ELI Newsletter, Volume 7
The ELI Kicks Off Another Wonderful Fall Semester!
The English Language Institute kicked off another wonderful fall semester a few weeks ago! This is one of our most beloved semesters — full of fun celebrations including Halloween, and (of course!) plenty of excuses to enjoy candy. It’s also one of the most beautiful times of the year. Here are some fun facts about the ELI:
There are currently 1,459 ESL students registered for one or more classes this semester.
The level of proficiency with the most students is level 3 (pre-intermediate).
The Vallhalla Saturday program is the largest program with over 206 students enrolled.
The earliest program is the new E program which starts at 7 am!
The evening classes end at 9:30 pm and Saturday and Sunday students take classes from 9 am to 3:30 pm. This not only evidences the popularity and need for English classes but also the determination and resilience of ESL students.
The Assistant Dean of the Institute, Claudia Carco, said: :
“Learning English is essential for integrating into the United States. Being able to communicate with and understand people in both your immediate and wider community allows you to participate fully in society and take advantage of opportunities that would otherwise be out of reach.”
Many of the students work full time as well as take intensive classes. It is fairly typical that the students work six days a week and on their day off take English classes.
Where English Language Learning can take students: Adriana Zapata’s story
When Adriana Zapata first arrived in the United States, she could not speak English. She felt overwhelmed and so decided to enroll in English classes at the ELI. She said that as soon as she entered the institute, she was met by teachers with big smiles, positivity, charisma, and kindness, which made a difference in her life. She fondly remembers one of her favorite teachers, Arlen Gargaliano, who made her feel especially welcomed. Adriana already had a degree in early childhood education when she arrived, but because of her limited English proficiency, she was unable to pursue that career in the US initially. Learning English and being able to practice my profession were her two goals. The path wasn’t easy. She said it entailed many sacrifices, but in the end, she was successful.
Adriana: “I’ve been working in the field for some time now. Initially, I worked as a teacher’s assistant for two years, and after finally mastering the language, I had the opportunity to become a Head Start teacher. Now, I’m working in an integrated classroom with children with special needs. I’m currently pursuing my NY Teacher Certification. I’ve already taken and passed two of the three state exams, and in the near future, I want to begin a Master’s degree in Special Education. As you can see, it’s been a long and demanding journey, but also very gratifying.” Congratulations Adriana from the staff and teachers at the ELI!
The English Language Institute kicked off another wonderful fall semester a few weeks ago! This is one of our most beloved semesters — full of fun celebrations including Halloween, and (of course!) plenty of excuses to enjoy candy. It’s also one of the most beautiful times of the year. Here are some fun facts about the ELI:
There are currently 1,459 ESL students registered for one or more classes this semester.
The level of proficiency with the most students is level 3 (pre-intermediate).
The Vallhalla Saturday program is the largest program with over 206 students enrolled.
The earliest program is the new E program which starts at 7 am!
The evening classes end at 9:30 pm and Saturday and Sunday students take classes from 9 am to 3:30 pm. This not only evidences the popularity and need for English classes but also the determination and resilience of ESL students.
The Assistant Dean of the Institute, Claudia Carco, said: :
“Learning English is essential for integrating into the United States. Being able to communicate with and understand people in both your immediate and wider community allows you to participate fully in society and take advantage of opportunities that would otherwise be out of reach.”
Many of the students work full time as well as take intensive classes. It is fairly typical that the students work six days a week and on their day off take English classes.
Where English Language Learning can take students: Adriana Zapata’s story
When Adriana Zapata first arrived in the United States, she could not speak English. She felt overwhelmed and so decided to enroll in English classes at the ELI. She said that as soon as she entered the institute, she was met by teachers with big smiles, positivity, charisma, and kindness, which made a difference in her life. She fondly remembers one of her favorite teachers, Arlen Gargaliano, who made her feel especially welcomed. Adriana already had a degree in early childhood education when she arrived, but because of her limited English proficiency, she was unable to pursue that career in the US initially. Learning English and being able to practice my profession were her two goals. The path wasn’t easy. She said it entailed many sacrifices, but in the end, she was successful.
Adriana: “I’ve been working in the field for some time now. Initially, I worked as a teacher’s assistant for two years, and after finally mastering the language, I had the opportunity to become a Head Start teacher. Now, I’m working in an integrated classroom with children with special needs. I’m currently pursuing my NY Teacher Certification. I’ve already taken and passed two of the three state exams, and in the near future, I want to begin a Master’s degree in Special Education. As you can see, it’s been a long and demanding journey, but also very gratifying.” Congratulations Adriana from the staff and teachers at the ELI!Share: