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PJC holds ESL Appreciation Night

Published or Revised May 22, 2014

ESL Appreciation Night photo

At top, students from PJC’s daytime English as a Second Language class award winners included, from left, Juana Salazar, Arely Lopez, Graciela Reyes, Cirila Rivera, Norma Rodriguez, Carmen Cruz, Fernanda Tinoco, Norma Salazar and Jessica Caraveo. Below, Sara Alveno, a student in PJC’s evening ESL class, is shown with EL Civics instructor Lynnette Johnson from the Givens Family Center at the appreciation night.

Achievements in mastering the English language were celebrated Thursday evening, May 15, during an English as a Second Language (ESL) Appreciation Night at Paris Junior College. "We hold the ESL Appreciation night to recognize the students, teachers and local volunteers," said ESL Coordinator Susan Sanchez. "Also to promote the program to the community. Our community collaborators are invited to the program and the ceremony helps raise awareness of the ESL program and shows off the students and their skills." Students are given the opportunity to speak in public and make presentations during the evening to demonstrate their new skills. Receiving awards for Superior Attendance were Juana Salazar and Norma Rodriguez of Paris and Jessica Caraveo of Reno, who also received the Writing and Technology Wizard award. Good Citizenship awards went to Maggy Ramirez, Arely Lopez and Francisco Luna of Paris and Carmen Cruz of Reno. Paris students Alberto Salazar and Diana Hernandez were recognized for Level Completion. Juana Luna of Paris won Improved Oral Language. Maria Sandoval and Sara Alveno of Paris won Most Improved, Most Improved Communication went to Laura Gonzales of Paris and Cirila Rivera of Paris won Most Improved Orally. Paris students Graciela Reyes and Norma Salazar won Most Improved in All Content Standards. Fernanda Tinoco of Paris was named Star Reader, Norma Rodriguez of Paris was Student of the Year, and Paris student Ondina Baide achieved Highest Score on BEST Plus and BEST Literacy. Rodriguez, Rivera and Tinoco were also inducted into the National Adult Education Honor Society. Both the ESL and GED classes have been extended to June 27 and June 26, respectively. ESL classes are held at the Givens Family Center, 655 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. Preregistration is required; contact Susan Sanchez at 903-782-0424. The GED classes are held at the Bobby Walters Workforce Training Center during the day 8:30-11:30 a.m. and from 6 to 9 p.m. in the evening. Again, preregistration is required. New this year is an Employability and Transitioning Class. This helps students work on job related skills, meet area employers, meet instructors from PJC's workforce program and prepare for the GED. For more information, call 903-782-0424.