ESL STUDENT HANDBOOK WELCOME TO THE ELI Gateway Center, Room 243 75 Grasslands Rd Valhalla, NY 10595 914-606-6656 www.sunywcc.edu/ESL © Copyright 2023 English Language Institute
Welcome Message Welcome to the English Language Institute at Westchester Community College! Learning English will open a new world of possibilities and opportunities. We are thrilled you chose us as your language training program, and we are committed to your success. Hello ELI Students, and welcome! We love meeting students from so many different places who are here to learn in our English only classes. Your learning is very important to us. Let us know how we can help you pursue your goals. Claudia Carco Robert Nechols Assistant Dean of ESL ELI Director
About the ELI Our History Our classes are for levels 0 to 7, beginner to advanced. Student level is determined by placement test. Each level provides balanced instruction and active practice in all language skills: listening, speaking, grammar, reading & writing. In addition, we offer specialized classes: English for Academic Purposes, Pronunciation, TOEFL, Business English, and Accent on Fluency . Our English-only environment provides maximum language learning. The English Language Institute's ESL program was established in 1988 and is the largest in the SUNY system. We have served thousands of students each semester for over 30 years. Our instructors are professionals in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages). Our students represent many countries from around the world. Many students study from beginning levels to advanced levels and then go on to get a SUNY WCC degree or certificate. Our Classes Our Teachers & Students Our TESOL Certificate Program (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) is a hands-on teacher training program for those interested in teaching English as a Second or Foreign language in the U.S. or abroad. The program provides participants with a perfect balance of theory and practice. Thousands of teachers have been trained since the program began! TESOL Certificate Program
What To Expect Balanced Learning A Positive Learning Experience Interactive Classes Our goal is to help you improve your English skills by having a successful and enjoyable learning experience, from the moment you register to the moment you complete our program. We are here for you and want to help you succeed! The English Language Institute uses the communicative method of teaching English as a second language. This means you will work together in pairs and small groups. You will also use English only during your classes with your teachers and classmates. Our classes will provide balanced practice in listening, speaking, reading and writing. You will be required to keep a writing portfolio, which will include the in-class and out-of-class writing assignments you will be doing during your course. We recommend you use a three-ring binder if you are studying in person. Remote classes will keep a digital portfolio.
Tips for Success 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 Do your homework. Read extensively every day. Post social media in English. Speak English outside of class. Arrive early. Stay until the end. Speak English in class & on break. Watch movies & videos in English. Remember that this is an English only program. Be on time for each class and leave class when dismissed. Get to know native speakers and practice with them often. View shows, movies & YouTube videos with the subtitles on. Create posts on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter & WhatsApp. Read books/magazines/newspapers & internet articles for your level. Your teacher will assign activities to reinforce your language learning.
Meet Our Team Lesley Painter Justin Smith Robert Nechols Office Assistant Administrative Assistant ESL Program Coordinator ELI Director ESL Program Coordinator ESL Program Coordinator TESOL Program Coordinator Valhalla IEP, T/Th Evening & EAP; Online Morning Valhalla M/W Evening, Bus. English & TOEFL; Ossining & Peekskill; Online Evening Valhalla Saturday, Pronunciation & AoF; Mt. Vernon, New Rochelle & Yonkers TESOL Certificate Program, Extra English Valhalla Sunday; Ossining, Port Chester, New Rochelle & White Plains Libraries Amy Tobin Ines Abeijon Maria Gama Andrea Burnor
Contact List Use this list to reach members of the English Language Institute. Description Phone Email 914-606-6198 914-606-6163 914-606-6656 914-606-7744 914-606-7743 914-606-8503 914-606-6607 914-606-7889 914-606-6651 ELI Main # Registration Amy Tobin Maria Gama Ines Abeijon Justin Smith Claudia Carco Lesley Painter Robert Nechols Andrea Burnor ELI Director Office Assistant Assistant Dean of ESL ESL Program Coordinator ESL Program Coordinator Administrative Assistant ESL Program Coordinator TESOL Program Coordinator ESL @sunywcc.edu Ines.Abeijon @sunywcc.edu Andrea.Burnor @sunywcc.edu Claudia.Carco @sunywcc.edu Maria. Gama @sunywcc.edu Robert.Nechols @sunywcc.edu Lesley.Painter @sunywcc.edu Justin.Smith @sunywcc.edu Amy.Tobin @sunywcc.edu
Travel to the Main Campus By Bus By Car By Train Bee-Line Bus: 1C, 1X, 15, 40, 41, 43 See schedule at WCC bus schedule. Closest bus stop is at parking lot 11. Metro North Train: White Plains Station + Transfer to Bee-Line Bus See new.mta.info/schedules GPS Address: 75 Grasslands Rd Valhalla, NY 10595 Parking Lot 1 or 11. Building: Gateway Center; Room 243.
Travel to Extension Centers SUNY Westchester Ossining SUNY Westchester Peekskill SUNY Westchester Mt. Vernon SUNY Westchester Yonkers Center 22 Rocklege Ave, Ossining, NY 10562 Bus routes: 11, 13 Train Lines: Metro North: Hudson 27 North Division St, Peekskill, NY 10566 Bus routes: 14 Train Lines: Metro North: Hudson 843 Kimball Ave, Yonkers, NY 10704 Bus routes: 20, 21, 25, 55 Train Lines: Metro North: Harlem, New Haven 17 S Fifth Ave, Mt. Vernon, NY 10550 Bus routes: 40, 41, 42, 43, 52, 53, 54 Train Lines: Metro North: New Canaan, New Haven
Technical Matters Remote Classes Account Activation Student ID Microsoft Office Apps We use Zoom for our online class meetings and Google Classroom for announcements, homework assignments, and class materials. Activate your account with your WCC Userid at mywcc.sunywcc.edu. Go to "Signin or Activate New Account." The ELI will provide your WCC Userid. You can get your student ID at the Security Office on the Main Campus at the Student Center, Room 118. The Security Office phone is 914-606-6730. Every student is given an e-mail account @my.sunywcc.edu. This e-mail account is hosted by Microsoft Office 365. Items included are 1 terabyte of online file storage and Office Apps.
ELI Code of Conduct Arrive on time. Do not leave early. Respect break times. Do not plagiarize or cheat on tests. Keep our classroom and desks clean. Smoking, vaping, drugs, and alcohol are not allowed at any of our locations. Listen to other students' opinions and ideas. Learn about their culture and beliefs. Speak English w/ classmates. Do not translate. Please respect our rules to get the most out of your English language learning experience at the English Language Institute. Punctuality Academic Integrity English Only in Class Respect for All Students No Food or Drinks in Class No Tobacco, Drugs or Alcohol *Please see the WCC Student Code of Conduct for more details. www.sunywcc.edu/CMS/wp-content/documents/WCC-Student-Code-of-Conduct.pdf
Services at SUNY WCC Food Pantry Health Services College Evaluation Mental Health Services Security Student Support Services Academic Support Center F-1 International Students ELI Registration / Pre-registration ESL@sunywcc.edu Student Center, Room 118 Student Center, Room 181; first aid MentalHealthServices@sunywcc.edu Harold L. Drimmer Library, Room G38 Gateway, Room 243 or www.sunywcc.edu/esl Student Center, Room 206; snacks, lunch, meals Student Center, Room 013; resources, assistance www.sunywcc.edu/continuing-ed/esl/f-1-student-visa 914-606-6470 914-606-6656 914-606-6656 914-606-7744 914-606-6122 914-606-6610 914-606-7431 Emergency: 914-606-6911 Non-emergency: 914-606-6984 914-606-7854
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