College and AFY partner to offer Bilingual Customer Service program
WHITEHORSE—Yukon College and Association franco-yukonnaise (AFY) have been working in partnership to offer a new 13-week Bilingual Customer Service program starting in January 2017. The pilot program is aimed at French speakers who would like to take on front-line roles in tourism or other service industries in Yukon.
Students in this program will become familiar with the basics of customer service in a bilingual setting, improve workplace essential skills and cap it off with a short work placement. Students will learn workplace English with a bilingual instructor.
“A program such as this was one of the proposed outcomes of our 2014 study on skills development needs in Yukon,” said Isabelle Salesse, Executive Director at the AFY. “The delivery of the program is based on an integrated approach that will help adults improve their skills in the areas of client services and workplace readiness, and will help meet the needs of tourism operators who are seeking bilingual employees.”
The 2011 Census shows that Yukon places third in Canada, behind Quebec and New Brunswick, with 13.3% of the population identifying as bilingual-capable (4,510 people).
“We are pleased to join the Association franco-yukonnaise in offering this pilot program to meet the needs of both French-speaking Yukoners and tourism operators,” said Dr. Karen Barnes, President and Vice Chancellor at Yukon College.
There are 10 places available in the Bilingual Customer Service program. The deadline to apply to Yukon College is Friday, January 13, 2017. The program begins on Tuesday January 24, 2017.
Prospective students should contact Stéphanie Bourret, Education Manager at the AFY for more information - 867-668-2663 #220 or sbourret@afy.yk.ca.