English for Speakers of Other Languages Celebrates 'Six-cess'

July 14, 2008

For the past six years, the BNL English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program, managed by Jennifer Lynch, Staff Services Division, has expanded and developed. Two recent celebrations showcased the successes of the program: the Literacy Suffolk and BNL ESOL Recognition Celebrations held on April 24 and May 12, respectively.

At the Literacy Suffolk Celebration, special "Authors' Tables" are reserved for authors with work in Literacy Suffolk's Reading for Life. This magazine publishes stories by English language learners who have been taught by Literacy Suffolk volunteer tutors. No less than seven BNL ESOL students - Cuicui Ai, Jinyu Fu, Zhongyan Hu, Mizuho Izubuchi, Hee-Ju Jung, Ling Lan, and Shinichi Yamazaki - earned a place at these tables. At the same event, James Higgins, Energy Sciences & Technology Department, a committed ESOL volunteer, was honored as one of two tutors who received Five-Year Service Awards.

BNL Director Samuel Aronson, who attended the BNL ESOL Celebration, commended the program and the efforts of Program Coordinator Lynch. "The Lab's ESOL program depends on the outstanding work of teachers who are primarily from the BNL staff - including some who learned English in the very same ESOL program," said Aronson. "It's great to see members of our international community coming together and working hard to learn - and teach - our language and culture, and share theirs with us as well."

BNL attendees - English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) students, family members, tutors, with ESOL Program Coordinator Jennifer Lynch (fourth from right) - at the 2008 Literacy Suffolk Recognition Celebration on April 24 at Brookhaven Town Hall.

Lynch described some of the ESOL programs now available for BNLers and their families. These include:

Ten free English classes every weekday, including a class in the evening and two during lunch hours. The classes are for beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels and are taught by Lynch and volunteer tutors. A new tutor, Olga Dulneva, teaches two beginner classes. Some classes are for students who have children. Said Lynch, "The children are able to come to the learning environment in a play area. This is very helpful for parents who couldn't otherwise attend the classes due to childcare needs."

The French for Speakers of Other Languages classes started in 2007 under the umbrella of ESOL. These popular classes, beginner and intermediate, are taught by Galina Polyanskaya.

"ESOL is extending more into the scientific departments," commented Lynch. "We hold two lunchtime classes, one in the Collider-Accelerator Department and one in Berkner Hall and an evening class that is taught by volunteer tutor Yuliya Kokhalskaya. Scientists are also utilizing ESOL one-on-one services to practice their presentations and improve their speaking skills for their audiences. Recently, Lynch teamed with Beth Lin, Biology Department, and a long-time Toastmasters member, to provide a Presentation Practice Workshop for non-native speakers.

"This workshop was well received and feedback from participants showed that it was useful, so we plan to offer more such workshops this year," said Lynch. "The ESOL program is flexible so we can put extra effort where it is most needed. We're always open for suggestions for new directions."

For more information, see Community News, the ESOL newsletter, available in the Recreation building, the apartment area laundromat and by e-mailing Lynch. Also, see the ESOL homepage, www.bnl.gov/esol/, or contact Jennifer Lynch, jlynch@bnl.gov or Ext. 4894.

2008-775  |  INT/EXT  |  Newsroom