The first 25 inmates graduated Monday from Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio's new "English Only" class.

The daily two-hour class taught Spanish-speaking inmates how to communicate their health and safety needs, and they will be expected to speak English when talking to officers, Arpaio said. Inmates also learned the words to God Bless America.

"Inmates took this opportunity seriously, as we hoped they would," Arpaio said.