Star Student Alert!

May 20, 2021May 19, 2021 US Adult LiteracyLeave a comment

University Settlement Adult literacy Program student Sofia Latif was recently featured on the Lehman College website for winning both a Boren Award and a Critical Language Scholarship! She is also in our program’s College and Career Readiness class as well as Advanced Writing class. Way to go, Sofia!

From Lehman.edu:

About 20 percent of Americans speak more than one language. Sofia Latif, a third-year Lehman student, speaks seven. Now, thanks to a pair of prestigious study-abroad scholarships, she’s being recognized for her linguistic skills—and is receiving some highly coveted opportunities to sharpen them.
This month, Latif was named a recipient of the Boren Awards, an initiative of the National Security Education Program that funds the study of languages and cultures in regions critical to U.S. interests. She also won a Critical Language Scholarship, a state department program that immerses American college students in intensive instruction of select languages.

Click here to read more!

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Student Achievement Alert!

March 11, 2021March 11, 2021 US Adult LiteracyLeave a comment

Congratulations to two of our students, Gabriela Robles (Class CCR-A) and Ana Condo (Class 3P, pictured above), who graduated from the hospitality training offered by ROC-NY (Restaurant Opportunity Center – New York)! This was an intensive two-week service industry training completely in English.

This is Ana’s testimony after completing the training: “This training was intense with a lot homework, and it took so much effort. So many times I was considering quitting this training but my teachers never left me and raised me again and again. Now I appreciate it so much. And without a doubt the message of my kids confirms the pride and love they feel for me and that fills me with energy to move forward and feel proud of being a student of University Settlement Society of New York. Thank you so much.”

And this is Gabriela’s testimony: “This training gave me the opportunity to learn hospitality, organization and leadership skills that I will carry with me and I will use them in any professional setting. Seeing my certificate makes me realize my potential. I feel motivated.”

For more info about Restaurant Opportunity Center – New York, click here or on the image below:

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Student Stories: Yekaterina

February 24, 2020 US Adult LiteracyLeave a comment

One of our former Adult Literacy Program students is now featured on the New York Coalition for Adult Literacy’s website. Watch the video above or click here to visit the NYCCAL website to read it and watch it!

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Student Stories: Valikhan

January 14, 2019January 9, 2019 US Adult LiteracyLeave a comment

Each year University Settlement impacts 40,000 New Yorkers who come from 50 countries and speak 40 different languages. Every September we begin new 10-month intensive classes in our Adult Literacy Program. Valikhan, a participant in the program, tells us what University Settlement’s program has meant to him, in his own words.

In Kazakhstan I was a professor. I was invited to George Washington University for a program and after I decided to stay and move to New York. But I did not know English. It was important to me to lean and so I came to University Settlement two years ago.

I have done a lot. I wrote two books and I met with members of Congress. I can speak different languages. But I did not know English and I needed help. When I heard about University Settlement I came here for help. It’s very important to me to have good teachers. Our teacher Jon has a lot of emotion and I like that.

I feel very good about my English now. I grow slowly but nonstop. There is a lot that I did not know before that I know now. Now I can describe things to people and am able to ask questions. Before I could not.

I was worried and scared at first but the teachers make it comfortable. You are outside your comfort zone but you need to do that to learn. Now I travel to other cities and feel okay about it with my English. I enjoy it. I am taking more classes to get even better. They care about you here and help you. I would tell everyone that they should come here.

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Star Student Alert: Nian Ci

May 15, 2017June 12, 2018 US Adult Literacy1 Comment

Last Thursday, one of our Adult Literacy Program students, Nian Ci He, spoke at a Family Literacy Forum sponsored by United Neighborhood Houses (UNH) at Educational Alliance’s Manny Cantor Center. She spoke about how her English classes have helped her make the most of her life in New York and they’ve also helped her become more involved in her daughter’s education. After speaking, Nian Ci also took part in a group discussion with other adult education students and fielded questions from the audience. She did a great job!

UNH, by the way, has begun a campaign to increase awareness about the importance of family literacy. Family literacy programs are designed to involve a whole family in their collective educational success. By engaging both children and their parents (or other adult family caregivers) in a collaborative and mutually reinforcing learning process, families are better equipped to gain the skills they need to succeed.