We would like to introduce you to two of our newest staff members: Safiya Abi, Computer Lab Instructor, and Kacee Kniazeva, Workplace Literacy Instructor. Here is a bit about each of these wonderful women: 

Kacee (Kseniya) Kniazeva graduated magna cum laude with an Honors BA in Political Science and a BA in International Studies from the University of Utah. After receiving 160 hours of TEFL training in Costa Rica, she stayed and taught English at a primary and pre-school for almost a year. While working with an HIV/AIDS prevention non-profit in India, she also helped open and establish curriculum for two new schools in slum settlements in New Delhi (where she also taught English for three months) and helped educate youth and the general public across the country on the dangers of HIV and AIDS.

Born in Ufa, Russia, Kacee immigrated to the United States when she was eight years old. She is thus very aware of the difficulties of learning a new language and adjusting to a new culture; her experiences have made her very commited to giving the gift of language, literacy and communication to others. She enjoys traveling, art and painting, reading, learning languages, high energy sports such as snowboarding, surfing and wakeboarding, and wants to be a perpetual student.

Safiya Abi arrived in the United States in December 2009 as a refugee from Africa. She was born in Somalia, but her family fled to Kenya when she was a baby. Safiya completed her high school education in Kenya and can now speak Somali, Mai Mai, Kiswahili, Arabic and English. She worked in Kenya for Save the Children, an organization that encourages young African girls to gain an education. Safiya also worked for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees as an interpreter.

 

 

As you know, the North Temple Viaduct is closed for the next year or so due to construction. Many of you use this route to arrive at the ESL Center from the east side of the city. If that is the case, we recommend that you now use either 600 North or 400 South to get to the ESL Center. By using these routes, you will avoid waiting for trains to pass on your way to the ESLC. For a detailed map of these routes and where the train tracks are, please visit our "Contact Us" page.

 

Gus Gesteland, son of our tutor Kelly Dick, recently created over 100 binders for our pre-literate students as part of his Hope of America service project through Oakridge Elementary School and the Kiwanis Club. Gus sent out e-mails to friends and family and advertised at his school for the supplies he needed to make the binders. Once Gus collected everything, he put the binders together and then sent out thank you notes to everyone who helped. He and his family delivered the boxes of binders to our "Teaching Pre-literate Students" In-Service last month, and all of the tutors present got to take a binder for each of their students!

Each binder includes a zippered pocket with writing utensils inside, a folder for homework assignments, lined paper for writing practice, a blank calendar, and several plastic sheets with worksheets for students to practice filling out forms, recognizing months and days of the week, and numbers and letters. If you are teaching a pre-literate student and don't have a binder yet, stop by the office to pick one up!

The students who attend classes at Village North Apartments obviously love their binders, and we are so grateful to Gus for his great service to our students! Thank you, Gus!

Starting Sunday, April 18th, the viaduct that connects North Temple with downtown Salt Lake City (from 300 W. to 600 W. along North Temple) will be closed for the next 18 months. This is part of a construction project involving a TRAX line down North Temple to the SLC International Airport. If you usually take this route to get to the ESLC, please use 400 South or 600 North as alternate routes to avoid potential delays at railroad crossings.

The ESL Center was featured in the Salt Lake Tribune this week! The ESLC recently partnered with the State Refugee Services Office, the LDS Church, and Granite School District for a pilot program offering refugees an amazing opportunity to develop job skills and learn English while at work! One hundred refugee employees are working at the LDS Humanitarian Center full-time, spending half of the day learning job skills, the other half in English classes. ESLC volunteers teach small-group classes for these employees, giving them individualized attention. Read the article here.

VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) is coming to the ESLC! Next Monday, March 22nd from 9:00am to 12:00pm. This service is free for low- to moderate-income residents (households that bring in less than $50,000/year) who would like some help with their taxes. Spread the word about this great opportunity! For information about what documents to bring, please visit http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=107626,00.html