ELI Newsletter, Volume 8

November 14, 2025
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by Andrea Santos
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Happy Halloween!

During Halloween week, the ELI held several Halloween celebrations featuring fabulous costumes, fun games, plenty of laughter, and, of course, great food. Fall is a special time of year, filled with traditions that students enjoy learning about and taking part in. At the ELI, cultural sharing— which promotes empathy, understanding, awareness, and a sense of belonging— is a critical component of the curriculum.

Bringing U.S. culture into the classroom helps students feel included and enriches the class content. Additionally, incorporating the students’ own cultures in classes ensures that they feel valued and celebrated. This approach makes learning English not only relevant but also deeply meaningful.

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A popular classroom activity that promotes cultural exchange is The Cultural Snapshot. In this activity, students interview a classmate or friend from another culture and present what they have learned, focusing on both similarities and interesting differences. The goal is to foster international mindedness—an appreciation of our diverse world where cultural differences and shared experiences are equally celebrated.

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ELI staff and adjunct teachers.

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An added bonus was that the ELI staff won the Westchester Community College Costume ccompetition for both the group entry and the single entry.