Jody Fernando. Mt. San Antonio College English as a Second Language ESL Good News Spring 2019 Issue. Message from the Director

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1 Mt. San Antonio College English as a Second Language ESL Good News Spring 2019 Issue Message from the Director Welcome to the spring semester! We re so glad you ve chosen to study English at Mt. SAC ESL. There are lots of exciting things happening in the ESL program that benefit students that I want to share with you: English for Specific Uses (ESU) Courses: ESU courses teach important language skills including vocabulary specific to careers in order to help students get ready for employment. We are currently offering ESU courses in accounting, hospitality, and healthcare. These are excellent courses to take if you are interesting in working places like a bank, hotel, restaurant, or hospital. See the registration desk for more details on these courses. Themed speaking courses: To help students focus more specifically on speaking and cultural skills, our morning speaking classes are now focusing on specific themes of pronunciation, American Culture, and workplace. Give Me 20: This is a great program that helps students improve their reading skills by reading 20 minutes a day. Our ESL library has interesting books for students at every level. Students who participate in Give Me 20 have a 26% higher chance of passing their English classes than students who don t attend. It s also a great opportunity to improve your vocabulary and reading skills in English. Language Learning Center (LLC): The LLC is a computer lab with software to support your language learning. Programs like Rosetta Stone Advantage, Mango Languages, and Native Accent are free and available for students. They also offer Self Directed Learning Activities (SDLAs) for students to complete on their own and then review their answers with a tutor. These programs are a great option for students who would like to practice English more outside of class. The LLC is next door to Building 66 in Building 77. Mountie Fresh: Every month, Mt. SAC offers free bags of food (often called a food pantry ) for students in need. Talk to a counselor in the Career Guidance Center to learn more about this program. I hope you re able to take advantage of some of these programs in addition to our regular classes. They are great ways to learn English more quickly and effectively! Jody Fernando M.A., M.Ed. Director, English Language Learners 1 P a g e

2 Student Writings Paris I really like Paris. It is a big and beautiful city. Every year, millions of people come from different countries to visit Paris. There are many interesting museums and historic old buildings. There are many fashionable shops and restaurants. There are many beautiful parks and a river. People wear very fashionable clothes, and they relax at parks or at cafes or playgrounds. My friends and I went to shop, walked on the streets near Thames River. We ate in nice restaurants and sat at parks. Paris left me with unforgettable memories. California is a place that many people want to travel to because there are a lot of beaches and mountains here, and it takes one hour to drive. For example, we often go to Long Beach or Big Bear Lake on weekends. It is very convenient to drive. Next, California has many universities. Many schools are the best in the U.S. Students from many countries can study here. For example, the Stanford University s finance major, management major are one of the best professions. Finally, California has many parks in various cities. People living here are very friendly. For these reasons, I like California very much. Emily Zhu (Writing B) How to Learn English Pingni Yu (Writing A) California California is my favorite place in the U.S. First, I like California s weather. Although it is very hot and dry in Summer, it s cool in the morning and night, and very comfortable Winter. For example, we don t need to wear thick clothes and pants. Second, California is a place that many people want to travel to because there are a lot of beaches and mountains here, and it takes one hour to drive. For example, we don t need to wear thick clothes and pants. Second, In order to learn English, you need to prepare well by following these simple steps. Firstly, decide which college you want to study. Ask your friends or search in Google. Next, you need to go to the register of this college, and test your English level, and then they will select your class for you. Then you must attend class everyday on time. After that, you have to do homework and practice every chapter. If you have time to watch TV and American movies with subtitle, then you will improve your English very quickly. Finally, if you do all these steps and study hard, your English will become like your native language. George Wang (Writing B) 2 P a g e

3 Decision Making 10 Things to Remember When Making a Decision Any type of change in our lives, whether it is planned or not, usually results in some sort of decision. A decision is a choice to select one alternative or another, and possibly we must make a decision between choices that are all very good or all not so good. You can always change your mind about a decision you ve made. There is probably no one right choice; and few decisions are totally wrong. Try to avoid either/or thinking; usually there are more than two options. Be imaginative and creative. Deciding is a process, not a static, onetime event. We are constantly reevaluating in light of new information. A decision may not have had the consequences you expected so you can start the process over again. Indecision is a decision not to decide. There are probably risks involved in not deciding, in not taking action. When it comes to a career decision, remember you are not choosing for a lifetime; in all probability, you will have several jobs during your working life. Choose for now and don t worry whether you ll enjoy it 20 years from now. The workplace is constantly changing and you will need to change with it. There s a big difference between decision and outcome. You can make a good decision based on the information at hand and still have a bad outcome. The decision is within your control, but the outcome is not. All decisions have the element of chance or risk. Think of the worst outcome. Could you live with that? If you could live with the worst, then anything else does not seem that bad. You may want to consult others for information but eventually you must make up your own mind. Sometimes it may be a good idea to consult more than one source so that your information is not biased. Listen to your inner voice; trust your intuition. What feels right? If you are making a decision that can have long time consequences, take your time. Don t rush and make an impulsive decision. 3 P a g e

4 Give Me 20 Read for fun! Learn Vocabulary! Learn Grammar Naturally! Talk to a Library Teacher about your book! 84% of students who earn a Give Me 20 certificate pass their Level class; 58% of students who don t earn a Give Me 20 certificate pass their Level class. Before doing Give Me 20, I was too scared to read a whole book in English. I started with books that are lower than my level and I got some confidence. Then I started reading higher-level books, and I could do it! I write down new vocabulary words and I have learned many new vocabulary words. The other day, I went to a book store and realized that I can read thick books in English now! ~ Spring 2018 Level 6 student Give Me 20 Hours: In Building 66, Room 130: Monday-Thursday 11:35-12:05 & 5:55-6:25 PM Tues & Thurs 1:10-1:40 PM Building 40, Room 140: Mondays & Wednesdays 5:55-6:25 PM Room 31-B8 Tuesdays & Thursdays 11:35-12:05 Room 32-4 Mondays & Wednesday: 1:05-1:30 4 P a g e

5 Free Short-Term ESL Vocational Good Vocational News Program Electronic Systems Technology (Short-term Vocational) Students will learn the skills required to prepare them for employment with telephone companies, satellite/cable TV providers, electrical contractors, computer networking companies, and home theater/home security retailers. The program consists of three courses taught on Fridays and Saturdays from 8am- 3:45pm. Courses consist of Electrical Fundamentals, Cabling and Wiring Standards, and Home Electronic Systems. Students can take the courses in any order and the program is typically offered twice a year. The three courses can be completed in one semester. Short Term Vocational 8:30 A.M. - 6:00 P.M. Building (909) stv@mtsac.edu Academic Counseling STV Counselors are available to assist students with career and education planning. They are available in the registration area, Building 40, Room 101. Please call (909) to schedule an appointment. Follow us on social on Instagram, Snapchat, and on Facebook Electrical Fundamentals March 1 - March 30, 2019 Cable and Wiring April 5 - May 11, 2019 Home Electronics Systems - May 17 - June 15, 2019 Fridays and Saturdays from 8:00am - 3:45pm About Short Term Vocational Short Term Vocational Education provides students with noncredit programs to gain new skills and embark on new career paths. Featuring both certificate programs that mirror credit programs in the College and fee-based certificate programs, students have the opportunity to enroll in a broad variety of programs that interest them. 5 P a g e

6 Career Briefs Mt. SAC offers certificates in Business International (Level I, II & III) that will prepare students to work in the unique and dynamic environment of international business. Students in this program will learn a diverse skill set, including how to: Business: International Level Certificates Is international business a good major for you? Consider this: Technology has changed how the world does business and has allowed the world to interact and connect with an ease and in ways that have never been possible before. That means every business no matter its size or scope now has the potential to have international reach. If you have a personal and professional interests in any of the following, International Business is for you! Foreign cultures and their histories, laws and cultures all of which shape their business styles. Learning about other countries and understanding the nuances of doing business with people there. Traveling, either alone or with colleagues. Working for a company with international reach (or already working for such a company). Learning a second language (or already are proficient in one). Analyze how international trade, international relations and finance policies affect business decisions. Adapt marketing strategies for international markets. Construct management practices and processes in an international environment while recognizing global differences. Manage operations and production on a global scale. Common Career Opportunities Import/Export agent Translator Foreign currency investment advisor Foreign sales representative International management consultant Annual Wage* Low: $47,200+ High: $132,230+ Median: $97,200 Interested? See one of ESL s Counselors in the Career Guidance Counseling Center. *Retrieved from 6 P a g e

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8 Announcement Mt. San Antonio College English as a Second Language Department 19th Annual ESL Career Conference Just around the corner! Mark it on your calendar! This annual conference informs ESL students about Mt. SAC programs and services. There will be speakers (Mt. SAC faculty and staff) who will be presenting on degree and certificate options, college services, information about career and job skills, and general college success. There will also be presenters that will give information regarding personal experiences in certain careers. Wednesday, May 15th 2019 Conference 8:30am to 11:15am 3 sessions: 8:30-9:15, 9:30-10:15, 10:30-11:15 For more information, contact a member of the ESL Counseling Team ESLCounseling@mtsac.edu 8 P a g e