English
Language Institute students attended their Graduation Ceremony
Class of Spring 2017
finished their semester term after 4 months
NEW YORK, MAY 12, 2017
The College of Staten Island/The City
University of New York with its English Language Institute (ELI) felt proud
last May, Friday 12th when it organized the graduation ceremony for
students who came from thirteen different countries to study English during the
semester term of Spring 2017.
TheCenter for Global Engagement of the College of Staten Island (CSI) welcomed
several students for the Spring term during mid-January and placed them in
different English language levels. Students came from countries such as China,
Mexico, Russia, among others. During English classes, students learned skills
that now allow them to communicate better.
During
graduation, the Executive Director of the Center for Global Engagement at CSI,
Dr. Stephen Ferst, offered an opening speech with very meaningful words to
students. “This graduation changes the perspective; it’s the celebration of the
mountain that you have climbed. I know you have personal stories to tell, we
watched you grow, we watched your English skills come alive”, Dr. Ferst said.
Students
enjoyed their graduation ceremony after more than 4 months learning skills such
as reading, writing, speaking, and getting prepared for the TOEFL test, which
was included in their program. ELI is well-known for its experienced teachers
who have been at CSI for a long time and who have taught students from all over
the world. Students thanked their teachers with some presents mentioning how
much they appreciated their efforts to teach them improve their English skills.
Students thanked their teachers, Ms. Gail Hernandez, David Bridston, Thomas
Speirs, and Drew Bostinto for their daily effort to learn the language.
Teacher
David Bridston mentioned what his students learned during this term but also
mentioned that his students got “prepared for the writing test, studied a lot
of grammar, read a lot of essays from some very famous writers”, among other
activities. Mrs. Hernandez stood at the podium and said that “it is always sad
to say good-bye, especially to such a wonderful class, I’m so proud and happy
to have been your ESL [English as a Second Language] teacher, you have come so
far and I know you have amazing lives”. Teacher Bostinto expressed that he was “proud
of all the progress we have made in a relatively short amount of time”.
Finally, teacher Speirs commented, “we all had such a wonderful time. I like
the community that we have”.
Students
also offered beautiful speeches full of sensitivity. Student Mohammad Asfour
from Palestine said a story about how he overcame his English skills by
thanking ELI teachers and his classmates, “Mr. Drew, Mr. David, Mr. Thomas, Ms.
Gail, what an honor to be one of your students, you made us laugh, you gave us
important information, and you gave us a beautiful language which is English”.
Student
Carmela Ingravallo from Italy said “thank you for teaching us a new language
with passion, you now have a place in our hearts”.
Our
Deputy Director of the Center for Global Engagement and Director of the
International Student & Scholar Services, Ms. Barbara Clark offered some closing
words by saying “as you continue in this journey, these experiences will enrich
your future success, and successes are so much better when you follow what you
love”.
Students
registered into classes at the English Language Institute at the College of
Staten Island, which is strategically located near the tourist area of
Manhattan, where students also spent some time during field trips. Teachers
usually take them to the zoo, museums, Wall Street, or Times Square.
ELI offers different terms during the year, two semester terms from January to May
and from August to December, and two summer terms in June and July. Students
who participated in this graduation were from Algeria, China, Italy, Japan,
Jordan, Mexico, Palestine, Poland, Russia, SriLanka, Syria, Turkey, and Ukraine.
Graduation
was celebrated at the Green Dolphin Lounge at CSI, where students invited their
relatives and friends.
The
Center for Global Engagement invites students interested in learning English to
see more about its programs at ELI and enjoy the best experience in New York
City.
English
Language Institute
Center
for Global Engagement
College
of Staten Island/CUNY
CSI
Website: http://www.csi.cuny.edu/international
English Language
Institute (ELI):http://www.csi.cuny.edu/international/english_language_institute/
International
office Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Center.International/
ELI
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/EnglishinNewYork
ELI Skype
account: elistudy_1 or elistudy@csi.cuny.edu
ELI
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/EnglishinNewYork
CSI student housing
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wt0w55CGw44
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