facebook pixel content

Programs: High School | Adult Skilled Trades | Industry Professional Development

Spanish for Construction

One in three professionals currently employed in the construction industry is Hispanic (31.5%); a number that continues to grow each year. 

This is why growth focused companies are investing in helping non-Spanish speaking team members develop the basic construction Spanish language skills to improve communication, accessibility, and safety. 

Register

Course Description

Developed in partnership with the Literacy Center of West Michigan, this course teaches construction Spanish through a customized curriculum that covers the most common words and phrases used on a construction jobsite. Students will learn reading, writing, listening and speaking skills to communicate more effectively with team members in Spanish in areas of safety, work instruction, tools, and basic conversation. 

 

There will also be opportunities to discuss cross-cultural questions related to effective teamwork and communication. 

Schedule

The Literacy Center of West Michigan provides all levels of adult tutoring and literacy programming for the greater Grand Rapids area. 

Course details

Who should attend?

This introductory-level course is intended for those who speak little to no Spanish, and is open to anyone looking to engage more effectively with their Spanish speaking team members.

What language skills will students learn?

In this introductory course, graduates will be able converse in a variety of construction applicable topics including:

  • Greetings & Introductions
  • Numbers
  • Telling Time & Schedules
  • Identifying Construction Jobs and Tools
  • Talking about Safety
  • Giving Instructions

What is the Literacy Center of West Michigan?

The Literacy Center of West Michigan has been working alongside community members as they improve their reading and language skills. Their work is deeply grounded in the belief that West Michigan will thrive only when we can access the assets of all our community members.

 

Learn more by visiting their website here. 

Spanish Construction Quiz
Take this fun, 4 question quiz on some of the most common conversations overheard on jobsites to reveal your Spanish Construction score!
¡Quiz!

Spanish for Construction Registration Form

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.
Step 1 of 3
Will your registration be self-paid or company sponsored?
Selected Value: 1
Name of Billing Contact
Billing Address
Billing Contact Email

Additional Courses you may be interested in:

Course header for the west michigan construction institute's Introductory Field Leadership course.

START DATE
August 26, 2025
End Date
November 4, 2025
Registration Fees
$3800

What you'll learn:

In this six-session professional development course, students will develop the communication, management, and productivity skills needed to lead successful construction projects.

Who should attend?

As a perfect program to translate job site technical expertise into leadership of multiple persons and teams, this course is best for rising construction industry managers, foremen, and superintendents.

START DATE
October 1, 2025
End Date
October 29, 2025
Registration Fees
$610

What you'll learn:

A perfect introductory program for students to learn how to read and interpret construction documents in all areas of construction. Specific skills developed include: document terminology, site planes, plan specifications, bid manuals, and more.

Who should attend?

This program is structured for tradespersons who is just entering the field or transitioning into a position requiring a firm understanding of how construction documents work and are related to each other.
Course header for the west michigan construction institute's Advanced Field Leadership course.

START DATE
August 27, 2025
End Date
November 5, 2025
Registration Fees
$3900

What you'll learn:

Building on skills learned in Introductory Field Leadership, students will learn develop competency: 1. Leadership from Within (Emotional intelligence for leaders, business acumen in contracting, coaching and mentoring skills) 2. Managing Behaviors (Time management, generations in the workplace) 3. Impacting Project Teams (Collaboration for successful communication, organizational skills, developing powerful messages) 4. Mentoring through Coaching (Harness the power of leadership energy, improving leadership performance through delegation) 5. Situational Leadership (Problem-solving, improving accountability, change management) 6. Leadership Growth (Critical-thinking, capstone project)

Who should attend?

Advanced Field Leadership is best for mid-level managers, project directors, and members of the leadership teams with a specific focus on smoothing the transition from being a technical expert in the field to being an expert leader of people and projects.
WMCI's Spanish for Construction Training course featured image.

START DATE
January 13, 2026
End Date
March 19, 2026
Registration Fees
$1250

What you'll learn:

In a curriculum customized for the industry, students will learn the most common construction Spanish words and phrases used on a jobsite.

Who should attend?

This course is intended for those that speak little to no Spanish and are looking to engage more efficiently with their Spanish speaking team members.
Course thumbnail image for the field operations certification program taught in partnership with Ferris State faculty.

START DATE
January 22, 2026
End Date
April 9, 2026
Registration Fees
$3750

What you'll learn:

Students will learn project communications, documentation, safety, site logistics, coordination, quality control, and project closeout skills.

Who should attend?

This course is designed for recently promoted superintendents, foremen, and crew leaders as they transition from hands-on trades to field leadership positions.
Featured image for Better Communications Workshop course

START DATE
February 25, 2026
End Date
February 25, 2026
Registration Fees
$199

What you'll learn:

Students will learn practical strategies to communicate information in ways that are more easily understood as well as strategies to check comprehension of feedback.

Who should attend?

Any member of an organization - whether in the field or in the office - who regularly interacts with persons speaking a different language. Past students have stated that this course has been especially helpful on job sites as being able to clearly communicate across language divides is vital to maintaining workplace efficiency and safety.
Course thumbnail image for the construction Presentation Skills course at WMCI

START DATE
October 28, 2025
End Date
October 30, 2025
Registration Fees
$2499

What you'll learn:

Students will learn how to organize presentations for clarity and impact, create visual aids, improve communication skills, and engage their audience with interactive techniques.

Who should attend?

This course is ideal for persons in business development, project management, and/or leadership looking to maximize the impact of their presentations.
Course thumbnail image for the construction project management certification program taught in partnership with Ferris State faculty.

START DATE
September 4, 2025
End Date
October 30, 2025
Registration Fees
$3750

What you'll learn:

Students will learn project communications, contracts and scope of works, buyouts, cash flow, turnover, and other project administration skills.

Who should attend?

This course is designed for recently promoted superintendents, foremen, and crew leaders as they transition from hands-on trades to field leadership positions.