offices – they are located just east of Ambaum, on SW 153rd Street:

LC Interpreters
641 SW 153rd Street
Burien, WA  98166

Phone: 206-901-9834

www.lcinterpreters.com

E-mail: service@lcinterpreters.com

[Would you like to have a “Blogvertorial” story, Ad and/or Event Listing like this on a popular, fast-growing website seen by nearly 50,000 interested Local Readers every month? Email us for more info, or check out our Advertise page!]

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Bob is an Englishman who lives in Burien who wrote the following report on election night in America. We're posting his story because we find it incredibly interesting to get perspective on the goings-on in the US from a foreigner living here...]

by Bob, an Englishman living in Burien

Something amazing happened in this country just one week ago, on Nov. 4th, 2008.

Of course, not everyone will agree, but there’s no mistaking that a very significant number of people in the United States are extremely happy.

A very significant number of people in the rest of the world are also very happy.

Some are happy because Barack Obama is African American, and that certainly represents huge progress for the country. But, for many it comes down to this: Barack Obama seems to be a President who ran for the office for us and not for himself; a President who cares about this planet as much as many of us do; a President who is clearly very smart, is honest, and inspires us greatly.

What more can we ask of the President?

For me, Election Day coverage began with KUOW while I was at work, followed by the BBC World Service. I caught the first results as I drove home and then was glued to the TV. It all happened so fast. As soon as Ohio was called, I knew it was all over. At 8:00 pm I thought we’d hear about some west coast results, but, suddenly, what we heard was:

“Barack Obama is projected to be the next President of the United States of America.”

It’s hard to write this without feeling very emotional. It was an incredible moment that I’ll never forget. Suddenly, common sense and decency had prevailed. All I can do is echo what someone in Australia wrote in response to the news:

“Congratulations to the new US President. There is now real hope for peace and prosperity and healing for the United States.”

Don’t let anyone tell you that it doesn’t matter what people in Australia think. It does matter. It matters enormously. There is no disputing that a large proportion of the citizens of the world see America as a global leader and with that comes responsibility and respect, something we haven’t seen enough of in the past eight years. But, things look likely to change now.

After President-Elect Obama had given his incredible speech, I regained my composure, jumped in my car, and headed off to celebrate with my friends in Ballard. On the way I took a detour into downtown Seattle and found myself stopped at Seneca and 1st Ave while hundreds of people walked by, waving and cheering. Drivers blew their horns in celebration and I just had to join them. I parked and then found the main congregation at Pike and 1st Ave. Helicopters hovered above to record the scene. TV and radio crews were there on the ground. The police did their part to keep the streets safe and I can’t imagine that they encountered any problems. All in all it was a wonderful occasion. A lady from NPR came to ask me some questions and all I could do was elaborate on what she already knew. It was very special moment.

After she left I looked down to find a red cardboard sign partially covered by leaves and obviously trampled by the crowd. It was red and advertized cigarette packets.

“Maverick” was the headline.

Enough said.

It was hard to leave the crowd, but off I went to meet my friends in Ballard and we shared an overwhelming sense of joy over what we’d witnessed. The next morning I bought some newspapers as souvenirs and felt a strong sense of relief. Relief that after what had happened in the country, Americans could now share the optimism expressed so well by the Australian commentator.

Something amazing happened on November 4th, 2008 and I’ll never forget that day.

Here’s a little over a minutes’ worth of raw video Bob shot while at the impromptu Obama rally: