eslvid

Transcript:

LUCKSON:

Hi. This is a story about you and me. We came to America. We came for the American dreams. We got apartments. We got jobs. We bought cars.

It isn't easy.. . .being a foreigner. We get jobs, but we don't speak English well. We sign leases. . but we don't really understand them. We have BIG dreams. . . but . . .well. . . We don't get the jobs we want. . . So, what do we do?

The Community College of Aurora is the door to MY dream. I'm Luckson Bonhomme. I came to Denver a few years ago. I didn't speak English so well. . I was a professional in my country. . but not here. Look! First I had to improve my English. . .

LUCKSON:

Hi guys! Where are you from?

AFRICAN GIRL:

I’m Ogechi Kapadobi. I’m from Nigeria.

AFRICAN MAN:

Hi. My name is Leartes Winn. I’m from Liberia.

NEPALESE GIRL:

My name is Rhoda. I’m from Nepal.

HAITIAN MAN:

My name is Bleus Stanley. I’m from Haiti.

AFRICAN MAN:

I’m Binyam. I came from Ethiopia.

LUCKSON: Come on. I’ll show you an ESL class.

MALE STUDENT: (looking at screen)

He has blue eyes.

GIRL STUDENT:

Ahhhh.

TEACHER: (Melanie Witt)

The English as a Second Language Program here at the Community College of Aurora is for students who want to continue their education and enter a career or profession. When you finish, you go right into the classes you want: accounting, biology, nursing, early childhood education. . .

I have students from all over the world in my ESL courses, and I think because of that, it helps the students understand that English is a global language . . .when in the classroom, and it helps them listen to different accents and appreciate different cultures as well as having a diverse faculty here at CCA as well.

LUCKSON:

The English classes here are serious. The teachers make you work! You take tests! You write essays! And there’s all sorts of technology here to help you. . . and special help, too.

TUTOR:

Hi, I’m Erin Austen. I’m one of many teachers here at the Community College of Aurora. I’m also one of the many teachers who help students outside of the classroom. We offer free tutoring in ESL, writing, and math. We are available during the day and in the evening. I’m excited to see that it is growing so rapidly, and it benefits the community. This is a large ESL area, with a lot of immigrants and migrant workers and such. And it’s really great to see that there is such a great program.

TECHNOLOGY TUTOR: (Gary- Brady Herndon)

For the first time this summer, we’ve required for ESL students to become computer-literate, and we do the basic training for BlackBoard Vista, and we show them how to log-on to their college e-mail addresses. Students are really motivated to learn how to get online, get into the web-page, and get into BlackBoard Vista. BlackBoard Vista is a program that the teacher’s use to converse with their students, and it’s very helpful in the classroom as well. I help ESL students learn to use their student e-mail and many computer skills they need in their classes.

AFRICAN STUDENT: (Julius Owolabi)

With the help of the teachers who are ready to help even at their leisure time, even at their extra time. . .you can talk to them on the phone, they’re ready to help you. Go to them outside the class, they’re ready to help you. And even in the classroom, by the time I finished English Grammar class, I said “Oh! I wish this class wouldn’t end.”

RUSSIAN STUDENT: (Irena Bukin)

The teachers were very experienced, and if I have a question, they always answer me. I think the classes were interesting and informative.

AFRICAN STUDENT: (Getu Gebremarium)

All were just trying with all their effort to make change for me, so they were very, very good teachers. They were helpful. They were supportive for me. So I thank them – all the teachers in the Community College of Aurora.

AFRICAN STUDENT: (Maranatha Kebede)

The teachers are great. They’re like family. They always try to understand us, and I found them very helpful.

LUCKSON:

At CCA there are many people who are ready to help ESL students with

whatever they need to do to be successful.

ADVISOR:

Hi I’m Allysyn Middleton. I’m one of the advisors here at the Community College of Aurora Advising Center. What we do for students that come in with English as a Second Language is we provide them with a LOEP test, and what that does is measure their proficiency with reading, writing, and listening skills.

After we do that, we help you formulate a program that is based on your need. The classes will help you better yourself, better your English language skills, and get you into English Composition and college level courses. Once you do that, we can help you plan your full career here. We have certificate programs we can offer you. We have associate of applied science degrees. We have associate’s degrees that transfer to four-year schools. We can also offer you pre-requisites to get into the medical field.

So, given that, some programs do have prerequisites and some don’t. However, you need to start with those ESL classes. They’re very good for you, and they’ll help you so that you’ll be able to succeed in college. ‘Cause that’s what our duty is: to be able to help you to succeed.

FINANCIAL AID COUNSELOR: Hi. I’m Deborah Sherman-Hoefler. I am a financial aid counselor in the Community College of Aurora in the Financial Aid Office, and I am here to tell you some information about how to apply for financial aid. You might ask yourself, “What is financial aid?” Financial aid is a program through the Unites States Department of Education where they provide free money. To be eligible to apply for financial aid, you must be a U.S. citizen, or an eligible U.S. citizen, or you must have a valid Social Security number. There are several different types of financial aid which you could apply for.

Let’s talk about the free money first. There are grants, work-study and scholarships. This money is based upon your household income.

If you do not qualify for the free money, you could be eligible to apply for a federal student loan, but if you do apply for a student loan, you must keep in mind that that loan must be repaid.

ADVISOR: (Bradley Jacobson)

The Community College of Aurora recognizes the financial difficulties that many international students face, and we’ve created two scholarships that we hope will benefit these students: the first generation scholarship and also the international scholarship. Eligibility requirements for both of these can be found at www.ccaurora.edu/foundation/scholarships. I’d encourage you to take a look, and if you have any additional questions, then please e-mail me at bradley.jacobson@ccaurora.edu.

CAREER CENTER DIRECTOR:

Hi. I’m Leigh Bessey, director of the Career center at the Community College of Aurora. The Career Center is here to help students discover who they are. It’s all about finding out what you want to be, the majors you want to get, the schools that you want to go to when you leave CCA. But ultimately, it’s about finding out all about the career that fits who you are. We can give you a battery of assessment tests and help you discover what you want to do.

And then once you do that, we can discover your path at CCA and the classes you want to take. But what we can also help with is your resume, your cover letters, and how to search for a job and how to prepare for what you want to do when you get out of school. So, we are open every week, everyday, Monday through Friday from eight to five.

And we are here to assist you. Walk in. Drop in. Visit with us, and we can help you. We can provide to you one-on-one counseling in career development, but we can also provide to you the help you need to get a job.

LUCKSON:

Thanks everyone!

Oh! Looks like class just finished. Let’s see what some ESL students’ career plans are!

STUDENT: (Binyam Teklemariam)

I’m looking forward to study medicine.

STUDENT: (Galila Godatalla)

My name is Galila Godatalla. I’m going to be an early childhood professional.

STUDENT: (Bleus Stanley)

My goal at CCA is to be a nurse.

STUDENT: (Maranatha Kebede)

Hi my name is Maranatha Kebede, and I want to be an aero-space engineer.

STUDENT: (Rhoda Shradha)

I want to be a nurse.

LUCKSON:

And I’m going to be a film director.

Like I said. This is my story, and it can be yours. Come to the College Preparatory ESL Program at the Community College of Aurora. This is where your dream can start.