The ELI Weekly
University of Florida at a Glance
- You may have noticed that the campus of the University of Florida is very large! It spans over 2000 acres (8 km2) and contains over 900 buildings.
- UF has approximately 62,000 students (including 40,000 undergraduate and 15,000 graduate students), making it the 2nd largest university in Florida.
- The undergraduate acceptance rate for UF is 20%. This means that only 20% of the people who apply to UF are admitted!
- UF students can choose from over 300 degree options. The top academic major for undergraduate students is psychology.
- There are over 6,000 international students at UF. The top countries of origin for UF international students are India, China, South Korea, Brazil, and Bangladesh, and Colombia.
And finally…did you know that Gatorade was invented at the University of Florida? UF scientists invented the famous sports drink in 1965 to keep UF athletes hydrated!
Notes from the Office
Student Addresses: It is important that the ELI has each student’s address. If you have an F or J visa, you should report a change of address within 10 days of any change. You can update your address in myELI using the ‘Basic Information’ tab in your ‘My Profile’ page. If you need help updating your address in myELI, please contact Daryl at studyenglish@eli.ufl.edu.
Deadlines: The deadline to drop or add a class, pay tuition, submit proof of insurance and immunizations, and turn in a signed waiver of liability, is Wednesday, May 20th. If you miss any of these deadlines, you could be removed from classes or charged a late fee! If you have questions about paying tuition or submitting a financial guarantee, email fiscal@eli.ufl.edu. If you have questions about insurance or immunizations, email Christine Voigt at christinevoigt@ufl.edu.
Withdrawing: Students who withdraw from a course or from the ELI after the drop/add deadline (Wednesday, May 20th) will not be able to receive a refund or credit for their courses. Their transcript will have a grade of W (withdraw).
Holiday: Monday, May 25th is the Memorial Day Holiday. There will be no ELI classes or afternoon activities and offices at UF and the ELI will be closed. RTS will also have reduced bus service, so be sure to check your route.
International Educators Conference: Next week, May 24th – May 30th, there is a large conference for International Educators taking place in Orlando. Christine, Daryl, and Megan will all be attending the conference, so you will not see them in the ELI office or teaching classes next week. Be sure to speak to them before this Friday (May 22nd) if you need help. Christine, Daryl, and Megan will be back in the office on Monday, June 1st.
Christine’s Summer Schedule: If you need Student Life help from Christine this summer, you can find her in her office from 12:10 – 3:00 Monday through Thursday. She will also be in the office this Friday, May 22nd, from 9am – 11am.
Main Office Hours: This summer the ELI Main Office is open from 8am – 4:30pm, Monday through Thursday, and 9am – 3:30pm on Fridays.
Summer Holidays
Many international students are surprised by the number of federal holidays in the U.S.
This summer, we will celebrate three holidays:
Memorial Day, Monday, May 25th (no UF or ELI classes, all offices closed)
Juneteenth: Friday, June 19th (no UF or ELI classes, all offices closed)
Independence Day, Saturday, July 4th (no UF or ELI classes and all offices closed on Friday, July 3rd )
If you would like to know more about these important holidays and what they commemorate, please ask your instructors!
Additionally, UF and the ELI will be closed for Summer Break: June 22nd t to June 26th.
*One note: Monday, June 8th is a normal class day. It was mistakenly listed as an instructor workday on your semester dates. We WILL have class on this day 😊
CIP Friday Event
Friday, May 22nd – Sweetwater Wetlands Nature Walk – 9:45am to 12:15pm
Florida nature is calling! On this light hike, we may see gators, deer, rabbits and many more animals. See who can spot the most gators on the walk! The wetlands are a classic and picturesque Florida habitat that you won’t want to miss. Make sure to bring water and snack if you’d like and wear good walking shoes! Meet at 9:45am at Norman Parking Garage on campus.
You must sign up to attend this event: sign up here!
Other CIP Activities
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 here!
Returning students, you will not automatically be paired again if you had a CP last semester. Please make sure to sign up again here for the Summer semester if you did not request a Summer partner in your end of term evaluation from last semester.
Please email Elijah 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!
The CIP Pineapple is hidden in a new place every Monday in the CIP office. Stop by
and find it for hole punches!
Photo of the Week: UF Campus Tour
CIP Weekday Activities
| Monday, May 18th – Coffee Talk at Mochiry – 6:30-9:00pm | Socialize with LAs and ELI friends at Mochiry! Play games, speak English, and try this fun café’s donuts, coffee, or corn dogs! Take bus 43. The location will change each week. Address: 3822 Newberry Rd Suite D, Gainesville, FL 32607 |
| Tuesday, May 19th – Volleyball – 6:30-9:00pm | Play volleyball and hang out at Lexington Crossing Apartments Phase 2 Volleyball Courts with us! No experience necessary! You can also watch, socialize or play other games if you don’t want to play volleyball. The ELI is usually in the volleyball court in the back of the complex next to the basketball court. Make sure to go to phase 2 of the complex! Take bus 35. Address: 3700 SW 27th St, Gainesville, FL 32608 |
| Wednesday, May 20 th – No Activity | Free Day 😊 |
| Thursday, May 21st – Menchie’s Froyo & Shopping – 6:30 – 9:30pm | Get some delicious frozen yogurt with LAs and then go shopping for your apartment needs at Walmart with their help! If you don’t need shopping help, you can still come for froyo and socializing! Bring some money for Menchie’s and spending for shopping you would like to do. Take bus 1 or 12. Meet outside Menchie’s. Address: 2905 SW 42nd St #20, Gainesville, FL 32608 |
| Friday, May 22nd– Sweetwater Wetlands Nature Walk – 9:45am to 12:15pm | See Details Above! |
Birthdays!
| Students | Staff | ||
| None this week! | None this week! |
Manners & Culture
Q: What are some common ways to greet people in the U.S.?
- Many Americans greet by saying “Hi” or “How are you?” This is usually a form of greeting rather than an actual questions about your wellbeing. The common response is “I’m good, thanks. How are you?”
- You might greet your teacher in a slightly more formal way. You can say, “Good morning” or “Good afternoon.”
- It is common to smile during greetings. Americans generally smile a lot and are likely to appreciate a smile in return.
- A handshake is the most common greeting when meeting someone for the first time or in professional settings.
- Handshakes should be firm and accompanied with direct eye contact. However, be aware handshaking can seem too formal and awkward in casual settings.
- Many people also hug to greet close friends and family that they haven’t seen in a while.
Joke of the Week
Q: What kind of cat should you never trust?
A: a cheetah!
Notes from the Editor
| I need all of you, students, LAs, instructors, staff, and administrators, to help me write the Weekly! Write a paragraph about your experiences this semester. You could write about an ELI activity, a Gainesville event, a fabulous local restaurant, or tell us about a place or event in your country that we should visit. Send me grammar questions for me to put in the Weekly. Send me manners and culture questions for me to put in the Weekly. Send me jokes to put in the Weekly. |
Send your paragraphs and/or questions to Jen Ramos (jenramos@ufl.edu) Use the subject heading: ELI Weekly.