( BW)(TN-TENN-HISPANICS) As Hispanic Population in Middle Tennessee 
Soars, Both White Collar and Blue Collar Workers Flock to Hablemos for 
Spanish Lessons

Business/Assignment Editors

NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 16, 2001--Middle
Tennessee's booming Hispanic population has created a critical need
for employees to speak Spanish in the workplace and no one knows that
better than Ed Gumucio, whose small language teaching service has
quadrupled overnight.
Once a small Spanish teaching service catering mostly to nurses,
Hablemos has mushroomed into a full-time enterprise for Gumucio.
Nineteen different companies will be sending employees to his
Construction Spanish Workshop this week in Brentwood.
"With nearly 100,000 Hispanics in Middle Tennessee now, knowing
some Spanish is essential in the workplace," Gumicio said. "Not only
is it good for business, it helps break the ice culturally, allowing
both sides to put their guards down."
A native of Bolivia, Gumucio got the idea for Hablemos while
involved in the Nashville Chamber of Commerce. Through his work with
the chamber, he discovered a great need for "survival Spanish" in the
workplace here. His non-grammar driven approach to teaching was an
instant hit with many businesses.
The rapid Hispanic population growth in Middle Tennessee mirrors
what is happening elsewhere in the country. According to Census
figures released this month, the Hispanic population in the U.S. now
totals 35.3 million, rivaling non-Hispanic blacks as the nation's
largest minority group.
"I guess timing is everything," Gumucio said. "There certainly is
a need for this kind of service in just about every major city in the
county."
Hablemos, Spanish for "Let's Talk" (minus an "H"), was launched
last March. Gumucio's first client was Columbia Southern Hills Medical
Center, where he taught emergency room personnel basic Spanish so they
could communicate with Hispanic patients.
The roster at Hablemos has grown dramatically in recent months.
HCA, Cintas, Nissan, Bank of America, Phillips Builders and The Jones
Company are among his clients. He has also started to offer private
classes to individuals.
His program typically lasts six to eight weeks, and classes are
usually held on-site at the employers' location. The lessons are
tailored, providing industry-specific vocabulary and phrases as well
as cultural training.
"You can learn quite a lot in eight weeks," Gumucio said. "You
won't be fluent, but you will be able to communicate ... and that
makes a huge difference."
For more information about Hablemos, visit their web site at
www.ablemos.com.

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