ATLANTIC CITY — Thirteen Atlantic Cape Community College students, each from different countries from across the globe with diverse ages, backgrounds, knowledge and skills, came together this Fall Semester to work towards the common goal of completing their final Academic English Language Program (AELP) class.
Their hard work and determination paid off as each of them received their Award of Completion certificate for passing the AELP on December 10 at the Charles D. Worthington Atlantic City campus. Each of the students were required to pass seven classes - Intermediate AELP I & II, Advanced AELP I & II, Advanced Grammar, Strategies for the American Classroom and Advanced Reading/Writing - to graduate.
World Languages Department Area Coordinator & Professor Gwen McIntyre, and AELP Senior Adjunct Professor Mary Betsy Heraux presented each of the students with their certificates of completion before a room filled with fellow students and guests, who also enjoyed a holiday gathering after the ceremony.
Heraux stressed the importance of the goal that her students were able to achieve.
“This is a journey for them, learning a language. All parts of language learning are a difficult process and it requires a lot of determination and tenacity on their part. I think the important part of it, too, is that they just keep pushing forward and improving themselves. Their goal is to make a better life for themselves and to have more opportunities. Learning the language is the best way they can do that.”
Heraux admired the will to learn that was demonstrated by her students whether they were 20 years old or in their 60s.
“So, I have noticed the age difference of these students. I truly think that there comes a time in your life when that decision you make to embark on that journey of learning no matter what your age. Just like (graduate) Alyssa (Pang) said how she just decided this was her time, her whole family was on-board with her and offered her a lot of support. Every single one has had different journeys. They all come in with different skill levels, so we are just trying to bring everybody together at the end.”
Learning the English language can be a daunting and lifelong task for many, but for students new to the country it can seem a laborious uphill climb. Atlantic Cape’s AELP, formerly known as English as a Second Language (ESL), slowly introduces the basics of the language from listening, speaking and reading to grammar and writing skills.
Atlantic City resident Alyssa Pang (left), who was born in Vietnam and has made a home locally with her husband and children for the past 24 years, decided to enroll after a conversation with her children one evening.
“I always think that my English is good, but not good enough. One day at the dinner table, my kids, who are both in college, were talking about it and I asked them if they thought I should go to college,” said Pang, who is majoring in Radiology at Atlantic Cape while working full-time at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City. “They told me I was too old for college, but I told them I think I can learn. So, then they told me if I wanted to go that they would support and help me, so I decided to do it.”
Jean Rebecca (right) spent 25 years teaching math in his native country of Haiti after graduating from college. Following his retirement in 2010, he and his family emigrated to the United States.
“This class is very important for me. I am doing this at Atlantic Cape because I want to improve my English. In my country of Haiti, I was a math teacher. You can’t teach a student if you don’t know their language, which is why I am taking English classes.”
Along with Pang and Rebecca, the following students received their AELP completion certificates: Lizbeth Chavez, Imane El Hachimi El Alaoui, Wenderlyne Fleurinord, Zhanna Kazantceva, Quy Hoang Long Le, Lixa Manzanarez, Jeade Morin, Aryan Patel, Mariangel Reyes, Martha Vergara Chila and Mariia Zheveha.
Visit atlanticcape.edu/aelp for more information on Atlantic Cape’s English as a Second Language Program.
About Atlantic Cape Community College
Atlantic Cape Community College is a Middle States accredited, 2022 Achieving the Dream Leader College and Hispanic Serving Institution proudly serving the residents of Atlantic and Cape May counties. As a comprehensive, two-year community college, Atlantic Cape offers 47 undergraduate degree programs, and 34 certificate and professional series programs at its Mays Landing, Atlantic City and Cape May campuses. Atlantic Cape is home to the renowned Academy of Culinary Arts, rated the top culinary school in New Jersey, and for more than 50 years, our highly-acclaimed Nursing program. Atlantic Cape also partners with more than 30 colleges and four-year universities to offer students the opportunity to seamlessly earn a bachelor’s degree upon graduation.
