ELI welcomed students from 13 different nationalities
Staten Island, New York City
January 2019
The Spring term at the English Language Institute (ELI) at the College of Staten Island/CUNY started with a large group. Thirteen nationalities represented the ELI orientation last January 25 when ELI classes started. Staff from the Center for Global Engagement (the international office of the College of Staten Island) and the English Language Instittute welcomed all the students at the largest CUNY campus.
The first exercise in class was standing up and asking their classmates what their hobbies were and where they were from. ELI teachers, David Bridston and Alina Laboy, started their session with an ice-break exercise in order to meet each other. It was exciting to see students from complete different regions or cultures talk to each other. A student from Colombia talking to his new friend from Jordan and a student from Ukraine with a new classmate from Peru made the classes fun and interesting since they spoke about their favorite typical dishes or the city where they were born.
English classes started January 25, 2019 with a placement test and orientation session, explaining which facilities they could use at the largest CUNY campus, which has 204 acres, with a large collection of books at its library and large green areas with sports facilities around. Students also have free loop and shuttle ferry buses at their service if they want to go to another building or go to Manhattan with the free Staten Island Ferry ride.
ELI teachers
ELI has one big secret for its success: ELI teachers. Students just love them. David Bridston, Alina Laboy, and Keerti Arora, are experienced and certified teachers who love teaching, and especially, taking care of their students' success. Classes are intensive with 18 hours per week, but they make sure students have fun, smile, play and learn, and have a great experience with field trips and extra activities that let them learn English in a fun setting.
Many ELI students want to apply to the College of Staten Island, apply to its more than 80 majors, or other CUNY schools, while other students come for one semester to improve their English skills (speaking, writing, reading, and listening) and return to their home countries to continue with their studies. They meet with other students who are Staten Island or New York residents looking for job opportunities. Overall, the goals are diverse and our teachers make everybody learn in a useful and fun way.
Great diversity
This group started with more than twenty students. The diversity that will take place at ELI classes will be exciting since this Spring term ELI welcomed students from Albania, Bolivia, China, Colombia, Gabon, Japan, Jordan, Libya, Mexico, Peru, Poland, Russia, and Ukraine.
The English Language Institute belongs to the Center for Global Engagement, which is the international office at the College of Staten Island (CSI)/The City University of New York (CUNY), and it has expanded the number of students with its Intensive English Program where students spend between 18 and 22 hours per week learning English. However, learning English at CSI adds the campus experience since they have access to university life with conferences, lectures, sports activities, student clubs, and more.
New students can still join this group since ELI welcomes students every week. Classes will be available until May 22, and we are sure you will be able to learn or improve your English in a quiet area like Staten Island but still close to Manhattan.
