The ELI Weekly
Out and About: Celebrating Bilingualism
by Yamilia Morffe Tillan, RW 60
Bilingualism is associated with cognitive advantages. It is an essential skill in our interconnected world. Individuals who grow up bilingual create a connection between languages, which increases their cognitive flexibility.
For more than seven years, I have been teaching Spanish as a second language to students from different countries and my experience makes me believe that bilingualism fosters cultural understanding and appreciation. When students are proficient in two languages they can engage more deeply with different cultures. This promotes empathy and cross-cultural communication, which are important qualities in our diverse global society.
More recently, I have been studying English in Gainesville, where bilingualism has allowed me to connect my own cultural heritage while actively participating in the community, enriching my cognitive advantages and personal experiences. Encouraging bilingualism should be a priority through appropriate educational programs to enrich the life of individuals.
Embracing bilingualism is a step toward a more inclusive and prosperous future.
CIP Weekday Activities
Veterans Day Holiday Activity
Friday November 10th – Dave & Buster’s Arcade – 4:00 – 6:30pm
Enjoy your day off and play fun arcade games with ELI friends at this popular American arcade chain! Meet at Dave & Buster’s in Celebration Pointe! Bring 15 to 25 dollars for games and extra money if you want to buy food! Take bus 33.
Address: 3023 SW 45th St, Gainesville, FL 32608
Sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0C4BA9A823A02-45650558-dave
Other CIP Reminders
CIP Passports: Don’t forget to get your CIP Passport hole punched from the activity leaders AT the event (not after). We will no longer hole punch passports after the event. Redeem your completed passport for a small gift and photo for the ELI Instagram! Remember the CIP Pineapple is hidden in a new place every Monday in the CIP office. Stop by and find it for hole punches!
Passport Winners in the Weekly: We would like to recognize the passport winners in the Weekly. Please let Tate know when you win if you do not want to have your name in the Weekly.
Conversation Partners (CPs): Sign up for a CP here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScrco_-3vxQmpyStsHOW0DQcoPfkm5yJYDzOuWLmq3nIaj2wg/viewform
Remember, if you sign up, you must meet your partner at least once a week and respond to their messages. Email conversationpartners@eli.ufl.edu if you have any questions or problems or stop by the CIP office to see Will during his office hours.
Notes from the Office
Veterans Day: Friday, November 10 is a holiday. There are no ELI classes, and the ELI office is closed on Veterans Day.
English Conversation Club: The Conversation Club had their first meeting last Friday. Thanks to everyone who joined! They will have the next meeting at 1:00pm on Friday, 11/17, in MAT 208. The topic for that day will be food, cooking, and restaurants. Please join them if you can! If you have any questions, talk to Christine (christinevoigt@ufl.edu).
Check your I20s: If your I-20 is expiring soon, make an appointment with Daryl in MAT 223 to renew your I-20 before it expires.
Financial Guarantees for Spring: Dear scholarship students, we hope to see you again in the Spring! Therefore, we have sent you an early reminder to request your new financial guarantee letter for the Spring semester, if you plan to return. Most of your financial guarantees will expire this December, which means that you will need to submit a new financial guarantee by the tuition deadline of January 25 for the Spring C semester to avoid owing a late fee. If you need an enrollment letter or if you have any questions, please email Iman Walford Vann at jvann@eli.ufl.edu.
Community College Day
Wednesday, November 8 – Matherly Hall, Room 14 – 5:10pm
Next Wednesday, November 8th, representatives from Santa Fe College (SF) and the College of Central Florida (CF) will present to ELI students at 5:10pm in room 14 in Matherly Hall. They will talk about degree programs, the admissions process, and student life at both schools. If you are considering attending a community college, this is a great opportunity to meet their International Student Services staff and ask them questions. They can answer questions about the required credential evaluation process, transferring college credits, and important deadlines if you want to start with them next year. Even if you are not interested in Santa Fe College or the College of Central Florida, this workshop will give helpful information on applying to undergraduate programs in the US.
Special Events in November
International Education Week
International Education Week is November 13 – 17, 2023. UF is hosting many events, like the World Flags Display Event. You may sign up to carry one or multiple flags at the Plaza of the Americas on November 13, between 11am-2pm. Signup is here: https://internationalcenter.ufl.edu/world-flags-display-global-programs-tabling The ELI family is welcome to attend any of the UF events on campus, listed here: https://internationalcenter.ufl.edu/events/international-education-week
The ELI also has activities to celebrate International Education Week. Join in the Spirit Week activities and show us your country’s spirit! Each day for a week, we will ask you to show your international spirit in a different way. Here is the schedule for Spirit Week:
- 11/13 Monday, Country Colors
- 11/14 Tuesday, Fandom Day
- 11/15 Wednesday, Career Day
- 11/16 Thursday: Languages Day
- 11/17 Friday: Sports Day
Also, tell us your international stories and we will share them in the Weekly and on social media! Tell us stories about study abroad, an international friend, or a language or culture study. Send video, audio, or brief written stories with photos to show how being involved in international education impacts your life. Please make sure audio and videos are brief and clear. The deadline is November 10th. Send your international stories to Maya (mshastri@ufl.edu).
ELI Milestones
Here at the ELI, we have some very dedicated faculty and staff!
Do you know how long staff, teachers, and LAs have been at the ELI? Can you guess? You might be surprised!
Over the next few weeks, we are going to celebrate ELI faculty and staff who have reached a milestone in their time at the ELI this year. This week, we’d like to give a shout out to everyone who has been at the ELI for more than 2 years, but fewer than five years:
- Amy Kessler
- Will Speer
Be sure to thank them for their dedication!
Photo of the Day
Birthdays!
Manners & Culture
Q: What is Veterans Day?
A: A veteran is a person who has served in the military. Veterans Day is a holiday in honor of people who have served in the US military. In Gainesville, there is a big celebration at Kanapaha Park, which includes skydivers, live music, helicopter displays, the UF Drill Team demonstration, and multiple patriotic ceremonies. On Veterans Day, many restaurants and businesses will give free meals or services to veterans to thank them for their military service. It is a national holiday, so many national, state, county, and city services will be closed like the US Postal Service and trash collection. The RTS bus service will be reduced to the holiday routes.
Grammar
Q: How many is “several” and “a lot”?
A: Indefinite quantities are so fun! “Several” is about the same amount as a handful. In other words, “several” is more than two, but not many. “A lot” means many or plenty. There is no specific number amount to define these terms.
Notes from the Editor
Come by my office (221 MAT) and help me write the Out and About section! There are so many topics to write about–a fun activity, an interesting place on campus, a club or hobby that you enjoy, or even tell us about a place to visit in your country. Bring a photo of your experience and put it in the Weekly.
Send stories and grammar, manners, or culture questions to Maya Shastri (mshastri@ufl.edu).