The ELI Weekly
Out and About: My Story in Cancun
Hyongchan An, RW 30
I went scuba diving twice—once at an underwater museum called MUSA and another time at a place where I could see many fish. The water was very clear, and I could see many colorful fish and beautiful coral. At first, I was nervous because I couldn’t swim, but soon, I became comfortable because I adapted to the equipment. Then, I enjoyed the moment and my surroundings. There was the underwater museum, many fish, sharks, and more. At one point, I was standing underwater, and it felt like I had entered another world. The underwater world was calm, peaceful, and mysterious. I had never tried scuba diving before I did it in Cancun, so this experience was very special and unforgettable for me. If I have the chance to go scuba diving again, I would really love to do it.
CIP Weekday Activities
Weekend Event
There is no weekend event this week so that you can study for finals. Your teachers have some study tips for you:
- Melina-“Organize and review the handouts that your teachers gave you and practice exercises with your classmates.”
- Patrick-“Start early and find classmates to study with. Don’t lose motivation!!”
- Zoe-“Pay attention to your teachers and make sure you know the objectives for your class.”
- Lynne-“Get plenty of sleep the nights before your exams.”
- Jen-“Ask the teacher if there is a study guide. Review all past tests and quizzes.”
Other CIP Reminders
Conversation Partners (CPs)
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 here!
Please email Joey at conversationpartners@eli.ufl.edu for any issues, questions or concerns or visit her in the CIP Office during office hours.
CIP Passports
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
Find the Pineapple
Remember the CIP Pineapple is hidden in a new place every Monday in the CIP office. Stop by and find it for hole punches!
Notes from the Office
People out: Christine will be out of the office from April 7 to April 10. Please plan around these dates if you need to talk to Christine.
Course Evaluations: Soon we will be doing our final course evaluations. This is your opportunity to provide feedback for how the class went this semester. Please go to this link https://bit.ly/4048gmH to review the evaluations so that you know how to fill them out when they are distributed in class. ELI administrators will review them and share the results with your teachers and Language Assistants to help them plan the class for next semester.
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! This is 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 Tara Mace at fiscal@eli.ufl.edu.
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.
Will you be returning to the ELI next semester? Remember, you must check in using myELI between May 5th and May 9th, 2025. Even if you completed the Returning Student Survey, you must check in online in May to save your space. After you check in online, you will be able to get your schedule on Friday, May 16th. The Welcome Picnic is Saturday, May 17th, and all students must attend classes beginning on Monday, May 19th.
US Federal Tax Forms for International Students
International students that were present in the U.S. in 2024 have a responsibility to file tax forms with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Tax forms are due on April 15th this year. They are filed for the previous calendar year, which in this case is 2024.
You must provide required tax forms even if you did not earn any money in the U.S. in 2024. All F and J visa students (including dependents) must submit IRS form 8843. You can get the form 8843 from the ELI main office. Instructions for completing the form are also in the main office.
You cannot submit this document electronically. You must physically mail it to this address by April 15th:
Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service Center
Austin, TX 73301-0215
Come talk to us if you have questions about how to mail the form. You can get an envelope from the ELI main office.
If you had on-campus employment in 2024 as an international student, you will receive a form from your employer reporting your income and tax withholdings called a W-2. Because you earned reportable income, you must submit a federal tax return to file your W-2. Talk to Daryl if you had on-campus employment last year and have questions about filling your taxes.
Photo of the Week: Busch Gardens!
Birthdays!
Manners and Culture
Q: Why do Americans sometimes speak so indirectly? For example, when a student comes late to class, teachers don’t usually say, “Why are you late!?!” Instead, they say to the whole class, “Let’s all remember to be on time.”
A: Indirect speech can be a way to be polite. In your example, indirectness from teachers is politeness. On the one hand, teachers do not want to single out the one tardy student, but in reality, they want everyone to be on time so class can start on time. They are hoping that the general reminder to be on time will be polite, but also get the tardy student to do better.
Grammar
Q: What is the difference between ‘find out’ and ‘figure out’?
A: The phrasal verb find out means to learn or discover something that you did not know, and this can include learning something in a passive way, like by chance. The phrasal verb figure out means to solve a problem, and this implies that you needed to use some brain power to get to the solution. Here are some examples:
- I found out where Weeki Wachee is by looking at the map of Florida. (I learned the information by a quick look at a reference.)
- I overheard the class singing “Happy Birthday,” and that’s how I found out today was your birthday. (I learned the information by chance.)
- Can anyone figure out why the classroom computer isn’t working? (We won’t find the answer in a reference. This is a problem that will take some effort.)
- Before the ELI goes to Busch Gardens, Tate has to figure out the schedule, the bus, and the cost. (We won’t find the answer in a reference. Tate has to solve a lot of problems before we can have a trip.)
Joke of the Week
Q: What did the thief get when he stole the punctuation marks from the keyboard?
A: A long sentence!
Notes from the Editor
Thank you to everyone who sent stories, grammar questions, culture questions, photos, and jokes to the Weekly. Your submissions have added so much color, fun, and humor to the Weekly this semester!