ELI Newsletter, Volume 12

This semester, the ELI has been busier than ever, with more than 1,300 students enrolled in English classes. Our early morning program, which begins at 7 a.m., now serves 56 students across four classes, while our Sunday program has 126 students. The Intensive English Program remains our largest, followed by the Saturday program.

These numbers tell only part of the story. Consider when our students attend classes: early mornings, weekends, and evenings, with evening classes ending at 9:30 p.m. Many study at times when others are resting, relaxing, or spending time with family and friends. Their commitment to learning English—often alongside work and family responsibilities—deserves a commendation. It is wonderful to see students investing in their future. It takes hard work and grit.

The ELI office works hard to sustain that motivation and recognize teh students’ hard work throughout the semester, creating opportunities for students to connect, participate, and celebrate their progress. This semester’s activities include Connect Over Coffee, Halloween costume competitions, and our reading competition, which has been running for more than three years. Each semester, students record their reading minutes and submit their totals to the ELI. The class with the highest total at the end of the semester receives a prize.

During Connect Over Coffee, the ELI serves coffee and cookies to all classes, bringing students together and encouraging them to stay connected through our social media, including @wcceli, TESOL at WCC on Facebook, and LinkedIn. (Connect with us!)

In December, we will also hold a graduation ceremony for each program to celebrate our students’ hard work, determination, and achievements.

Maria Elena Pinanjota’s essay explains a lot about the students’ experiences learning:

My Journey to Improve My English

Learning English has been for me one of the biggest challenges in my life, as a single mother who moved to this country. I understand now that speaking English is not only about grammar or memorizing vocabulary, it’s about making a decision to start a conversation, make mistakes, and overcome yourself every day.

When I came to the United States with a professional background, I had lost my job in Ecuador because of COVID. I couldn’t believe all the types of obstacles that were coming. But I needed to be brave because I have a daughter who sees my example of overcoming hardship. So I made the hard decision to leave my job and return to school to improve my English. It has been financially difficult, but I believe education is an investment in my future and in my daughter’s future.

I began immersing myself in English in as many ways as possible. I attend classes at Westchester Community College, where I continue to develop my reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills, and I also take English conversation classes at my local library every Tuesday, which gives me extra practice in a welcoming environment. I became a volunteer treasurer in a nonprofit company in Texas, where I can practice my English through Zoom meetings and my accounting skills.

While pursuing all of this, I completed my Bachelor’s degree in Accounting in the United States. Now I feel more afraid because I need more professional English — I’ve had interviews where I felt frustrated in some situations. There were many moments when I wanted to give up, afraid of speaking incorrectly, writing poorly, or not understanding everything. Even today, I still feel nervous when I have to speak in front of others. But I finished, and that taught me something important: courage is not the absence of fear. Courage is continuing even when you are afraid.

My progress isn’t about big advances, it’s step by step. It has been about being a little better than I was yesterday. Each class, conversation, volunteer hour, podcast, hike, and dance lesson has brought me one step closer to my goal.

My progress isn’t about big advances, it’s step by step. It has been about being a little better than I was yesterday. Each class, conversation, volunteer hour, podcast, hike, and dance lesson has brought me one step closer to my goal. I also learned that practicing English doesn’t only mean taking English classes, this summer I started taking yoga and salsa classes taught in English, just for fun.

This journey is about more than learning a language. It is about building a better future for myself and for my daughter. Now that we are living in the USA, English is not an option. I hope my story encourages other immigrants and English learners to think outside the box and never to give up. Learning a new language takes time, patience, and persistence, but every small step matters.

I am still learning. I still make mistakes, and I still get nervous. But I keep going — because I believe that one day I will speak English with the confidence I am working so hard to achieve today.

“All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.” Walt Disney