Many Worlds in One Room: English Language students share a piece of home

group stands near christmas lights on snowy night Eat a grape and make a wish! Have a competition of nativities. Wear yellow pants to ensure good finances in the coming year! These are just a few of the cultural traditions Moraine Park’s English Language students shared during our end of the semester holiday-themed classes. We kicked off the holiday conversation with a trip to Regner Park’s “Enchantment in the Park” lights display where the students learned about the United States’ holiday traditions including Christmas lights, Santa Claus, carolers and hot cocoa.ell group sitting with santa clause

The experience continued as students had the opportunity to share the holiday traditions of their home countries by working with fellow students from their same country and creating a poster or powerpoint which they presented to the class. ELL (English Language Learning) students also brought in favorite foods they would make for holiday gatherings back home. Students this semester came from across the globe to our West Bend classroom – their home countries include China, Burma, Iran, Mexico, Guatemala, Colombia, Ukraine, Honduras, and Russia. woman pointing to mexico poster hanging on whiteboard

man pointing at posters hanging on whiteboard

people going through snack line with food on table Our ELL classes at Moraine Park Technical College serve beginning-level through advanced-level students from all over the world.  We offer classes for each level in the mornings and evenings on all three campuses. Students work to improve their English reading, writing, speaking and listening skills, as well as discover opportunities out in the community.group of 11 people posing for photo

For more information, or to register for an ELL class, contact Tony Rodriguez (West Bend and Beaver Dam) @ 920-887-4496 or for ELL in Fond du Lac call 920-924-6339.

panoramic view of room

Written by Marie Bublitz
ELL Instructor, West Bend Campus