District 88 students gain work-based learning experience through Heritage Spanish Career Fluency Program with Northeast DuPage Family and Youth Services (NEDFYS) in Addison

Students in District 88’s 2025-26 Heritage Spanish Career Fluency Program recently began their rotations with various business partners. This course helps students develop their skills in professional settings and introduces them to a variety of career paths, while enhancing their biliteracy.

This is accomplished through a job-shadow component, where participants visit worksites once a week during second semester of the school year. The goal is to encourage pupils to use their Spanish as much as possible, so they can learn about different fields and how to use their Spanish professionally to give them a competitive edge. 

One of those local companies is Northeast DuPage Family and Youth Services (NEDFYS) in Addison. As a valued business partner, NEDFYS provides an opportunity for students to learn about careers that support youth mental health and family services in the community. NEDFYS provides counseling, prevention programs and support services for children, teens and families.

During their job shadow, District 88 students observe NEDFYS staff members who work in counseling, youth programs and community outreach. This experience helps them better understand careers in counseling, social work and community services, as well as how organizations support the well-being of youth and families.

The Heritage Spanish Career Fluency Program highlights how community partnerships help students connect classroom learning to real-world career opportunities and see themselves thriving in professional spaces. District 88 is always looking to develop more partnerships, and those who are interested can find information at www.dupage88.net/BusinessPartnerships.