Word TravELS Issue 07 - December 2016

ELS Newsletter, Issue 07

December 2016

Professors from Shanghai completed their APPEMI studies at the English Language School, Faculty of Extension.

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Contents

English Language School Executive Director’s Message

Looking Back on the Year: 2016 in review

December 2016 Dear readers: At the English Language School, it never ceases to amaze us how quickly time flies. It seems as though we just began an exciting new year of learning and activities, and it is over!

December’s holiday season is a perfect time to pause, catch your breath, reflect on the year past, and set goals for the year upcoming. In Canada, we call these New Year Resolutions, and the idea is to make small, simple promises to yourself that make big differences in your life and the lives of others. Whatever you choose as your resolution, try to stick to it! You will be very glad that you did. Just as we encourage you to pause, reflect, and resolve, we will certainly do the same.

3 ELS Student Corner: Volunteering with ELS

4 ELS Art Contest: The featured winners

5 APPEMI: Visiting professors from Shanghai

6

In addition to the many inspirational stories, features, and photos, this issue of Word TravELS pauses to reflect on the year past to capture some of the highlights and most memorable moments.

Based on what we have seen, our resolution is clear: Continue to help students succeed.

We wish you and your families a most restful, peaceful, and joyful holiday season.

ELS Events: Looking back on the past term

7 @ualbertaels on Instagram: a photo montage of ELS

8-9 ELS Holiday Celebration: A visit from Santa

Mimi Hui Executive Director English Language School

10 Final Words: Recipe, Top Ten column, and more

11 Word TravELS | 2

Looking Back on 2016 

2016 kicked off in high style! In February, ELS students and staff welcomed ‘The Year of the





students from Universidad Central, Colombia. A

Monkey” with a colourful and exciting Lunar New

combination of professors, graduate students, and

Year Celebration.

under-graduate students spent 7-weeks with us

Shortly after that, a few very fortunate ELS team

studying English and experiencing Canadian culture.

members travelled to Japan! Mark Bell, Michael Viola and several of the summer assistants were hosted by Niigata University of Information Studies



As always, summer meant the arrival of ELCS students from our many partner universities in Japan. In addition to meeting and working with

Niigata Prefecture.

students in IDP, cultural activities and events like

The early spring marked a major accomplishment

the Faculty Social provided a lifetime of memories.

Association for University Continuing Education



Fall at ELS saw the arrival of Chinese Scholarship Council (CSC) professors from China who honed

(CAUCE) distinguished APPEMI with a national

their teaching and English skills in the APPEMI

award for non-credit programming over 48 hours.

Program. The finale of their time at ELS was

Many ELS students embarked on a great adventure

marked by their very excellent poster

in April 2016 at Drumheller, Alberta, and the Royal

presentations.

Tyrell Museum. 



(NUIS) for an activity-filled tour of Niigata and

for ELS’ APPEMI Program. The Canadian



June saw the arrival of our very first cohort of



2016 – a busy and productive year – ended with a

We shall never forget the devastating and

wonderful Holiday Celebration that was held

terrifying wild fires that swept through Fort

alongside the EAP 550 students’ poster

McMurray, Alberta on May 1, 2016. At ELS, we did our part to help by organizing a spirited Karaoke fund-raiser.

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ELS Student Corner Volunteering with ELS

By Tracey Hilden, Social Media Coordinator, ELS

A

fter completing ESL 135, Andres Serrano from Colombia wanted to find a venue in which he could

continue to improve his speaking skills. Instead of merely joining a group, though, Andres took the initiative to start his own – one in which his fellow students could also benefit, and thus the Conversation Club began. For the past semester, Andres ran the Conversation Club twice a week and provided conversation topics and questions to stimulate conversation in small groups.

“I wanted to invest my time in a useful way and also improve my English language skills,” Andres says. For each session, Andres prepared questions around topics such as art, work, and travel. Students gathered in groups of 5 - 6 to discuss the topics, each bringing a different perspective from their background.

Prior to coming to Canada, I

Andres Serrano has been running the Conversation Club in

didn’t know the benefit of

the Student Centre for the past semester.

volunteering. It can make you feel

“Prior to coming Canada, I didn’t know the benefit of vol-

like you’re part of something bigger.

unteering. It can make you feel like you’re part of something bigger. Colombia doesn’t have a strong volunteer culture, so this was a great experience for me. It’s a learning experience: you can learn management and planning skills. You also need to have a strong support system and a network of people around you; success leads to further

“I try to share my knowledge with others,” Andres says. “If people know more, it will benefit everyone, not just that one individual. It always comes back to you – you learn from those you teach.” Andres wishes to start a fashion business back home in Colombia as a social enterprise: a business which cares for its employees. Andres wishes to pursue a Masters of Business Administration upon his completion of EAP 550 next semester.

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empowerment. I would definitely encourage others to try to find an opportunity to volunteer. It’s important that you care about what you’re doing, so find something that you find joy in and help out!”

ELS Art Contest

T

hank you to Saebom Jang and Dezzy Xin Zhao for their submissions to the ELS art contest. Students could use the medium of their

choice, and entries should reflect the winter holidays in Canada.

The Holidays Saebom Jang ESL 110

Snowflake Dezzy Xin Zhao EAP 145

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APPEMI CSC at UAlberta

T

he English Language School had the pleasure of hosting a cohort from Shanghai, China who spent

five months taking our APPEMI program. Their training culminated in a poster presentation in the Atrium on November 16, where the professors had an opportunity to present their posters and discuss their topic with UAlberta staff, students, and passers-by. The APPEMI program helped prepare the professors to teach their subject in English.

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ELS Events Food Bank Drive

A

fter a week-long Food Bank Blitz, ELS students and staff had filled four large boxes of donations for the Campus

Food Bank. Thank you to all those who participated and donated!

EAP 550 Poster Presentations

E

AP 550 students attracted an interested crowd to the Atrium on December 12 as their poster

presentations were on display. Well done to all of the students on their well-researched topics.

CBC Visit Winter Activities

W

ith the winter season upon us, so are winter activities.

During the last semester, some ELS students had the

chance to both learn how to curl at the Saville Centre and

V

isiting students from Universidades TecnolĂłgicas y PolitĂŠcnicas, Mexico toured the CBC Radio studios in

City Centre Mall on December 14th. The students sat in the recording studio, learned how to use the teleprompter, and recorded and edited an interview.

attend an Oil Kings game at the brand new Rogers Place.

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@ualber Instag

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rtaels on gram

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Faculty ELS EventsSocial ELS Season Celebration

E

LS celebrated the holiday season on December 12th in the Atrium. ELS students and staff enjoyed holiday

games, art projects, and snacks, and even included a visit from Santa Claus himself.

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Final Words Recipes

Top Ten...

Shortbread Cookies

...Words or phrases we would like to remain in 2016:

Ingredients I cup butter, softened 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar 1/4 cup cornstarch 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

Directions 1.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F

2.

Whip butter with an electric mixer until fluffy. Stir in the confectioners’ sugar, cornstarch, and flour. Beat

10.

Dude

9.

Grande-misto

8.

Tweet

7.

Man bun

6.

Boxing week/Black Friday (tied for 6th!)

5.

Big league

4.

Facebook (when used as a verb)

3.

Infotainment

2.

No offense, but...

1.

Whatever

on low for one minute, then on high for 3 to 4 minutes. Drop cookies by spoonfuls 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.

3.

Bake for 12 to 15 minutes in the preheated oven.

Watch that the edges don’t brown too much. Cool on wire racks.

H

ave a photo or story to share? Please contact Tracey Hilden, Social Media Coordinator (ELS).

Email: hilden@ualberta.ca Phone: 780-492-4906 Room 1-004, Enterprise Square Stay connected! Find us here: facebook.com/UAlbertaELS/

Recipe from: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/10856/melt---in---your---mouth-shortbread/

twitter.com/UAlbertaELS instagram.com/ualbertaels/

o r d T r a v E L S | 11 Remember:W UAlbertaELS!