On Friday, December 8, Middlesex Community College’s Prepare to Attend College (PAC) graduation ceremony recognized students and their accomplishments. MCC hosted an awards ceremony where students gathered to hear their peers reflect on their experiences in the PAC program and receive certificates.
“The students are not only learning English skills, but are hearing about opportunities for next steps, whether that means another English class, enrolling as a part-time or full-time student at MCC or using their newly gained English skills to get a new job,” said Katy Gentile, MCC’s Assistant Director of Corporate Education and Training. “Our hope is that our PAC graduates know they have our full support for their next steps and have connections here at MCC for the future.”
MCC’s English Learner Institute (ELI) offers non-native English speakers the chance to expand their English skills. Through this initiative, the PAC program runs three times a year and takes learners eight-weeks to fulfill. It is free, flexible and broken into two levels.
“Our hope is that our PAC graduates know they have our full support for their next steps and have connections here at MCC for the future.” - Katy Gentile, MCC’s Assistant Director of Corporate Education and Training
Two student speakers spoke about how the PAC program influenced their outlook on English. They discussed their goals and how positive the experience was. After the student speakers shared their insights, class instructor Faithe MacElliott handed PAC graduates their certificates.
“Our classroom is often the first opportunity students have to make friends in a new country,” MacElliott said. “These connections can help them better understand cultural differences through shared experiences in a new environment. The atmosphere is supportive and intentionally easy going, so no one feels intimidated. We often break into smaller groups, which gives them an opportunity to discuss any topic while practicing their pronunciation and language structures.”
Valery Ehouman, from the Ivory Coast, graduated from MCC’s PAC One course. Ehouman enjoyed the PAC program and hopes to continue her education.
“I have been in the United States for five months,” Ehouman said. “After learning English, I want to study and become a medical assistant. I learned a lot from my teacher and there was a very good atmosphere in class.”
Valentina Garzon Martinez, from Columbia, graduated from MCC’s PAC Two course. Although Martinez found learning English to be challenging, she also thought the experience was rewarding in the end.
“Everyone wants us to feel part of this community and even more importantly, they want to help us follow our next step after this program and for me that’s very valuable,” Martinez said. “I came here to follow my goals and to have a better English level because I want to keep adding knowledge to the career I have back in Colombia, and I am very motivated.”