Spanish program
Energy Sector
Helping Talos Energy’s Engineering Team Communicate Across Borders
See how CCLS Houston designed a two-level Spanish training program to help 10 professionals from Talos Energy’s engineering team communicate more confidently during a project in Mexico.
10
Employees Trained
120
2
2x
1
Preparing an Engineering Team for a Project in Mexico
As part of an expansion project in Mexico, Talos Energy identified the need for participating employees to develop practical Spanish communication skills. The team needed to collaborate with local employees, contractors, and business partners, participate in meetings, discuss technical topics, and deliver presentations.
Before beginning the program, most participants had limited Spanish proficiency and often relied on translators or bilingual colleagues. This created communication challenges during meetings and project updates, slowed some day-to-day interactions, and made it more difficult to build direct professional relationships with Spanish-speaking teams.
Industry-Focused, Conversation-Based Spanish Training
CCLS Houston designed a customized corporate Spanish program aligned with Talos Energy’s communication needs and project context. Using a conversation-based methodology, participants were encouraged to think and communicate directly in Spanish from day one rather than depending on translation.
The program architecture focused on three strategic pillars:
1
Placement and Level Grouping
2
Workplace-Relevant Content
Lessons incorporated industry-related vocabulary, technical discussions, presentation practice, meeting scenarios, and cultural awareness relevant to working with teams in Mexico.
3
Hybrid Program Delivery
Classes were delivered on-site at Talos Energy, with some participants attending in person and others joining live online simultaneously. This hybrid format provided greater flexibility while allowing the entire group to participate in the same instructor-led session.
A Program Structured Around the Team’s Needs
1 group, 2 proficiency levels
10 participants, 60 hours of instruction delivered per level.
120 total hours
Delivered across two sessions per week, two hours each.
Delivery Format Hybrid
on-site at Talos Energy, with simultaneous live online participation.
Ongoing progress tracking
OBSERVED PROGRESS AND PROGRAM CONTINUATION
Greater Confidence and Continued Spanish Development
Participant progress was monitored through periodic assessments, practical speaking activities, and continuous instructor feedback. Instructors observed stronger communication skills and greater speaking confidence in professional workplace scenarios.
- Enhanced Workplace Communication: Participants gained confidence communicating directly in Spanish during meetings, technical discussions, and presentations tied to their engineering responsibilities
Confirmed Program Expansion: Based on the success of the initial level, Talos Energy renewed the partnership and enrolled the team in Level 2 to further advance their language fluency
What Made This Program Different
Participants became increasingly comfortable communicating directly in Spanish during class discussions and workplace simulations, demonstrating greater confidence and a growing ability to apply what they were learning to professional situations.
Ready to start your language journey
