Finding their voice: New FGCU program helps international students
6 – minute read
Sofia Aristizabal started learning English by watching the popular TV shows “Friends” and “The Big Bang Theory” in her native Colombia. Now she’s refining her skills and gaining proficiency in a classroom through the Intensive English Language Program at Florida Gulf Coast University.
“Confidence has been my biggest challenge in learning English because even if I have the right answer, shyness does not let me say or think the right things,” she says. “But I’ve been improving. The program, my classmates and my teachers have helped me to maintain and strengthen that confidence.”
The Intensive English Language Program prepares students who are non-native users to speak, read and write English at levels needed for success in university studies and professional careers. In addition to teaching linguistic skills, the program fosters cultural understanding around language that breaks down barriers to confident communication.
Aristizabal initially joined the program at its original home, Hodges University in Fort Myers, before that school closed last year. She says the best part about the program transitioning to FGCU has been the opportunity for her to work on campus — because she doesn’t feel so isolated and has more opportunities to practice English. The Hodges’ program did not allow students to work; but through the FGCU program, Aristizabal found on-campus employment at Boar’s Head at The Marketplace, a grab-and-go shop in Howard Hall.
“When I started working, I noticed that my speaking and listening skills were increasing, plus my bosses always spoke to me in English,” she says. “We interact with customers and get a lot of practice speaking English. FGCU gives me the opportunity as an international student, it gives me that vote of confidence, and it has helped me learn to recognize [American and English] actions, words and expressions more quickly.”
A new home
Leisha Cali, who directs the Intensive English Language Program through the Global Engagement Office, brought 20 years of experience in building impactful language programs when she transitioned from Hodges to FGCU. She teaches “Integrated Reading, Speech and Listening,” focusing on real-life applications of English, cultural understanding and pronunciation to enhance students’ confidence and networking abilities.
Clarisse Halpern, an adjunct instructor in the College of Education, taught “Integrated Writing and Grammar” in the fall semester as part of the program. Her class helped clarify challenging grammatical concepts and provided support beyond academics, helping international students navigate university life and adapt to cultural differences.
In October, Cali took their 10 students to an opening reception at FGCU’s Wasmer Art Gallery. In November, they attended a women’s volleyball game with President Aysegul Timur. The outings allow students to practice in real-world settings what they learn in the classroom.
The two-term program requires applicants to have upper-intermediate English proficiency and emphasizes what Cali calls “the five pillars of language learning”: grammar, reading, writing, listening and speaking, with emphasis on vocabulary. The first term focuses on achieving high school-level English skills and essay writing; the second term includes developmental English, research skills and academic style standards in preparation for college-level coursework like Composition I. Over two terms, students complete 540 contact hours between the classroom and the outings they attend.
The program’s strong focus on college preparatory work aligns with Aristizabal’s dream to pursue a biology degree at FGCU. Her ultimate goal is to gain acceptance into medical school and become a doctor.
Beyond the classroom
When Aristizabal turned 20 this fall, her classmates sang “Happy Birthday” in English and “Feliz Cumpleaños” in Spanish. One of those classmates was Ana Maria Ocampo Cruz. Before moving to the U.S. in 2021, she worked as an environmental administrator in her native Colombia.
“But I wanted better. I dreamed of having this experience” in America, Ocampo Cruz says. She earned a master’s degree in water resource management in Argentina and plans to pursue a doctoral degree at The Water School, focusing on research and global water management solutions.
“What excites me most about FGCU’s focus on environmental research and water management is the opportunity to apply my preliminary knowledge and to learn about different contexts and approaches, and the possibility to create a network with other professionals in the field,” Ocampo Cruz says.
She credits Cali, Halpern and the opportunities the Intensive English Language Program offers for helping her overcome challenges with idiomatic expressions and vocabulary. Ocampo Cruz acknowledges it will take time to integrate culturally and linguistically, but says she’s gained confidence by actively engaging in conversations and asking questions.
In its first year at FGCU, the program is still “a work in progress,” Cali says. But by May, she expects all her students “will be ready for the next step — applying for their bachelor’s, master’s or a Ph.D. program.”
One student, Cinthya Escobar, from Nicaragua, has already been accepted at FGCU. She started a master’s in information systems and analytics program this month.
The Intensive English Language Program also helps professionals get credentialed via résumé creation, job interview practice and scenarios, and preparation for the Test of English as a Foreign Language. Two students, Maria Jose Lora and Maria Jose Andino Escobar, recently completed the standardized test and secured new jobs. In January, Lora started working as a nurse at the West Village Rehabilitation & Nursing Center in New York City and Andino Escobar started teaching special needs students at The Cape Academy in Cape Coral.
For more information about the Intensive English Language Program, visit the program site.