By: Ellie Heider
The English Learning and Skills program has returned to Dominican after a long hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nereida Encina, the director of International Enrollment, said that the students are now integrating into the campus culture well.
Prior to COVID-19, the ELS program operated on the priory campus, but is now located on the main campus.
The program increases English proficiency for students who do not have enough fluency in the language said Encina.
Kathleen Hylen, center director for ELS Language Centers, stated that the program is mostly geared toward university students, but anyone is welcome to study English at their centers.
There are currently 65 students registered for the program with many coming from Japan. Many are enrolled at Kindai University, which is in Higashi-osaka, and Chukyo University, which is in Nagoya.
Students from Saudi Arabia have also joined the program, as three out of the 65 students arrived without a university affiliation.
Hylen stated that students can study for about 15 to 20 hours per week or as much as 30 hours per week.
Encina explained that the ELS students are required to take English 112 and will be conditionally admitted to Dominican once they begin. After they finish, they become eligible for full admission to the university.
The club, Buddies Beyond Borders, was created to help ELS and international students feel more welcomed. An event was held on Oct. 4 to get to know the students.
Encina also said that student ambassadors arranged a scavenger hunt for ELS students, where they had to seek out certain offices and departments to become more familiar with Dominican.
Jaqueline Neri Arias, executive director for Student Life and Inclusion, said there were some challenges with integration for students, but it has remained mostly seamless.
“Some of the challenges have been the strict class schedule,” said Arias. “It keeps the students from being able to attend many of our programs throughout the day. The other challenge is limited budgets for programming and space.”
Encina believes that these students may experience culture shock while being in America, but are now adjusting to the education system, food, language, weather, and more.
Hylen said she thinks the time zones are one of the toughest challenges for the new students. However, she believes that all the students are doing great and loves how Dominican students are welcoming the ELS students.
