For Your Information:

The following internet sites are excellent resources in regards to Latino Heritage Month – (just do an internet search).

Hispanic Heritage Month

What Does My Heritage Mean to Me?

Famous Hispanics in the World and History

How to Make a Pinata

Make a Paper Mache Bowl

The Society of Hispanic Historical and Ancestral Research (SHHAR)

.

FALL 2005

The fall term has “Only Just Begun,” but you can already sense the intensity. Students are shouldering large backpacks, or trolley carting heavy loads to class. But even with busy schedules, we need to keep in mind that the festive fall season is upon us ­ Halloween in October, Thanksgiving in November, and Christmas just around the corner in December. In the fall the leaves change colors, and the forests are enchanted canvases filled with sweeping strokes by nature’s brush, dipped into a multicolored palette and applied with bold bright motion. Like our multicultural campuses, they reflect the beauty of diversity. Don’t forget though, as busy as we are, we still need to stop for a moment and smell the flowers ­ enjoy what life has given us. In addition, be sure to spend some quality time with family and friends – it will make the holiday season all the more special!

BY THE WAY: (Do you know WHY leaves change color in the fall? See Page 12 for the answer.)

COMING EVENTS!

Latino Heritage Month begins on September 15 th ­ the independence anniversary date for five Latin American countries – Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. (See page 11 for all the details.)

Hey Students! Are you interested in contributing to the newsletter? Do you have suggestions for topics, or is there a student or teacher whose story you’d like to see published? Or possibly you would like to help design and publish this, or similar newsletters? If so, contact Joy Wang – jwang@sce.ca.cc.us, in the Cypress Learning Center, or any of the teachers in the Computer Classes at your site.

ht September 25, 2005 Volume 11 Issue 1

Cypress College, School of Continuing Education, 9200 Valley View St., Cypress, CA 90630 (714) 484‐7064

The ESL Spotlight ht

The ESL Spotlight Page 2 of 12

INTERVIEW of: Miss Sharon K. Song By: Ana Ruth Sandoval

Miss Song is a vocational ESL and computer teacher at the Wilshire Campus. She has been teaching students from different countries for about five years. She teaches from Monday thru Thursday, and continuously teaches vocational classes. A majority of students enjoy her classes and learn fast. She uses different skills in the program such as, writing a letter, completing applications, developing resumes, and career exploration. V.E.S.L. courses at the Wilshire are available Monday thru Thursday from 12:30 to 3:00 P.M. The courses include Microsoft Word, Power Point, and typing.

In the Advanced Computer Class at Cypress, students are working on a “SUCCESS” project… here are Maria Casanova’s thoughts on success.

What does it mean to be successful? I think students are successful if they try to improve their English and computer skills while in school.

What are your successes? I worked for the Tekform Company for fifteen years. I quit to take care of my Mother about three years ago. She passed away and then my husband retired, so we decided to study English and Computers. I am taking ESL Intermediate High classes, and the Advanced Computer class.

What advice would you give to other students to be successful? I am so happy to go to school every day, because with my English and Computer classes, I was able to write the history of my life in a book. I am so proud of my success.

Other comments: My hobbies are: My family, computers, dance, and traveling with my family.

Maria Casanova

Don’t forget the contests in the Learning Centers! Look for the flyers!

The ESL Learning Centers are undergoing significant changes in order to provide students with better instructional services. One of the new services will be to provide ESL instructor’s support in the Learning Centers for 10 hours per week in the morning, and 12 hours per week in the evening. The hours in the evening will be:

Anaheim Campus MTTh 5pm – 8pm Cypress Campus MTWTh 5pm – 8pm Wilshire Campus MTWTh 5pm – 8pm

Some of the benefits will include student assistance in the use of language learning programs, and one­on­one as well as group tutoring sessions.

For further information check with Learning Center Staff.

The ESL Spotlight Page 3 of 12

Interview of Patricia Garcia – Lab Assistant at Anaheim

By: Dennis Sauers

D: “Hello Patricia, I understand you’re from Columbia?” P: “Yes, originally, but I’ve been here for six years.” D: “Great, can you tell us a little about your experiences?” P: “It’s a different culture… my husband is also from a different country (Mexico), but he grew up in the U.S. and loves it here.” D: “What was the citizenship process like?” P: “Since my husband is a U.S. citizen, the whole process took about 5 months.” “I completed the paperwork, and my interview was August 26, 2005.” “On September 23, 2005 I went to the Los Angeles Convention Center for the citizenship ceremony, and 10,200 people were there to become citizens.” “I was very nervous and excited, because becoming a citizen is a wonderful gift.” D: “Thank you Patricia.”

GREAT JOB!

U.S CITIZENSHIP STUDENTS

Sarita Zetino Mercedes Aguilar Cumanda Garzon Laura Arellano

Apichai Leelasangasub Maria Barbosa Felipe L Tec

Nelson Betancourt Jose Jaen

Hoan Nguyen Brooks Leoncio del Villar Veronica Cardenas Lin Chao­Chin David Chiu Kimi Chiu

Juan Gonzalez Cecilia Guerrero Jessica Huber

Rukhasana Huseein Leonora A. Jackson Joowon Lee­Ma Betty Lopez

Kazem Nadjmabadi Ana Leticia Perez

Abdollah Pourshirazi Yolanda Stull Angelica Trejo Lee Zen Tsing Patricia Garcia

Congratulations Patricia!

My Interview By: Sara Zetino de Paz

My native country is El Salvador, and I am 61 years old. I came to the United States in 1989, about 16 years ago. I came to this country for better opportunities, and to get a job. I want to become a U.S. citizen so I can vote. My INS interview was August 10 th , 2005 and I wasn’t nervous. The INS officer was friendly and she asked 15 questions about U.S. history and the government. The sentence I wrote at the interview said “They are in the grocery store.” I want to tell other students who are getting ready for the citizenship interview to take classes in the college. I will take my oath for citizenship test on September 23, 2005 in Los Angeles.

Page 4 of 12 The ESL Spotlight

Hello Dulce!

Congratulations to Deb Ramirez Employee of the Year! September 27, 2005, our teacher Mrs. Debbie Ramirez came back to see us. Mrs. Debbie, Welcome back! Thank you for visiting our campus! We are glad to see you.. First of all, allow me to say "Congratulations!" You are "The Best Adjunct Teacher in North Orange County College Community District"! How did you feel, when you heard about this? ­I was nicely surprised! You are deserving of the award, of course. You'd been working so hard for us. We really appreciate your dedication. How have you been in these days? ­I have been very busy moving and starting my classes at my new school. When will you be able to move in? It would probably be around October 15. How do you like Washington State? ­I love WA! I love new things and new adventures. But I miss California's hot sun, my friends and my students. If we visited to Washington State, which places should (must) we see? Where do you recommend? ­I recommend Mt. Rainier, San Juan Island, Pikes Market in Seattle, etc. How about food? Is there anything unlike California? ­I recommend Salmon, Alaskan king crab, and all Seafood! Did you see Ichiro at the Seattle Mariners' Safeco Field? ­I haven't been to Safeco field yet, but I saw Ichiro when I went to Boston. Since I am a great fan of the Mariners, my license plate frame is the Mariners. Have you already been teaching at new school? ­I have been teaching for 1 week. I am starting from the bottom, but the challenging part is my health and designing new curriculum. Please tell us about new school over there. ­I have many things to share about my experience with my new students and my new place that I learned in CA. I am teaching at Pierce College in the City of Puyallup, and teaching ESL Beg. Literacy level 1­2 / International students level 3­4 (reading, and speaking / listening). And a Quote For the End: "The students and staff at Cypress College are the best I have ever worked with. I miss everyone and I want to thank all who offered me ideas, support and advice to help make NOCCCD ESL department the best site to learn English. My success and receiving this award is because of all of you! Come visit me in WA!" Visit Debbie’s awesome website: http://www.tching4u.com/

Page 5 of 12 The ESL Spotlight

Interview by: Naoko Danno

Find out how to make an effective use of career assessment tools, and how to decide on your profession.

Giving shape to your career goals.

Thursday November 30

Understanding diversity and community involvement opportunities. Pre­Thanksgiving session.

Students as important

members of your community.

Thursday November 23

Learn to deal with mistakes and difficult experiences in order to achieve personal and academic growth.

Learning from your mistakes. Thursday

November 16

Guidance on educational planning based on realistic goals and aspirations.

Leaving too much of your future to

chance.

Thursday November 9

Details the importance of economic stability. Banking and other money matters.

Economic growth & Education

Thursday November 2

Discover the foundations for clear and effective public speaking. These strategies can be used for informal and formal situations.

Public speaking for the ESL student.

Thursday October 26

Explains the cognitive process of learning a second language. Helps student cope with the stress of speaking English as second language.

Learning a second language.

Thursday October 19

Tells the story no one knew about SCE, and how is it different from other schools. What makes it a good choice in education?

Facts about SCE Thursday October 12

This is an inspirational overview of personal objectives in relation to past, present, and future. Emphasis is placed on future opportunities of progress.

What is your future like?

Thursday October 5

DESCRIPTION TITLE DATE

Page 6 of 12 The ESL Spotlight

A New Teacher Story By Bertha Duarte

My teacher’s name is Cathee Mang. She is from New York and she teaches English as a Second Language in a reading and writing course. She got started in a special program during the summer to teach English at Ohio University, where she received her Masters degree. She studied phonetics and linguistic material. She graduated from Ohio University in 1992 and she has been teaching ESL since 1993. She got her first ESL job in Indonesia. She has a passion for teaching students who do not understand English very well. When she was in the second grade, she decided to be a teacher, but she knew that she also had a passion for the performing arts; that is why she pursued her M.F.A. in theatre. When she was younger, she did some traveling with her Dad. He worked for an airline called, “Pan American Airlines.” In regards to Cathee Mang’s class, I believe it will help you to improve your English. If you are interested, the class meets Monday and Wednesday 8:00 A.M. to 10:30 A.M.

ESL Readers Theatre Performance

On Monday, November 14 at 9 A.M., Wilshire’s Writing and Reading class will read new scenes. The performance will be held in room 215. The students wrote all of the scenes. The performance gives the class a chance to hear what they wrote. Playwrights usually have their plays read before a full scale production is staged. This gives them the opportunity to revise or even rewrite their scripts for live actors. Cathee Mang, the Writing and Reading instructor at Wilshire, will direct the class’s scenes. ESL students, faculty, and staff members are invited to attend this free performance. For more information, please contact Cathee Mang: cmang@sce.cc.ca.us.

Theatre Vocabulary Definitions: scenes­ part of a play Playwrights ­ people who write plays scripts ­ words and descriptions in a play full scale production ­ a memorized play with lights, costumes, and sound

Page 7 of 12 The ESL Spotlight

Interview of a new teacher By: Judy Lam

Ms Tammy Chapman is a new teacher at Cypress campus. She is from Texas. She loves to teach therefore she has been teaching ESL for 10 years. After teaching, she spends time with her hobbies; she likes running, reading, and she also loves to travel. Ms Chapman enjoys all kind of food, especially Thai food. She mentioned that there are more people or cultural groups here than in Texas. At the end, I asked her about any plans or goals for the future. She said that if she had enough money to retire, she would travel around the world.

CONVERSATION CLUB: Every Tuesday 12:30~1:30pm At Cypress Campus

Hermosa Village ­ Off Campus Site

Interview of Violet Valencia, Resource Coordinator @ H.V.

By: Dennis Sauers

D: Good afternoon Violet, can you tell us a little bit about the H.V. Program? V: Yes, our organization is the Hope Through Housing Foundation, and our mission is to enrich lives and empower community, and I believe that NOCCCD has done a great job of helping us with our mission. We currently have about 12 monthly programs including the NOCCCD ESL and computer classes, Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), planned parenthood, Calvary Chapel, catechism classes, nutritional classes, and “well­women” exams. We try to cover all aspects of life, because life is not just about living in a “pretty place,” it’s also about changing yourself from within and getting to know what you need to get to the next step. D: Very interesting Violet, could you also tell us a little more about your community? V: The community consists of a little over five hundred units managed by the “Hope for Housing Foundation”. In addition there are about one hundred privately owned units, but we still serve them. That means we have about 600 units, with about 1400 adults, and approximately 2100 children and teenagers that we serve every day, every year. D: That’s great Violet, thank you for this informative interview.

HermosaVillage Photos top to bottom: 1.Students talking to a H.V. counselor in the computer lab. 2.Resource Coordinator Violet Valencia in the office. 3.An evening session of the ESL class.

The Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment Test (CASAS) is an assessment tool used to measure the level of English proficiency, as well as the learning gains made by English­as­a­Second Language students. CASAS meets state assessment requirements, provides instructors with information to better understand where students require more instructional focus, and affords students the opportunity to monitor their own progress. CASAS testing is conducted several times per year to ensure all students have a pre­ and post­test. CASAS is administered in each classroom by the instructor or by a CASAS technician. David Soto, an Instructional Assistant in the NOCCD ESL department, facilitates the off­site CASAS program. David visits all 27 off site campuses to administer tests, and helps evaluate student progress.

Instructional Assistant David Soto visiting with Roosevelt Elementary School evening ESL students.

Page 8 of 12 The ESL Spotlight

Page 9 of 12 The ESL Spotlight

Christmas Holidays By Monica Sanchez

There are many special holidays in the year such as Halloween and Thanksgiving, but I think the most important one is Christmas. It’s a time for sharing because you give and receive a lot of presents, surprises, and love. In this country, people celebrate it by singing Christmas songs and going to parties. Most people decorate their house to make it prettier with lights of different colors. They also put up a tree with Christmas ornaments (candies, balls, and tinsel). Then, on Christmas Eve in the middle of the night, Santa Claus comes to visit all the children, and older people too. He comes to bring them gifts and surprises. That’s a little view of how it looks on December 24 th and 25 th in the U.S.

A California Christmas By: Ana Ruth Sandoval

In warm climates, people sometimes celebrate Christmas in unusual ways. For instance, families in Australia go to the beach and have barbeques. In Hawaii, people may have pool parties or drive around town to look at palm trees decorated with Christmas lights. The following is a story about a family in California who decided to go camping at Big Bear Lake for Christmas. Scene 1. At the house NORA: I’m glad we decided to go to Big Bear Lake for Christmas. LOLA: Yeah, I’m going to prepare everything we need to camp. MANPRI: We need to leave early, though—4:30 A.M. NORA: Don’t forget to set the alarm. CARLOS: I’m going to check the car—the wheels, the oil, and the water. KARLA: I’m going to make burritos, tacos, and enough sandwiches for all of us. NORA: Good. Is everything under control? KARLA: Yes, Mom.

Scene 2. At Big Bear Lake NORA: This looks like a nice spot. Let’s stop here. Carlos parks the car. The family starts getting out. MANPRI: I’ll unpack. NORA: I’m hungry. LOLA: Uh oh!! I left our stuff outside the house behind the fence! NORA: What happened?? KARLA: We forgot the food. It’s outside the house. CARLOS: Are you kidding me! MANPRI: I don’t believe you guys. LOLA: Hey, Mom, do you see what’s next to us? NORA: Yes, a snack bar. CARLOS: I’ll go there and buy food. KARLA: Some Christmas! We’ll be eating junk food for dinner! NORA: At least we’ll be spending Christmas together. That’s the important thing.

My career that I had in my country ­ By: Huor Veng

My name is Huor Veng. I came from Phnom Penh, Cambodia. In my country, I worked in the hospital. I was a staff person in the office. I did monthly reports, about the statistics of the patients. Sometime, if we had too many clients, I helped with the consultations as a nursing assistant. I worked twice a day from 7:00 to 12:00 noon, and from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm. I had two hours for break, so I could go home and eat lunch with my family. I liked my job and I miss my country too.

Page 10 of 12 The ESL Spotlight

ENGLISH IN AMERICA By Tajinder Kaur

When Gurpreet was in India, he never thought about going to America. He never spoke English in India. Today he is working at the Alcoa Company in the U.S. as a tester. In India, Gurpreet finished high school, and he studied English. When he came to the U.S., he sometimes understood people, but sometimes he couldn’t understand them because they spoke very fast. That’s why he took ESL classes and worked at the 7­Eleven. He enjoyed his studies because he liked to read, and he improved his English. Now he is working for Alcoa Company. He is a tester for Boeing parts— parts such as nuts and bolts, and he speaks English perfectly! I know how hard it is for people who come from other countries, but it’s important for us to take ESL classes. You can take classes at the Wilshire, Cypress College, or Anaheim campuses.

Writing and Reading, Anyone?

A writing and reading course is being taught at Wilshire by Cathee Mang. It starts at 8:00 on Monday and Wednesday. In this class, students talk about and develop ideas. Later, they will read scripts in front of classmates. They will also write and read stories for comprehension. The first assignment was writing an article for the ESL Newsletter. We identified the structure of a news story. We had an assignment to interview one or more persons. After that, we wrote essays and structured the body using transition words. We are writing conclusions now. In this class, you can learn to revise a newsletter article, analyze a play plot, and write dialogs. In addition, you can make an outline for an essay, write an introduction, and write supporting and concluding paragraphs. Finally, your writing and reading will improve. If you need help, you can ask the teacher your questions after class.

Addie: A Student’s Best Friend

By: Elvia Landeros

Addie is an instructor at the Wilshire Center. She is located in the Literacy Lab. She is helpful in teaching English to students. She has been helping me improve my English for the last two years. Recently, I interviewed Addie:

Elvia: Why did you choose a career as an instructor? Addie: Because I like to help people learn and help them realize their potential. Elvia: Who inspired you to become a teacher? Addie: My teachers. Elvia: What do you have to do to be a teacher? Addie: You have to like working with people and get the required education. Elvia: How do you like your job now? Addie: I enjoy it very much. Elvia: Where did you get your education? Addie: At CSUF. Elvia: Why did you choose to teach English? Addie: To help people make the transition from their first languages to English more easily. Elvia: When did you decide to become a teacher? Addie: I decided to become a teacher about six years ago.

Addie is a nice teacher. She is very helpful and motivates her students to do their best and never give up. She is a student’s best friend.

Page 11 of 12

Improve Your English at Carl’s Jr. By Maria Zamora

Chery Molina is a manager at Carl’s Jr. Restaurant. She wants her employees to be friendly and help customers at all times. She also likes to help students improve and practice their English. Chery is from California and she has been working for 10 years for the company. She spends nine or more hours everyday working. Her priority is attention to the customers. Carl’s Jr. is hiring right now. For ESL students looking for a part­time job, this is a great opportunity to improve your English. You don’t need perfect English to get the job. You will practice on the job because you will listen to and converse directly with American people. You could be just the person they’re looking for. They’re team players who want to share their success. It’s a great opportunity to work and also improve your English in a fun environment, and you’ll learn new skills, too. They offer on the job training and a real chance for advancement. If you are ready to join the team, request an application today and make an appointment to be interviewed. The interviews are every Friday at 4:00 P.M. For more information, visit Carl's Jr. website at www.carlsjr.com Or speak directly with Chery.

The ESL Spotlight

Hispanic Heritage Month Some of you may have seen the ESL department Memorandum regarding Latino Heritage Month… if you haven’t, here are some interesting facts from the Memo: the Latino Heritage Month begins on September 15 th , the anniversary of independence for five Latin American countries – Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico declared its independence on September 16 and Chile on September 18.

According to CASAS data, over 70% of the students served by our ESL program identify themselves as Latino. It is only natural that the ESL Program and the SCE Diversity Committee will once more spearhead the celebration of the Latino Heritage Month in our school.

The theme of this year’s Latino Heritage Celebration is Latinos in the US: Past, Present, and Future. Students are encouraged to view a display case reflecting the historic and the present day influence of Latinos on the development of our country. The display case is located on the first floor of the Anaheim Campus.

Teaching of the contributions of Latin Americans and learning about the cultures from which they come, will be the focal point of many classroom activities in the weeks ahead. Why not invite your family and friends to attend?

Korean Students in ESL Classes By Yoon Choi How is your English and life in ESL classes? Many multinational students take ESL classes to improve their English. For instance, there are a lot of Korean students who do. They account for about one third of the students in a class at Wilshire campus. I took a mini­survey of Korean students (one male and three females), in ESL classes at SCE about their English, and life in ESL classes. First, they’ve lived in America for various lengths of time. They have lived in America for two days, two months, one year and six months, and two years. Second, all of them said that they want to improve their English. They were asked, “Why do you take ESL classes?” One said she wants to help her daughter with her schoolwork and one said she wants to improve her personality. Third, they said the classes were better than they thought they would be. They thought the classes helped improve their English. One said her listening skills improved the most. Additionally, they said they would be able to learn about the country and culture. Fourth, they were interviewed about life and friends in ESL classes. The three female students said they have been friendly with other Korean students, but they don’t have a lot of time, so they just meet and talk at school. On the other hand, the male student said, “I have been friendly with Mexican students. Sometimes we go fishing. Sometimes we play soccer together.” Finally, they said, “We had not used English in Korea, but we live in the U.S. English is needed everywhere in America.” Do you need English? What do you think? How does your story compare with Korean students’ stories? Do you think that ESL classes are a good opportunity for you?

Newsletter Staff Joy Wang Editor in chief, Writer, Graphics

Sarita Zetino Writer, Typist Nelson & Maria Casanova Typist Carmen Machado Typist Judy Lam Writer, Typist Yoon Choi Typist, Writer Hour Veng Writer, Graphics Naoko Danno Writer, Typist Bertha Duarte Writer, Typist Monica Sanches Writer, Typist Ana Ruth Sandoval Writer, Typist, Photographer Maria Zamora Typist, Writer Tajinder Kaur Typist, Writer Patricia Espinola Typist, Writer

Shin Song Advisor Cathee Mang Advisor Dennis Sauers Advisor

School of Continuing Education

ESL Department 9200 Valley View Street Cypress, CA 90630

Phone: (714) 484­7064

ESL Computer Lab CE 10­14

E­Mail:

jwang@sce.ca.cc.us densau@adelphia.net

RIDDLES FOR YOU…

1 What are two things people never eat before breakfast?

2 Where is the ocean the deepest?

3 How do you spell mousetrap?

4 What can't be used until it's broken?

5 What do tigers have that no other animals have?

KNOW THE ANSWER? MAKE A GUESS AND ASK ONE OF THE INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANTS IN THE LEARNING CENTERS FOR THE ANSWER ­ the first person with the correct answer may receive a pleasant surprise.

Science Corner: (Answer to By The Way on page 1)

Leaves are nature's food factories. Plants take water through their roots. They also take carbon dioxide from the air. Plants use sunlight to turn water and carbon dioxide into food. Chlorophyll gives plants their green color. As summer ends, the days get shorter. Trees "know" to begin getting ready for winter. During winter, there is not enough light or water for photosynthesis, and trees live off the food they stored during the summer. They begin to shut down their food­making factories. The green chlorophyll disappears from the leaves. As the bright green fades away, we begin to see yellow, red, brown, and orange colors. Small amounts of these colors have been in the leaves all along. We just can't see them in the summer, since the green chlorophyll covers the leaves. All these things help to make the beautiful colors we enjoy in the fall.

Page 12 of 12 The ESL Spotlight