Celebrating Intro to Careers & Coding’s First Spanish Cohort!

South Bend Code School
3 min readJul 1, 2024

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We recently launched our very first Spanish-language cohort for Intro to Careers & Coding, a learning pathway that offers introductory coding classes for adults. This initiative marks a significant milestone in our commitment to making technology education accessible. The program, designed for adults seeking to enter the tech industry, was delivered in partnership with Horizon Education Alliance (HEA) and Goshen College.

Our collaboration with HEA, a non-profit focused on enhancing educational opportunities in Elkhart County, Indiana, and Goshen College, a local and nationally-ranked college and distinguished Hispanic-Serving Institution, were ideal partners for this initiative. Our shared focus on advancing education, promoting diversity, and fostering inclusion made this collaboration the perfect fit.

The course, held on the Goshen College campus, welcomed 15 students and was taught by José Luis Lopez Sanchez, a seasoned software developer with a robust academic and professional background.

José Luis Lopez Sanchez

Originally from Mexico and now residing in the U.S., José holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Indiana University and is pursuing an MBA at the University of Notre Dame. With over a decade of experience in software development, José’s expertise and passion for teaching significantly enhanced the learning experience of our students!

“This program is a game-changer for Spanish-speaking students who are looking to enter the tech industry. It’s more than just coding; it’s about opening doors to new career opportunities.” — José, the program’s instructor

To address language barriers and ensure inclusivity, the course was conducted entirely in Spanish, with all materials, including the curriculum and student surveys, translated accordingly. The curriculum, adapted from our Intro to Web Development program, provided a broad overview of web development, allowing participants to engage with a variety of topics:

  • Fundamentals of Web Development: Emphasis on UI/UX design and JavaScript.
  • Database Structures Fundamentals: Coverage of database design and SQL data.
  • Cloud Services and Server-Side Code: Introduction to AWS, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure.

The response has been overwhelmingly positive, with 100% of participants rating the program favorably. The most popular subjects included Fundamentals of Web Development (UI/UX and JavaScript). Notably, 75% of respondents described their experience as “¡Perfecto! Aprendi todo lo que queria y más,” reflecting high satisfaction and perceived value.

Participants’ survey results in response to the question “¿Qué lección te pareció más interesante?”

One participant’s comment on the course was“Siento que las clases fueron muy interesante y me gustaría poder continuar con otros cursos más avanzados.” — participant (Translation: “I feel that the classes were very interesting, and I would like to continue with more advanced courses.”)

Our team is incredibly happy with the outcome of the course. Seeing the success of our first Spanish-language cohort has been incredibly rewarding. The enthusiasm and dedication of the participants reaffirm our commitment to providing inclusive tech education. We are thrilled with the positive impact this program has had and are excited to explore similar initiatives in the future. Our goal is to continue breaking down barriers and creating opportunities for diverse communities in tech.

“The dedication and enthusiasm of the students in this cohort were truly impressive. Watching their confidence in basic code development terminology has been one of the highlights of this coaching sessions.” — José, the program’s instructor

Join the Movement!

We believe that everyone deserves access to quality computer science education. If you’re interested in bringing a similar program to your community, we’re eager to partner with you. Let’s work together to break down barriers and create a more inclusive tech industry.

Are you interested in offering a similar program in your community? We’d love to partner with you!

South Bend Code School is an award-winning tech program. Since our establishment in 2015, we’ve empowered thousands of students with computer science education. To learn more, get in touch with us at info@southbendcodeschool.com or explore our website at southbendcodeschool.com.

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South Bend Code School

Ages 7–18 learn the power of coding by programming their own projects, games, platforms and websites! 🚀