ELAC @ City
WELCOME! Fall 2021 | volume 1.F1.21
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Thank you for signing up for our first San Diego City College English Language Acquisition (ELAC) Newsletter! (ELAC is our ESL program)
Each semester we'll send out a newsletter that features former ELAC students, amazing work from our current ELAC students, support services at City, and much more! The highlights and new information will be directly below; other resources that you may need will be on additional pages that you can get to by clicking the links under "Welcome."
Most ELAC classes start August 30th @ City for Fall 2021. Though we'll be online, classes will still be engaging and fun! It's not too late to register!
Need help with enrolling? Our Peer Advocates are a phone call or email away!
Phone: 619-800-2739
Email: citypeerlab@sdccd.edu
Be sure to check out our website for more information on our program and follow us on Instagram! If you have questions, you can contact the ELAC Department Chair, Professor Jennifer Boots (jboots@sdccd.edu).
Fall semester updates
Information Sessions
Have questions or not sure what to do? Join us for an ELAC Information Session! Click below to register and drop in at any point during the scheduled time. An ELAC professor will be there to support:
Emmanuel Rodriguez
Elac Alumni spotlight
What classes did you take in ELAC?
When I studied at City College, I took the equivalent to ELAC 35 and ELAC 145.
What is your most memorable experience from ELAC @ City?
As an ELAC student, I had many wonderful and memorable experiences with my classmates and instructors. My most memorable experience was a trip I made with my classmates to a museum with the rest of the students in ELAC 145. I even made some friends from Mesa College who were also in the trip.
What are you up to now?
Last Spring, I graduated from SDSU and obtained my B.A. in Linguistics. I am now an ESL teacher in the linguistics department while working on my M.A. in Applied Linguistics at SDSU. Additionally, I work as an ELAC tutor and mentor in the English Center. You can find me there on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, or Saturday.
What advice do you have for current and future students?
The most helpful practice for me was collaborating with others (students, tutors and instructors). It’s very difficult to do everything by myself, but I learned that we are a community, and it’s ok to help each other.
Mercedes Preciado
Elac Alumni spotlight
What classes did you take in ELAC?
In Spring and Fall of 2019, I took ELAC 33, ELAC 35, and ELAC 145 with Honors.
What is your most memorable experience from ELAC @ City?
This experience is marked by the wonderful Professors I was fortunate to have. They marked and affected my academic life in a positive and constructive way. In their example I saw a mirror where I could reflect what I wanted for myself in the future. They gave me tools to build my life project.
What are you up to now?
I have started what will be my last semester at City College. It has been almost three years since I started this project. No semester has been easy. In fact, each semester has been increasingly academically rigorous and challenging for me. I have been dreaming for almost three years of my life, but I would gladly do it again.
What advice do you have for current and future students?
In my room I have a turquoise picture with white letters that says: "If you work REALLY hard and are kind, amazing things will happen." I can say that it is totally true, it has never failed.
Every time I have worked hard and done things with all my heart and effort the results have been wonderful. These three years I have been able to see that I am not the same person I was when I first stepped foot in City College. I am different in many better ways.
My role models have been my dear professors who have already gone through the path I am going and their advice has helped me achieve: My Gpa 4.0, scholarships every semester, a broader vision and without barriers in many aspects. I have always thought that if knowledge does not make you a better person, there is no point in studying, because when you improve internally you can apply what you have learned with freedom and your own criteria. Knowledge liberates and makes us responsible.
The English Center
support highlight
Who are you?
The English Center is a community-based learning environment to help City College students become more effective, confident and independent readers, writers and critical thinkers. The English Center offers assistance for all disciplines through:
*One-on-one peer tutoring sessions
*Group tutoring
*Supplemental instruction
*Workshops for students and faculty
*Orientations
Our Virtual Hours are: Monday - Wednesday 9am-6pm, Thursday 9am-8pm, Saturday 9am-1pm
Our On Campus Hours are: Tuesdays & Thursdays 10:30am-2:30pm
How do you support ELAC students?
Tutoring is available during all open hours of the English Center, workshops, through dedicated SI tutors, and special ELAC hours on Saturdays 9am-1pm.
Each Saturday at 9:30am Emmanuel Rodriguez (an ELAC alumni featured above!) will be holding workshops for ELAC students of all levels. These workshops are interactional and open to all. For the most up-to-date schedule, email the front desk at ecfrontdesk@gmail.com.
How do we get in touch with you?
Find us here!
What tips do you have for new students?
Please bring any assignments with you. Remember, we don’t edit or proofread, but we will work with you every step of the way!
something to watch, something to read
"How Stress Affects Your Body" (TEDTalk)
Watch this presentation to better understand the dangers of chronic stress. What are some ways YOU cope with stress as a student?
"The Difference Between Empathy and Sympathy" (Newsela article)
In these challenging times we must learn to be sympathetic and empathetic toward others. What does empathy and sympathy mean? Read the above article to find out.
Culture Corner
This issue's question is "How can I make small talk with strangers? And when is it appropriate to make small talk?"
See our response below. Want to share your own thoughts or experience with small talk? Post a comment below!
Have a question about culture or language? Ask here.
want to be featured in our newsletter?
Are you a current student who wants to share work that you've done for your ELAC classes to be published in our newsletter?
Are you a former ELAC student who wants to be featured in our newsletter?
Do you have a story about how our classes have helped/are helping you reach your goals?
Have ideas on what you'd like us to feature in future ELAC Newsletters?
Share with us here.
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