CUNY - College of Staten Island - English Language Institute



CUNY - College of Staten Island: The English Language Institute (ELI) of the Center for Global Engagement has offered innovative academic programs for students learning English as a Second Language since the late 1970’s. Our course of study is designed to challenge and engage students. Students are immersed in the language, culture, and ethnicity of New York City. Classes range from beginner to the advanced level.

Thursday, July 11, 2019

ELI student's essay: My Special Place

ELI student: Bulhakova, Safiie
Student from Ukraine

My Special Place

            I never thought that it would be so hard for me; at the time it seemed just like parting with a piece of myself, but I was completely wrong.

My parents decided to move to another city. It was unusual and sad. I loved the city in which we lived before: a small, cozy and warm city near the Black Sea coast. I was born there, and I found many wonderful friends. All my childhood memories remained there: loss, happiness, grief. I really did not want to part with this city, filled with the love and happiness of my childhood. My heart and thoughts were there, but physically I had to move to a new place I knew nothing about. And so, on one of the hottest and sunniest days of August, my family and I, with our suitcases and also with thoughts about the future, entered our new home.

My first impression of this house was an ordinary, unpromising simple feeling; I could not even imagine that this place and my room would become so special to me. Initially, I was very sad and wanted to return,  I rarely had fun and was discouraged, as if all my joy had stayed in that city. At that time I didn’t know how many good and funny moments would happen in this house, in this room.

In this house there was a room allocated especially for me and my sister. The room was spacious, as it could easily fit ten or twelve pianos, but we only had one (which we were sometimes extremely happy about, because we didn’t have to play at the same time ). Every time when the homework was done, the room was cleaned, and we didn’t have anything to do, my sister and I found a way to cheer ourselves up, trying to not think about and miss the past. There were many ways of doing so and each one is special in its own way, although I will tell you only one.

As you probably already realized, my sister and I can play the piano. So, one of our favorite forms of entertainment was to invent different compositions and organize concerts for each other and in front of the whole family. In those moments we had so much fun that we forgot about time and laughed while continuing to play and invent different songs, playing along with the piano. And the most fun "performances" were when my sister played the piano, and I, with a serious look, clasped my hands together with one palm up and one palm down and kept my back straight as if I was on a stage, trying to pretend to be an opera singer. Often our little brother helped us, trying to press the keys with his little fingers, saying he was playing “Something very beautiful”. Once I came up with a melody that could wake up a person on the 10th floor, even though we lived on the first floor.  I even named this “composition”, though it didn’t fit the melody type at all. I will never forget all our faces, filled with impetuous laughter and eyes filled with tears, all the while trying to grab some air for a new wave of unbridled fun. Laughter flowed all over the apartment, fingers jumping on the keys, not trying to stop and continuing an incredible rush of joy.

There were many moments like this and they were all different. I am so grateful for everything and everyone for these moments, because they were full of kindness, cheer and very special to me, especially when we spent them with the family. Remembering this and telling everyone about it always puts me in such a wonderful mood.

Having lived in this house, in this room for about 5 years, I realized how much had happened in this place. The amount of pleasant memories, joy and laughter which occurred in this small cozy corner made it so special for me. I will always go back there with a smile on my face and happiness in my soul.



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The students' essays are entirely prepared by ELI students during the semester term they spend studying at the English Language Institute (ELI) at the College of Staten Island/CUNY.

They prepare this academic work while having classes of grammar, reading and writing, communications, and TOEFL preparation workshops, with the supervision of their ELI teachers. Topics are chosen by ELI students and they reflect personal points of view of the topics selected and facts and information researched by them.

ELI students dedicate time to make the best articles and carefully prepare their essays in and outside class. All ELI students participate, from beginning to advanced level. ELI wants to show their work considering their English level in order to become an academic tool for future English-learning students.

Most of all, ELI wants to show content related to topics students may have experienced while studying English in New York, an important topic in their home country, a current issue, or any other topic they decided to write about.

ELI is very proud of the academic work that represents the outcomes of each student, who not only learns English as a language but also is capable of expressing meaningful content-based language.

Enjoy reading the anthologies!



English Language Institute
College of Staten Island


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