UF English Language Institute 

     “I am a slave to he who has taught me a single letter,” uttered my student as he thanked me and said goodbye. This Arabic proverb resonates with me not only on the level of an instructor of English as a second language, but also as a student of the Arabic language. I left that day knowing that because of language study I formed a lasting inextricable bond that transcends borders, cultures and politics, and serves as the grassroots for peacebuilding.     

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    The University of Florida English Language Institute (ELI) is the place that allowed me to grow personally and professionally. It has given me the opportunity to meet hundreds of unique individuals from all walks of life who invite me to learn and experience their cultures. 

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     The ELI has cultivated a safe space that thrives off the desire to learn and the willingness to break all types of social and cultural classroom norms. I began as a volunteer Conversation Partner Summer 2013 during my first semester of undergrad to assist an ELI student with one-on-one conversation practice. The following semester I applied and was selected to be a Language Assistant (LA), in which  I quickly learned how to facilitate language learning as a peer leader to individuals of a variety of proficiencies, ages, levels of maturity and backgrounds. I used my adaptability, diverse background and cultural understanding to connect with students to execute engaging communicative activities. Each activity I planned targeted level-specific listening and speaking objectives for classes of 15 English language learners. My diverse skillset coupled with my integration of multimedia platforms has contributed to my success and that of my students’. I have incorporated WhatsApp, Facebook and Snapchat into my lessons as interactive tools in language learning to practice listening skills, pronunciation and to build cultural competency. My creativity in lesson plan development and years of experience as an LA promoted me to serve as the Cultural Immersion Program Assistant Coordinator. I manage about 40 language assistants each semester by conducting in-class observations and providing instruction for difficulties LAs face with students, lesson plan development and original activity creation. My key to success in engaging second-language learners is rooted in Speech Act Theory, which is a method of language instruction that guides learners through social interaction through contextualized phrases and moves. I use speech acts to provide my students with the nuanced knowledge and cultural know-how needed to correctly use formal and informal registers such as slang, idioms and phrasal verbs in everyday contexts.