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Who Are ESL Online Students?

Submitted by: Alex

My name is Alex and I live in California. My native language is Chinese (Mandarin).
I really want to take your course, because I can’t take it anymore when people do not understand my English, so I hope to improve my grammar in your course. I expect I’ll have no problem mastering the fundamentals of English grammar, which was my dream for a longtime.

I never went to any college, and I don’t have plans to go to college. I studied English for two years, 17 years ago when I was a middle school student.
Recently, I can practice English every day with my family, because my wife and her parents are native speakers. My hobbies are music, travel, sports, cooking and photography. This is my first internet class.

Submitted by: Alejandra

Hi, my name is Alejandra. I live in California (Bay Area) for almost 5 years. I'm from North Mexico and I'm 43 years old, so my native language is Spanish. I'm taking this course, because I'd like learn English under direction, this is my first course on line, and I'm very excited about grammar.
I don't attended any school, because I'm stay in home mom, with a very busy toddler. I didn't studied English in the school.
I earn a Law Degree, and Master Degree in Electoral Law. I practice my English an half hour one time a week, and watching TV (English movies). I can't write in English, but I really enjoy read books, that's my hobby in my little spare time, and Computers too.

Submitted by: jenna

My name is Jenna. I live in Virginia, just outside of Washington DC.
I am a mother of two young adult daughters, a fine art painter, a jewelry designer and a Registered nurse. I am almost retired from Nursing now so I can spend more time for painting & jewelry making.
My educational background is BS degree in Nursing from Seoul, Korea.
This is my first online course and reason for taking this class is to improve my writing skill. As a RN, I didn't need much help with English grammar. In medical charting, grammar is not necessary so I have a bad habit of skipping grammar. I am hoping, after this grammar classes
I can write simple letters without my husband or my children's help.

Submitted by: Marisol

My name is Marisol Gerritsen. I am 46 years old married with three children, originally from the beautiful island of Puerto Rico in the Caribbean. My husband is from the Netherlands and we've been married for 15 years now. Wow! I met him in Costa Rica in 1983.

Since 2001 I am living in Trinidad & Tobago, very close to Venezuela. Before we lived in Dominican Republic for four years and a half. We like it very much there, the people are so lively and warm.

I have two sisters, one lives in New Hampshire and the other in Puerto Rico. The most I missed from my country is my family there, I missed those big "parties", family reunions.

I took this course because I need to understand better English Grammar, even do I am working on my English since young. Long time ago!

My hobbies are: Tai Chi, Writing, Reading, Movies, Theater, Dance, Art, Aerobics, going places, the beach and hiking for example.

I have a B.A. in Secondary Education-Theater from the University of Puerto Rico and right now I am at home without employment, searching for the best and applying for international work, also I am studying a lot. I don't want to have an easy money job in the internet or whatever, I want to be able to love what I do and continuing care for others. I am very enthusiastic, happy and positive. My motto: Money does not give you all, what you really want!

I took another online course- Writing your life story and was great.
I am looking forward to opportunities to grow and keep studying for the benefit of my own and the people around me.

Submitted by: Pawel

Hi Everyone!

My name is Pawel. That’s the equivalent of Paul in English. I live in Poland, a middle-eastern European country, which is about to join the EU. I am currently preparing to take the TOEFL and SATs test in my country for I would like to get into a US college next year. My American friend, who frequently takes the courses in this university, recommended that I would take this one, and I thought it may help me to get prepared. I have studied English for quite a long time now; I guess it should be well over ten years in the moment. Nonetheless I would like to improve those areas of English grammar, which may not be as good as I would want them to be. I read in English everyday because I intend to become a full-time writer someday. There was a question about hobbies; well, I read a lot, as I already said. Besides I like to write, run, and swim. Biochemistry and some sciences aren’t also unknown fields to me.

I hope that this course will help me in successfully taking my TOEFL exam. I wish everybody good luck!

Submitted by: Marla

My name is Marla Abadia, i'm from Costa Rica, so my native language is Spanish. I'm 21 years old and i have four years studying English carrer in The Latin University of Costa Rica. I have five months living here and i live in Farmingdale with an American family. Because of my carrier i came here like an AuPair to improve my English skills. I'm taking this course because i need to earn six credits for this AuPair Care Program and this is my first online course. I love going out, dancing, travel, movies, reading and meeting new people.

Submitted by: Wan

Hi

My name is Wan. I am from Thailand. I live in California for about one and a half years. I came to United States with my husband. My native language is Thai. I usually speak English to my husband, but sometimes he doesn’t understand me. I am taking this course because I want to improve my English. I hope this course helps me to speak to my husband better. What do I expect from this course? I expect this course to help me to improve my writing and speaking better. I think if my English is good enough to go to college I will attend College of the Canyons because I live nearby. I have studied English at Cal State LA for one year. I enjoyed going to school because I had a lot of friends there. I stopped studying about six months ago so I could have our baby girl. My English is barely good enough to communicate to husband and friends. I hope this course helps me to communicate better. I hope my English will get better soon. I practice English every day when my husband comes home from work. We talk to each other for about two hours every evening. My favorite hobby is cooking. I like to cook Thai food and American food. I like to try new recipes every weekend for my family.

Submitted by: Denise

Hi everybody!

My name is Denise and I'm from Switzerland. In the moment I live and work in Minnesota. My native language is Swiss German, but I'm also fluent in high German since it's common in Switzerland to write and talk (in school) in high German. My French is really bad, although it's a official language in Switzerland:)

I'm taking this course because I'd like to improve my English skills that I learned during my one-year stay here in America. One day I'd like to work in another European country and it wouldn't be bad to have a better English grammar.
After this course I hope I'll see a difference between now and then when I talk and write in English.

I've studied English for 7 years in school and since 1 year I'm working as an Au Pair here in America.

In my free time I'd like to inline skate, go to movies, read, listen to music, meet friends and travel as often as possible.
By the way that's my second online course. I took already "Speed Spanish" and I liked it a lot.

Submitted by: Marisol

Hi Sabri and all classmates,

My name is Marisol from Puerto Rico (native Spanish speaker) living in Trinidad & Tobago for the past three years. Used to work with a non-profit organization for 6 years, my husband still works for them, his native language is Dutch but he speaks English, Spanish, German and a little of French; He is from the Netherlands and we have three children; two boys (14 & 8 years old) and one girl (10 years old). I am very happy to have this opportunity to work on my English Grammar and to share with you all. Thank you.

Submitted by: edna

I am Edna Oyog, I'm 33 years old and Married. My native language is Bisaya but my national language is Tagalong. I come from The Philippines. I do this English Grammar course because I have difficulties of understanding the right way of using grammar. This course will probably help me improve my English as a second language and give me more knowledge about English. I've finished my high school in the Philippines in which I studied English. After I graduated I haven't used and practiced English. I love traveling to discover new countries and their cultures. I had been in Middle East working as a housekeeper which I stayed for 3 yrs. I currently speak fluent Arabic. I love to learn new languages. I hope, I'll be able to understand each lesson and pass every exams. this course will be a big opportunity for me to learn English grammar. I'm looking forward to it

Submitted by: Sylvie

I my name is Sylvie I'm from Canada. I'm French. I moved recently to a English province so I have to take some English course to get my nursing license back. Were I'm from it was more French. I study English through high school but rarely use it. For the last three years I been using my English a lot more because my husband is English. My hobbies are camping, traveling and reading.

Submitted by: Cecilia

Hello,
My name is Cecilia and I live in Louisiana. My native language is Spanish. I have been living in The Unite States for about 12 years. I’m taking this course because I need to improve my writing and communication skills in proper English. I’m in an education field, I expect from this course to communicate better in English and also fill more confident in the English grammar, when I need to write documents, lesson, essays, etc.

I have a law degree, and in The Unite States I took several classes in the University in the education field, I’m interesting in continue my education with a Master degree in Curriculum and Instruction.
I don’t have much time to practice English, special during the summer, my only resource are the television and education books and all my friends are Hispanic. During School I have more opportunity to practice English but it’s Student-Teacher and Teacher –Student.
I really enjoy traveling. I like to visit new places and to know new people, and of course spent time with my family.

Submitted by: Alla

Hi! My name is Alla. I have been living in California for three years. My native language is Russian. I’m taking this course to improve my English. At this time, I’m attending College of San Mateo. I could not find appropriate classes for summer time and decided to take this online course. I wish this course will help me to know more about English grammar. I’ve been studying English for three years. Unfortunately, I don’t practice English often because all my family and friends speak our native language. My main hobby is reading.

Submitted by: Eda

Hello everyone; My name is Ida (pronounced Eda). I was born in Denmark, where I studied English for 5 years, German for 4 and French for 2. and where I got my AA degree. I now live in Oregon where I have resided for the last 30 years. I speak English daily at work and at home. Only when I speak to my family in Denmark do I speak Danish, (with an American accent I am told). As I am involved in the layout, design and production of our quarterly newsletter, and our marketing materials at work, I could use a brush up on my grammar. besides my kids make fun of the way I speak at times. I took the "Keys to Editing" class last term, and realized the hardest part for me in that course was understanding the grammar and how to use it properly. I love the outdoors, and do a lot of skiing, mountain climbing, biking, etc.

Submitted by: Elina

Hello, my name is Elina and I live in the state of Connecticut. My native language is French. I am looking to take this course to help me with my English grammar. I am in the mental health field and grammar is very important when doing any kind of documentation, transcribing and verbal communication within that area. I do expect to come out of this course with not only more knowledge of the English language and to communicate better, but to have accomplish a personal enrichment goal. Currently, I attend Manchester Community College to eventually get my double major in Criminal Justice/Psych. I have studied English since high school, college and still have a hard time understanding or speaking the language due to my native language. Practicing English is something done on an every day basis and yet I still have difficulty remembering some rules. My hobbies would include activities such as reading, computers, motorcycles, bikes.

Submitted by: Gilberto

Hi All!

My name is Gilberto. I am an Italian native speaker (I live in Italy).
I am a 40 year old family physician: although I use the English language on a daily basis (reading technical and non-technical literature, translating medical articles, writing emails and so on), dates back to my college and university studies (the formal study of English lasted about 5 years).

The reason for taking this course is to refresh my dim memories about English grammar so that I can use English more correctly.

Hobbies: I am very interested in foreign languages (English, German French); literature (above all German); bike; computers.

Submitted by: Jude

My name is Jude and I live in Connecticut. While my native language is French, I am taking this course to help me with my English grammar. After the completion of this course, I expect that my use of grammar will improve, and I would be able to utilize proper usage both in speech and in writing. I am presently attending Manchester Community College, and my goal is to transfer in the winter to a four year college or university to complete the bachelor of nursing. While attending St. Joseph for the last year, I noted that my papers, especially in the graduate courses (I was in a dual degree course: BSN to MSN), were returned with the same comments of having critical thinking, BUT that the grammar was preventing me from handing in good papers.
I also noticed that the way I wrote was a reflection of the way I speak, and that I needed to go over the proper use of grammar. In all honesty, I have studied English all my life, but because of my native French, I am not always able to have my thoughts come across. At home, I speak French and English, and I try to be conscious of proper grammar. It is not easy when you know another language.
My hobbies include reading and crochet, although with kids, I am not always to do so. I also like to bowl and watch movies. Going to school and working full time does not always allow me to participate as much in my hobbies, but whenever I get a chance, I try to take advantage of it.