The ELI Weekly
Scholarship Winners
Congratulations to the recipients of the ELI scholarships for the Summer 2024 semester!
- Dr. Jayne C. Harder Memorial Scholarship: Tomas Soto Jara, from Chile
- Dr. J.C. Casagrande Peace Scholarship: David Ariza Peña, from Colombia
- 1st Runner-up: Rolande Yahano Pagoui, from Chad
- 2nd Runner-up: Diana Barragan Caicedo, from Colombia
- 3rd Runner-up: Marina Darmesh, from Kazakhstan
Out and About: A Kuwaiti Boy Meets Latinos in the USA
by Ali Alsayegh, RW 41
When I came to the ELI, I was a person who did not communicate with people, and I was not interested in learning about cultures. But when I met my classmates last semester, I made a lot of friends, who were mostly Latinos. Simply because I got to know them, and I got to know their culture, I realized that Latino people and their culture are astonishing. I realized that they are such kind people because they always laugh with you and respect you. For example, any time when I’m free, such as the break which is one hour, I spend most of the time with them and hanging out together. I have even learned a few Spanish words, such as “hola,” “te amo,” “hasta mañana,” and “salud.” Literally, I make friends every single day because they feel interested when they know I can speak a little bit of Spanish. I have realized that Arabic people and Latinos share some characteristics, like socializing and laughing with everyone. To sum up, what I like most about my Latin friends is that they are simple and love to have fun, and this is what drives me to continue learning about cultures more and more. Salud my friends!
CIP Weekday Activities
CIP Weekend Event
Saturday, April 20th – End of Semester BBQ at Lake Wauburg – 11:45am to 4:00pm
Meet at Norman Garage at 11:45. All are welcome to celebrate the end of the semester at our BBQ! Come get free food and kayak or canoe on beautiful Lake Wauburg North Shore for free with your Gator1 ID! Play sports, socialize, and enjoy Florida nature with friends for our very last event of the semester!! Meet at Norman Parking Garage! No smoking or vaping is allowed anywhere at this location, even if you are outside.
You must sign up to attend this activity, even if you plan on driving yourself. We need to make sure we know how much food to provide. Sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0C4BA9A823A02-49024761-endofsemester
Other CIP Reminders
Conversation Partners
Want to meet with a fluent English speaker and make a new friend? Sign up for a CP! If you choose to sign up, you must meet with your partner for one hour a week. It can take up to two weeks to get a partner from when you sign up. Please sign up at this link: https://forms.gle/Vs8dgX3R8qGvT1Ed7
Please email Will at conversationpartners@eli.ufl.edu for any issues, questions or concerns or visit him in the CIP Office during office hours.
CIP Passport
Don’t forget to get your CIP Passport hole punched from the activity leaders AT the event (not after). We don’t hole punch passports after the event. Redeem your completed passport for a small gift a photo for the ELI Instagram, and your name published in the ELI weekly!
Need a new CIP Passport? Stop by the CIP Office?
Remember the CIP Pineapple is hidden in a new place every Monday in the CIP office. Stop by and find it for hole punches!
Baby Dolce
Welcome Camellia Stephanie Dolce to the ELI family! Camellia arrived on April 2, 2024. She began life at 6lbs 12oz and 20 inches long. Proud father, Thomas Dolce, said that he is in awe of his new daughter. When you see Thomas, be sure to say congratulations for this joyous occasion!
Last day of ELI Classes
Thursday, April 25, is the final day of ELI classes this Spring. Teachers will be submitting final grades and attendance reports on Wednesday, April 24. If you are absent on Thursday, your absence will not be counted for immigration, class grades, or any petition you have submitted. All absences on April 22, 23, and 24 still count!!! You should not miss class these days!
We hope all ELI students will attend class on Thursday, April 25. Your teachers and LAs have fun and interesting lessons and activities planned. However, we know many ELI students are making preparations to leave Gainesville, so are very busy this last week. If you will not be attending class on Thursday, April 25, please inform your teacher by Tuesday, April 23. Your teachers and LAs need to know how many students to plan for.
All of your teachers and LAs will be at the ELI Commencement Ceremony on Friday, April 26. We hope you will be there, too!
Leaving the ELI
If you are leaving the ELI, we hope you will share your experiences with your friends and family. Also, please keep your email updated with us. When the ELI travels internationally for conferences and events, we invite alumni to join us.
If you are interested in acting as an ELI Ambassador to assist future Gators in your country apply to the ELI, please let Lia Brenneman know (lia@ufl.edu, MAT 220A). If you are interested in becoming an Educational Consultant for the ELI, ask Lia for details. You are the best source of information about the ELI and Gainesville for new students. We appreciate our alumni! Also, the ELI’s 70th anniversary will be in Summer 2024. We hope you will join us for a special homecoming celebration.
If you want to stay active with English study in your country, please contact our friends at EducationUSA (https://educationusa.state.gov/find-advising-center). They have centers all over the world where they advise students about studying in the USA. It is a great place for you to network, practice English, and help other students learn about your experience studying in Florida.
Notes from the Office
Finish Strong! You have reached the last few weeks of the semester. We want you to finish strong. For the next two weeks, go to class, be on time, study for one hour every evening, take all your tests. Challenge yourself to be the best version of yourself!
Commencement Ceremony: The ELI Commencement Ceremony will be April 26th from 10am to noon in the Rion Ballroom in the Reitz Union. Everyone, including family and friends are welcome. All of your teachers and language assistants and ELI administration will be there!
Gatorlink: If you are not returning to the ELI in the Summer semester, you will not be able to access your ufl.edu email address, one.uf.edu, Canvas, or other Gatorlink service after May 25th. You will need to download any emails, assignments, or information that you want to keep.
Apartment Leases: As the semester draws to a close, keep in mind that your lease might be ending soon. It is important to know the exact date that your apartment lease ends so you can make plans. If you’re not sure when it ends, ask your apartment office.
If you need help finding a hotel to stay in short-term (you should ask your friends first!), someone to take over your lease, or a new apartment, talk to Christine in Matherly 223.
Charges Due: Every ELI student should log in to ONE.uf.edu and look at the “Campus Finances (Bursar)” tile to see if you owe any fees to the university. For example, you may need to pay for services you received at the Student Health Care Center or printing in a library. If you have a scholarship, it will not pay these charges.
Check your I-20s: If you are traveling during the break (for example, leaving the US and coming back), make sure your I-20 is signed. Also check the expiration date. You can make an appointment with Daryl to sign your I-20 or to renew your I-20 before it expires.
Financial Guarantees for Summer: Dear scholarship students, we hope to see you again in the Summer! Therefore, we have sent you an early reminder to request your new financial guarantee letter for the Summer semester, if you plan to return. If you need an enrollment letter or if you have any questions, please email Natalie Claytor at fiscal@eli.ufl.edu.
Photos of the Week
Birthdays!
Manners & Culture
Q: When should you shake hands and when should you hug?
A: A handshake is more formal and is used when you do not know the person you are greeting. The first time you meet someone, you can use a handshake, and that is always correct.
Hugs are only an option when you know someone well and feel affection for that person. In the US, it is not uncommon to see good friends hugging when they greet each other and when they say goodbye.
Some people do not like to hug. If you are someone that does not like to hug, that is ok too. There are other casual ways to greet by touching. For example, a fist bump and a high five are casual and acceptable.
Grammar
Q: Why do Americans say, “Which sentence is more clear?” instead of “Which sentence is clearer?”
A: According to the grammar rules we teach you, one syllable words should use -er. Some people say more clear because it’s easier to say. “Clearer” is difficult because of the two ‘-r’ sounds. Words like “easier” and “bigger” are easy to say. Here are more examples of words that give the double “-r” in comparative form:
- rare – rarer/more rare
- sure – surer/more sure