Helping with the first steps toward learning English

Juan Garcia makes the same resolution every New Year's: Learn English.

Despite being in the U.S. for 15 years, the Mexican immigrant knows only a few words and phrases. Too busy with work and family, he has put off enrolling in a class.

"The days pass and the years pass, and I don't do it," said Garcia, 63, who lives in Los Angeles.

Garcia will get a little help keeping his resolution in January when the Spanish-language television network Azteca America launches a series aimed at teaching English to its nationwide viewers. Called "Survival English," the show will focus on basic language skills for real-life situations such as renting an apartment, shopping at a market and visiting a doctor's office.

The television program represents a major departure for Spanish-language media and one that Azteca officials hope will foster assimilation of Latino immigrants and boost their political and economic clout. It also addresses concerns of some elected officials and other critics who assert that speaking English should be a priority for all immigrants.

"Our community will be more powerful politically if they can be more culturally assimilated," said Hector Romero, director of operations for Fundacion Azteca America, the nonprofit arm of the company.

The benefits won't be only for the immigrant community. The program may attract more viewers and more advertising dollars for Azteca in a market in which networks compete for a share of the Spanish-speaking audience. Last week, an average of 140,000 viewers tuned into Azteca America during prime time, compared with 4.1 million for Univision and 1 million for Telemundo, according to Nielsen Media Research.

Proponents say that the English program, which is being produced in collaboration with the National Autonomous University of Mexico, could empower Latinos to start businesses and pursue further education.

Speaking more English also will help Latinos defend themselves against fraud, said Rep. Grace F. Napolitano (D-Norwalk). Napolitano said she hoped other Spanish-language networks would follow suit. After years of making money from their Latino viewers, it's time they gave back to the community, she said.

"They garner money from their advertisers to reach all these individuals," she said. "Try reaching them with a helping hand."

Telemundo said it was not considering similar programming. Univision declined to comment.