Comments:
I wish the LSC does not shut down. Because it helps a lot for students who come from different countries like me. Therefore,please give special attention for the center as much as possible. Thanks!
- Melaku Barkye, student
The LSL is a good place for ESL students. When I go to the LSL, I feel more confident to speak out. I discover learning English is interesting. I have more opportunities to practice my skills. First, I attended reading news & book club at LSL. I get better in my reading at these clubs. Every week, I discussed the story and news with my classmates, we shared our opinions and feelings, and the instructor gave us study guides. It helped me to understand the news and story. I became more interested in reading. Second, I had tutoring service. I could prepare my presentation with the teacher. She corrected my pronunciation and gave me some advices. Third, I sometime attended workshops. It included idiom, grammar, spelling and conversation practice. I learned idiom from class. I could use it in my speaking and writing. It was a piece of cake. Addition, I joined the CCP and Language Exchange. I made new friends and had more conversation with my partner. Sometimes we chatted at internet and my partner taught me English songs. Because there is the LSL at De Anza, I have more and more practice after my class. I am not afraid of reading, speaking and enjoy learning English. I love the LSL. Thank you a lot!- Eva Liao, student
"The Language Exchange program, which held by Listening and Speaking Lab is very helpful for me. It does not only allow me to practice English conversation with native speakers, but it also gives me great opportunities to meet different people and make friends with them. As a foreigner in a new country, it is very important to have friends who are local people. They can tell me plenty of things which have not been taught in classrooms nor written in books. And for those things I have learned from their personal experience can really help me to accustom myself to unfamiliar environment and new culture much easier and faster. Other than Language Exchange program, the software New Dynamic English is also a very useful English learning tool to me. I can record the sentences that I repeated after the speaker, and then compare my recording with the speaker’s recording by playback function right away. It helps me significantly to establish good pronunciation. At last, I would like to show my appreciation to all the people who work in the Listening and Speaking Lab. They are very nice, patient, and really willing to help. They have made the lab as a comfort zone in the campus for international students." - Leah Liu, student
"I strongly recommend this Listening & Speaking Lab to ESL students and people who study English. It is totally different from regular classes, but it helps your regular class a lot. First of all, ESL student are really need to speak and the place to ask about English. However, since the regular classes have many students, it is impossible to do that. This lab is big help for us not only study but also mingle with people from different country. If we lost this Listening & Speaking Lab, where we should go to? Who we should ask? No where. No body." - Lulu, student
"It was my big pleasure to attend ESL course in De Anza Collage. My special thanks from all my heart are to Janell Pekkain. Her class was extremely well organized, interesting and focused on developing speaking skills. I feel that I made a significant progress in just 2.5 month! Last time I learned English was 19 years ago. I never spoke English before. I studied only to read and write and never heard native speaker before my relocation to US. Suddenly I started to talk and realized that I can explain myself and people understand me. I would like to express my deep gratitude to the team of Speaking & Listening Laboratory. This laboratory provides an excellent possibility to connect with native English speakers, to talk in a small group and to have a private tutoring. We have to save a Speaking & Listening Laboratory from budget cut! I’m sure such unique place must go on and help to hundreds of student in a year to improve their language skills. I feel we can do something and to enjoy this opportunity next semester and next year as well. I talked to some students from different ESL levels and they share same feeling. Thanks Irena." - Irena Chirashnya, student
"With a substantial English language learner population, DeAnza College cannot afford to lose the L/S Lab and the very helpful programs it provides for hands-on language learning. My students regularly tell me of the wonderful experiences they have in the CCP and workshop programs where they not only learn English and idioms, but also cultivate multicultural friendships and acquire needed guidance to be successful college students. Please keep this invaluable resource!" - Barbara Gasdick, De Anza Faculty
"My students use the LSL as an important tool in the process of language learning. LSL classes and other offered activities have helped them to become more confident speakers and communicators in English. Thank you for your support and dedication to our students!" - Iva Tracey, De Anza Faculty
"Every quarter a large contingent of underprepared and second language students succeed in our Oral Communication classes as a direct result of support services offered by the Listening and Speaking Lab. LSL support staff and student volunteers tutor, coach, offer workshops, and offer individual assistance to any Speech or ESL students needing help. This support service has been one of our biggest success stories and is crucial for improved retention and success of underrepresented students, underpreprared students, second language students, and returning students." - Donna Stasio, De Anza Faculty
" If someone asks me, “Where is your favorite place at De Anza college?” I will answer without hesitation, “My favorite place at De Anza is ATC 304, Listening and Speaking lab.” Although there are many reasons I like the Listening and Speaking lab, I want to talk about three good things I obtained from activities there. First, I learned a lot using the software programs at ATC 304. Because I am not a native English speaker, I sometimes have wrong pronunciation and strong Korean accent. For last three quarters, I have finished two software programs, “New Dynamic English” and “Propower.” Now I am practicing with “Longman Interactive.” In addition to these programs, there are many other good programs on the computer at the Listening and Speaking lab to improve our English skills. Second, there are many workshops in the lab. Even though we live in America and attend a community college, it is very hard to talk to other people in English outside the class. When I was in my first quarter, I wanted to practice English speaking. I heard about conversation workshops from one of my friends. As soon as I heard about them, I registered as many workshops as I could. I practiced English conversation with other ESL students, also shared our cultural differences and made good friends with each other. For last three quarters, my speaking skills have improved a lot with the help of conversation workshops. Third thing I like is tutoring. Before presentation, I have had tutoring service at the Listening and Speaking lab. All tutors are very kind. They seem to be angels who want to help us improve our English skills. A week ago, I got tutoring about my speech class presentation. She advised many good points and corrected my wrong pronunciation and intonation. This friendly and direct help caused me to be a better speaker of English. Besides the above three things, there are other activities at the Listening and Speaking lab such as CCP(Cross Cultural Partner), many half unit classes, and Language Exchange program. I think ATC 304, Listening and Speaking lab, is the heart of learning English for ESL students in De Anza College. Thank you very much." - Haekyung Choi, student
""The LSL is a vital resource for De Anza College students to get additional English practice. Many of the students who come to the LSL lack a comfortable environment where their English language ability can be given room to grow. The LSL is that place. Losing the LSL would be a terrible loss not only for those students, but for the whole De Anza College community, as it a place where all students can learn about different cultures while informing others about their own." -August Gutauckas, De Anza staff
" I have gained more than what I expected while working for LSL. Multiple task has gradually trained me to become a skillful assistant. Friendly and helpful staff and teachers make the lab like home. Seeing ESL students happily and freely speaking English makes me happy. Through Language Exchange program, I feel proud of myself when I could accommodate students with their meetings to practice their second languages. And most of all, as an ESL student, I am not afraid of speaking English anymore which boosts my confidence. LSL is very essential for ESL students like us to obtain our academic achievements. Please keep it alive!" -Bich Nguyen, student staff
"Please dont close our listening and speaking center because a lot of ESL student need it to practice our English."-Soksan, student
"I Got a lot from listening and speaking center. It become a part of my life. It helps me improve my English so quickly"-Bing Li, student