Student Testimonials
Mohammed Alqahtani, Saudi Arabia
"When I came at the beginning, I was not able to build my sentences correctly. However, I believe that the ESL program at EMU has provided a lot to help me to improve my English language and prepared me to be more successful in my classes."
Mohammed is a graduate student studying Special Education at Eastern Michigan University. He arrived in Fall 2014 to study English. When he arrived in the United States, Mohammad was a low-level English speaker. His goal was to improve his English to the graduate academic level in order to gain acceptance into a master’s program at EMU. To do this, Mohammed studied hard for four semesters in the Intensive English Program and successfully reached English proficiency at the graduate academic level. “When I came at the beginning, I was not able to build my sentences correctly. However, I believe that the ESL Program at EMU has provided a lot to help me to improve my English language and prepared me to be more successful in my classes.”
As an ESL student, Mohammed enjoyed EMU’s campus environment. He says international students “do not have difficulty making friends since EMU’s environment and community encourage students to participate in activities and events.” As a graduate student in Special Education, Mohammed’s impressive history in the ESL Program and on campus earned him a Graduate Assistantship in the campus’s Office for International Students and Scholars where he has the opportunity to help other international students on campus.
Looking back on his success in the ESL Program, Mohammed wants students to know that “it is fine if you are struggling with your language” and that learning new things, particularly a new language is not easy. Though is can be tempting to give up, “you need to believe in yourself.” He says, “I was not able to complete one sentence in an academic way in September 2014, but I am now a Peer Adviser in the Office for International Students and Scholars and doing my Master’s. So, believe in yourself and work hard. Trust me, you will get your goals.”
Dian Arika, Indonesia
"The tutors at the ISRC in the ESL Program helped me to improve my English skills such as reading, speaking, writing as well as pronunciation. They also helped me to adopt the American culture and teach me how to live in America. This program also helped me to overcome the culture shock and my homesickness."
Dian Mangiring Arika is an international student from Indonesia. She is a graduate student at Eastern Michigan University, attending her studies in Urban and regional planning in the Geography and Geology department since September 2016. She also attended several ESL courses both in fall and winter Semester.
Dian explains her experience at EMU and ESL as follows “I like the ESL Program because they provide me with everything I need. For example, the methodology lecturers use to teach students is suitable for my needs especially in the speaking/presentation course. It has helped me to overcome my struggle to focus on the main idea and the focus of my presentation. Because of the specific attention and feedback I got from my professors I was able to give a clear and brief presentation with good structure and learned to how to present slowly and speak clearly.’’
Dian goes to the ISRC twice a week for a tutoring session and she describes how it helped her as follows “the tutors at the ISRC helped me to improve my English skills such as reading, speaking, writing as well as pronunciation. They also helped me to adopt the American culture and thought me how to live in America. This program also helped me to overcome the culture shock and my homesickness.” Dian also stated that other universities don’t have ISRC, the tutoring center just for international students. Her friends in other universities are struggling with but she is happy that the ESL program has the ISRC and it had been a great deal of help for her.
Dian also got the chance to meet students from different countries and was able to make new and interesting friends around the world at EMU and in the ESL program, and she said that she likes that very much.
Dian is one of the most hard-working students who has also been awarded the outstanding improvement and excellence in leadership awards. As an outstanding student in ESL program, Dian recommended to all the ESL students as follows’’ All the ESL students should come to visit ISRC, but don’t forget to prepare yourself before coming because we just have 45 minutes for each appointment. And if you prepare yourself earlier, you will surprise find out that your learning is more effective and enjoyable. Moreover, don’t miss any events that held by ESL department, such as Halloween events, Valentine's events. I love it so much, and I know that you will like it too.’’
Watch her Youtube success story.
Tariq Mosawi, Saudi Arabia
"The ESL Program is one of the best programs in Michigan. The program will help you to become successful. In order to become successful, you have to work hard. Never be afraid to ask questions."
My name is Tariq M Mosawi and I am from Saudi Arabia. My major is Healthcare Administration. I came to Eastern Michigan University fall 2013. One of the best experience in America was with the ESL program. I had amazing experiences during my study in ESL department. When I came here, I had poor English. So, I started from level one. ESL teachers were so helpful and work with me to improve my language to become a successful student.
Being an EMU student is being a successful student. EMU helped me to be who I am, help me to share my culture in different events. Being an EMU student is being an educated student. I remember on my first day as an EMU student. My professor says that ‘’ you are here to get an education, not to get a degree’’. I am happy to be an EMU student because I always go green and fly like an Eagle. As an EMU student I was honored with the following award. Outstanding Student improvement 2014, ESL Outstanding Student Alumnus 2016, and EMU Dean’s list 2015-2016.
Some of the Advice for incoming ESL students. The ESL program is one of the best program in Michigan. The program will help the student to become successful. In order to become successful, you have to work hard. Never be afraid to ask questions.
Finally, feel free to come talk to me about anything, I will be your friend. ‘’Get to know me, to know me is to love me’’
Selamawit Berhe, Ethiopia
"I highly credit the ESL Program for my improved presentation and speaking skills. I have used the presentation skills I acquired from ESL classes in my degree program and have received positive reactions from my professors. The ESL Program is also where I met extraordinary students from different countries, learned about different cultures, made lifetime friends, and expanded my writing and speaking skills."
My name is Selamawit “Selam” Berhe. I am an international student from Ethiopia. I joined Eastern Michigan University’s Apparel, Textile and Merchandising masters program in fall 2016. While at EMU, I benefited from two courses offered by the ESL program. I highly credit the ESL program for my improved presentation and speaking skills. I have used the presentation skills acquired from ESL courses in my program and have received positive feedback from my professors. In addition to expanding my writing and speaking skills, the ESL program allowed me to meet an extraordinary group of students from different countries, learn about different cultures, build lasting friendships. These experience also led to my current position as a ESL Global Ambassador at EMU. For students interested in expanding their presentation, speaking and social skills, I highly recommend joining the ESL program. It is an amazing opportunity to learn different cultures while making friends from around the world.
Gelareh Raoufi, Iran
The professors in the ESL Program were willing to teach, guide, help, and show me all the techniques of learning the English language. The ESL Program also helped me to learn the American culture as well as other international cultures...The university is very welcoming to students from all kids of different backgrounds. EMU also has very friendly staff who are always happy to offer help where and when you need it."
Gelareh Raoufi's Success Story Video
Gelareh Raoufi is an international student from Iran. She is a graduate student At Eastern Michigan University, attending her studies in Apparel and Textile Merchandising. She also attended ESL courses both in the fall and winter semesters.
Gelareh explains her experience in EMU and in the ESL program as follows: “At first I didn’t like the ESL program because I thought it will be just a waste of money. It was also hard for me to understand when I started the classes at first, as it would be to any other ESL student. It was mainly hard for me because grammar in Persian language is the reciprocal of the grammar in the English language. The professors in the ESL program were willing to teach, guide, help and show me all the techniques of learning the English language. The ESL program also helped me to learn the American culture as well as other international cultures. I also met and learned so much about the US from an American student who I partnered with in the ESL program.”
Gelareh also likes how Eastern Michigan University students are focused on their academics and that it has brilliant professors. Gelareh also mentioned that EMU is an amazing place to be a student at because a student can choose from more than 200 majors, it has so many resources that highly aids the students in their academic journey and also resources for different kinds of entertainment for students to engage in their spare time. In addition, “EMU has a lot of international students. This shows that the university is very welcoming to students from all kinds of different backgrounds. EMU also has very friendly staff who are always happy to offer help where and when you need it.”
Currently, Gelareh is a full time graduate assistant at Eastern Michigan University. Gelareh also got plenty of awards while attending her studies such as, an Award for presenting “Effective Factors in Selecting Cloths by Youth”, Iran, 2008, Award for Leadership ESL at EMU, 2015, Award for outstanding Student Award at EMU, Fall 2016, Award for outstanding Student, at EMU, Winter 2016, Award for Student Success Story, at EMU, 2017.
Gelareh’s advice for current and upcoming ESL students is as follows “My advice for ESL students is [to study] learning comprehension processing (skimming and scanning for the main ideas and responding to opinion) and Five strategies in L2 reading tasks (goal-setting, cognitive processing, global strategies, metacognitive, and mining the source texts). These are rules used in writing that will help readers to find main ideas, important information, and the writer’s purpose in the text.”
Mohammed Alyami
I am Mohammed Alyami. I come from Saudi Arabia. I have been in the United States about 7 months now. I started my ESL program at the 300 level. It is a golden chance because I have learned many skills and techniques. In fact, I have been trained to be a great writer, reader, presenter, and listener. Today, I am at the 400 level, and I am a global ambassador for the ESL program. I am looking forward to completing my ESL program to shift into my master's degree at EMU. My advice to the current and incoming ESL students is to be a hard worker, and to expedite their chance to join the ESL program as well.
