Ambush columnist and local historian Frank Perez will be teaching three courses at Delgado Community College this semester.
Professional Tour-Guiding 1 is designed to train and prepare students for the New Orleans Tour Guide Permit exam. It is also a great way to gain skills in the tourism industry as well as detailed knowledge of the city of New Orleans. Students participate in eleven (11) classroom sessions and two (2) field trips, plus one (1) additional class meeting with an opportunity to take the exam for the Tour Guide Permit, which is granted through the New Orleans Taxicab & For Hire Bureau, at the final class meeting. The field trips consist of guided tours of the city, and the classroom sessions consist of instructor lectures, student presentations, and guest speakers. Previous guest speakers have included representatives from the Tour Guides Association of Greater New Orleans, the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation, the Friends of the Cabildo, Save Our Cemeteries, and other groups. The class meets on Monday nights beginning January 22 from 6:00pm—9:00pm. Cost is $399.00.
Professional Tour-Guiding 2 is designed for students who have completed the Professional Tour Guiding 1 course, or a similar program. The class sessions consist of lectures, workshops, and guest speaker presentations, all used to assist tour guides in researching subjects of interest, and using the findings in building stories for tours. Previous guest speakers have included representatives from The Historic New Orleans Collection, Louisiana Research Collection, New Orleans Public Library, Louisiana State Museum, Newcomb College, and Amistad Research Center. The class meets on Tuesday evenings beginning February 20 from 6:00pm—8:00pm. Cost is $195.00.
French Quarter History focuses on the history of the French Quarter as both the original city of New Orleans and its shifting role as the city’s flagship neighborhood. While the French, Spanish, and early American periods are covered, the emphasis of the course is on 20th century history. Topics include, but are not limited to: architecture, historical preservation, colorful characters, the rise of tourism, literature and arts, drinking culture, crime and vice, and LGBT+ history. The last class meeting is a tour of the French Quarter. The class meets on Tuesday evenings beginning April 17 from 6:00pm—9:00pm. Cost is $249.00.
All three courses are offered through the Workforce Development Department of the Division of Continuing Education. Registration is available at the Delgado Community College website: https://registration. xenegrade.com/delgado/search.cfm
