Greetings! I hope your fall semester in our ESL program is going well. By now, you have probably done lots of homework, taken several kinds of tests, and have completed your midterm exam. Or, you may be hurrying from one Level class to another Skill class, from one part of the college to another, with just enough time for a quick break and a bite to eat. I like to think of all these things as good problems to have. Here at Mt. SAC, we have many good problems and many good solutions to help you with your education. Here are just a few: Good Problem/Good Solution #1: There were more than 1,200 students on the waiting list during week 1 of this semester. Maybe you were one of them. Our solution was to “grow” by adding more Level classes. If you have a Level class in building 18, 35, or 40, then you are one of the lucky ones. Your foot in the door! Good Problem/Good Solution #2: Free ESL classes aren’t really free. The state of California provides funding (money) to cover the costs and, in return, expects us to report our successes. In other words, we need to prove that our ESL classes are preparing immigrant learners (you!) for college and career success. To support you with this, our solution was to hire three additional counselors (Cindy, Dalia, and Lisa) who will help you to plan your educational pathway and assist your progress in noncredit ESL and beyond. Good Problem/Good Solution #3: Learning a new language is more than studying grammar, but that takes time and effort. We want to help you to use your English in ways that will stay with you long after you complete the ESL program. There are so many “solutions” to this and you probably know some of them. You can become lifelong and independent learners by participating in one of these fun and creative programs designed by our ESL faculty. Here are a few: Give Me 20 Library Reading, ESL Movie Night, English Lounge Conversation Groups, Grammar Peer Mentoring, and LLC Self-Directed Activities. So, whatever your good problem to have is, I wish you lots of luck and good progress! Dr. Liza Becker, Associate Dean, Continuing Education Programs and Services

Inside this issue:

Student Writings 2-3

ESL Alumni 4-5

Career Briefs 6-7

Announcements 8

From the Director 1

October 2015

Fall 2015 Issue 2

English as a Second Language Department

Success is achieved and maintained by those who try and keep trying! -W. Clement Stone

Businessman, Author 1902-2002

Page 2 ESL Good News

A Beautiful Holiday

I like to travel and see the world. I like to enjoy my free time to see and enjoy looking at different cultures. I have seen many beautiful places and take part in traditions and celebrations. I have also seen some celebrations that are not so nice. I especially liked when I visit San Francisco during the Christmas time. This holiday is new to me but I think it is so beautiful with all the colorful lights and the Christmas trees. It is nothing like my customs in Ethiopia. Ethiopia Orthodox Church still use the old Julian calendar so we celebrate Christmas on January 6 not December 25. Many people fast, that means they don’t eat on Christmas Eve, this day is called Ganna. Most people get dressed in white to go to church. Many people wear a traditional garment called a shamma. It’s a thin white cotton piece of cloth with color stripes on the ends and it is worn like a toga. The most beautiful thing to see all the people of the church in circles holding white candles. The outer circle is where the choir stands and where you hear the most beautiful songs as if they bounce from the outside walls towards the center of the circle. The men and boys are separated from the women and girls. The center is the most important and holy place in church and is where the priest serves holy Communion or mass.

The second celebration begins twelve days after Ganna, on January 19th. It is called Timkat and it celebrates the baptism of Jesus. Everyone walks to church in a procession. Children wear crowns and robes, adults wear shamma and the priests wear red and white robes and carry embroidered fringed umbrellas. The men and boys play many games like ganna, which is played with a curved stick and round wooden ball, a game that is like hockey. The men also play a sport called yeferas guks. It’s played on horseback and the men throw ceremonial lances at each other. People don’t give and receive present during Ganna and Timkat. Sometimes children might be given a small gift of some clothes from their family members. It’s more a time for going to church, eating lots and playing games! Karam Helebet Writing C

Page 3 Fall 2015 Issue 2

I am from Ensenada Baja California, Mexico. I love Christmas Day. My favorite holiday when friends and families and gather together to celebrate a Christmas. We celebrate it at midnight on December 24. We open presents and exchange them with our family and friends. My family and I eat really big dinner together. We eat tamales, turkey, fruit punch and champurrado. Sometimes we eat a special food called Pozole. My family and I don’t leave our house on this important day. Have A Merry Christmas… Veronica Murillo Writing A

I like to write because I feel like my words say what I am feeling. I remember being a young girl and I would like to sit with my “Nana” (grandmother) tell stories. I espe-cially liked it because she would sit on a rocking chair after a long day of cooking. She would ask all the children of the family to sit around and listen. Many times I could not imagine her being a little girl because now she was a little old lady with a face full of wrinkles and white hair. I remember how she would wear an apron all day and a red bandana to cover her head. She told us this kept her food clean and her hair from getting in the food. Now I remember as I write how beautiful she looked even with her wrinkled face and a long white braid to one side. She would take her bandana off. She said she needed to let her head breathe. How I admired her for being so strong and brave during difficult times when she was young. Her father had a po-tato farm and my grandmother and her brothers and sisters had to work hard as children to help take care of the farm. Now you could see the damage the sun did on her hands and her face but that doesn't take away the beauty of her heart.

Yomila Barahona

Writing B

Christmas in Mexico

My Nana

Page 4 ESL Good News

What is the secret to learning English fast? This is a question that ESL students frequently ask their teachers or people whom they perceive as successful English learners. Is it even possible to learn English in just a few months? The answer is yes, it is possible. However, there is no secret formula. Truth is, there are many factors that might influence a student’s quality and speed of learning: aptitude, attitude, motivation, personality and learning style, among many other things. Nonetheless, after almost fifteen years of working in ESL, I have observed that many successful English learners do indeed have some things in common: they are

consistent, they put a lot of time and effort into learning English, and they take advantage of every opportunity to practice and improve their communication skills. Take, for example, our featured successful English learner, Ngu Wah Chang, better known by her former classmates and teachers as Cho. Originally from Myanmar, Cho had obtained a Bachelor’s of Science in Zoology from the University of Yangon, Myanmar. Before coming to the U.S., Cho was a professional actress and model in her country. As I was preparing to interview Cho, I checked her student records, and I was surprised to find out that she was in our program for only one year. Cho started taking ESL classes in the spring of 2012, and in only one year she went from Level 2 to Level 5. She then went on to become a credit student in the summer of 2013. Two years after, in June of 2015, Cho was the proud holder of an Associate of Arts Degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences with an emphasis in Accounting. I was curious and eager to ask Cho, “How did you do it? How did you learn English so fast?” Cho told me that prior to coming to the U.S., she had a very limited background in English. Besides attending ESL classes, Cho says, “I listened to local radio stations almost everyday, and I watched TV and movies at least three hours every day in order for me to improve my listening and speaking skills.” As for how she improved her writing and reading skills, Cho says, “I believe that reading the news on websites and writing personal journals greatly helped me improve and boost in my learning process.” I was fascinated by Cho’s story and her determination to learn English, so I decided to ask one of her instructors, Yazmin Vanegas, to tell me what she remembered about Cho. Yazmin’s response was rather

“Cho” Ngu Wah Chang

Proud Graduate, June 2015

Page 5 Fall 2015 Issue 2

enthusiastic, “She was very independent!” Yazmin said, “I remember that she used to keep a personal dictionary. Whenever she found a word she did not understand, she would write it down. She also enjoyed writing journals. All the time she would write, write, write.” As I continued my interview with Cho, she told me that she had experienced some of the same obstacles that most English learners face, especially when trying to communicate with native speakers, classmates and professors. To this respect, Cho said, “I committed myself to practice speaking and listening English at least four hours a day outside of class. In order to overcome these obstacles, I practiced numerous times until I felt comfortable with my skills because I believe practice is the best approach to break through the language barrier.”

Finally, Cho told me that the ESL Program and her instructors played the most important role in her English learning process. Cho said that during her time in our program, she learned how to do class presentations, role-play, research information, and college preparation. “In addition,” Cho said, “the ESL program provides the language lab, computer lab, and workshops that were the best sources for me to gain extra knowledge and higher pace in my learning process.” As I finished my interview with Cho, I felt so inspired by her determination and enthusiasm that I even want to take on a new challenge or learn a new skill, but for those of you who are trying to learn English and go through the fast track, remember that consistency is key to everything. It is your daily English learning routine that might bring you the big results over time and, most importantly, remember that practice makes the best English learners. Heidi Alcala, VESL Outreach Specialist

Cho with Yazmin Vanegas (Level 4 Teacher)

Page 6 ESL Good News

See a member of the ESL Counseling Team and get the Career Brief of your choice!

Accounting Clerk Accounting Clerks work under the direction of others to maintain financial and other records necessary to the proper functioning of nearly every kind of public or private organization. They may post entries directly to journals or ledgers, or they may prepare data for input to computers which produce the records electronically. Their duties may include responsibility for records of accounts receivable, accounts payable, payrolls, bank deposits, purchase orders, expense reports, and sales commissions. In large organizations such as manufacturing companies or banks, there may be separate departments responsible for each of these functions, with Accounting Clerks specializing in a single procedure. In a small business a single Clerk may have all of these duties. Ability to: work accurately with details and

compile data be precise while working within set

standards copy and check figures and detect

differences in numbers recorded on documents

catch on to things and to work with numbers reason logically and analytically

coordinate eyes and hands and use fingers

see detail and small differences on charts, tables, and graphs

be orderly, careful, and thorough work with the public use good English, grammar, spelling and

punctuation use basic math skills perform the same tasks continuously,

and sit for long periods of time work independently write legibly and effectively Work Environment: These are the physical activities and demands required during a typical workday. These occupations often can be performed by those with disabilities when provided with appropriate adaptations. Most work in offices seated at desks. Reaching is needed to answer a

telephone or operate a calculator. In large establishments, workers

generally perform the same tasks over and over. Some workers say they enjoy the routine work.

With a small employer, may be exposed to greater variety of work.

Computers are usually used to help with tasks such as preparing income and expense reports and for processing tax and accounting information.

Willingness to work with close supervision.

Source www.eureka.org database

Page 7 Fall 2015 Issue 2

Accounting Certificates at Mt. SAC

Current Monthly Wage Data (2014) Entry/Low Pay $2,717 Average Pay $3,536 Top Pay $4,225 & up

Accounting-Payroll

Business Division Certificate E0505

The Accounting-Payroll Certificate provides basic accounting skills and knowledge com-bined with specialized training in payroll, preparing the student for entry-level clerical positions within the payroll segment of ac-counting. Common duties performed include payroll tax reporting, payroll accounting sys-tems maintenance, and posting payroll trans-actions to journals/ledgers. Required Courses: BUSA 7 Principles of Accounting 5.0 - Financial or BUSA 72 Bookkeeping- Accounting 5.0 BUSA 70 Payroll and tax accounting 3.0 Financial Accounting BUSA 75 Using Microcomputers in 1.0 Financial Accounting BUSA 76 Using Microcomputers in 1.0 Managerial Accounting or BUSA 68 Business Mathematics 3.0 Total Units 10.0-12.0

Accounting-Bookkeeping

Business Division Certificate E0504

The Accounting-Bookkeeping Certificate provides basic accounting skills and knowledge, preparing the student for entry level positions as an accounting clerk in are-as such as bookkeeping, accounts receiva-ble, accounts payable, inventory tracing/reporting, bank reconciliation, expense re-porting and account analysis. Required Courses:

BUSA 7 Principles of Accounting 5.0 - Financial or

BUSA 72 Bookkeeping- Accounting 5.0 BUSA 75 Using Microcomputers in 1.0 Financial Accounting BUSA 76 Using Microcomputers in 1.0 Managerial Accounting or

BUSA 68 Business Mathematics 3.0

Total Units 7.0-9.0

8/24 - Fall Semester Begins

9/7 - Holiday (Campus Closed)

11/11 - Holiday (Campus Closed)

11/26-29 Holiday (Campus Closed)

12/12 - Fall Semester Ends

Key Dates

New ESL Counselors We are happy to welcome another counselor, Ms. Lisa Martin, to our growing ESL Counseling Team. She, along with Cindy Bonilla and Dalia Chavez, is a great addition to the ESL staff. These new additions will allow our students more access to counselors who are able to answer questions and provide educational plans, as well as meet other educational needs. Counselors will be available to help guide students in their career paths and assist them with any questions they may have. Their hours of availability are listed on the ESL Counseling Schedule posted at the registration counter. Feel free to stop by and introduce yourself!

Lisa Martin earned her undergraduate degree in Sociology from California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB). Later, she earned her Master’s Degree in Educational Counseling, College Track from the University of Redlands. She takes great pride in helping students reach their goals, be they academic, personal or career related. As a first-generation student, she is able to relate to the struggles students may face during

their time in college. Lisa has worked in various departments such as: ESL, General Counseling, Transfer, CalWORKS, and Career. In her spare time Lisa enjoys hiking, hanging out with her husband and family, and playing with her two Boston terriers Luna and Nathan. She also loves essential oils!

ESL Counseling Team

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Dr. John Pellitteri Counselor

(909) 274-5232 JPellitteri@mtsac.edu

Cindy Bonilla Counselor

(909) 274-6874 CBonilla@mtsac.edu

Dalia Chavez Counselor

(909) 274-5003 DChavez95@mtsac.edu

Lisa Martin Counselor

(909) 274-6860 LMartin26@mtsac.edu

Bertha Rodriguez Student Services Specialist

(909) 274-5715 BRodriguez@mtsac.edu