Do you have one completed goal that you are proud of achieving? Some goals are very small or short term in the time it took to achieve them, like completing an assignment or project. Other goals are long term and may take years to achieve, like earning a high school diploma. Whatever your goals, you must have a timeline and an action plan to see your progress as you achieve the end results.

This month we are highlighting students who wrote about achieving their short-term goals. Is it time for you to review and update your goals, or write new goals to replace those goals you accomplished last semester?

Registration for our Spring classes has already started. Call to make an appointment to take a test and fill out a registration form. If you have a computer and Wi-Fi, you can register remotely with one of our Student Navigators. Call the numbers listed below or email to make an appointment for the following locations: Easton, Cambridge, Federalsburg, Greensboro, Sudlersville, Wye Mills or Chestertown.

• For ABE/GED® classes, contact Beth Moyer at (410) 829-6043 (text), or ged@chesapeake.edu
• For ESL (English as a Second Language) classes, contact Sergio Cilla at 410-443-1163 (text) or esl@chesapeake.edu
• NEDP® program—contact us via NEDP@chesapeake.edu.

Learn how easy it is to register, attend classes, and more!

Grab your calendars!

February 19th, President's Day (classes run as scheduled)

March 10th, Daylight Savings Time

March 18th-19th, Spring Break (no classes - COLLEGE CLOSED)

March 31st, Easter Sunday

April 22nd, Earth Day

May 12th, Mother's Day

May 27th, Memorial Day (no classes - COLLEGE CLOSED)

COVID UPDATES

COVID vaccine boosters are no longer free. If you do not have insurance, go to www.cdc.gov/vaccines/programs/bridge. The Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) Bridge Access program has information on where you can get your COVID and Flu vaccines for free. Check it out!

Test Taking Strategies

Have a discussion!

Give a Multiple-Choice question as a warmup exercise at the start of class. Discuss the fact that CASAS and GED® multiple choice answers are made up by design, not by random selection. Students need to understand why the correct answer is correct and why the incorrect answer is wrong! Have fun!

Heather Badour My goal was to do better on my CASAS score by 10 points on my next test. I am so happy because I reached the next level.

Alexius Smith My goal was to improve my multiplication skills by the end of the semester.  I have applied my multiplication skills to doing fractions and I am very proud of this accomplishment.

Ke’Nazia Perry My goal is to learn all 12 of my multiplication times table facts by December 14th. I improved 90%. I still struggle with the 9- and 12-times table, but I can work on that next semester.

Students in Elli Straus’s ESL morning and evening classes talk about their goals:

Nara Hem

Last semester's goal: Improve pronunciation and communication in English.

Feedback from clients (she's a nail technician) telling her she's able to "communicate better and be very polite."

Directly from Nara: "sometimes you don't know you're getting better..." until you try to communicate in English. 

Adriana Elias Moreno

Last semester's goal: "to speak a little more English with my daughter's teachers."

Adriana reported that the teacher's at the drop-off told her “Your English is so much better!" And she also told us that she was even able to help another Spanish speaker that was struggling with communicating in English. Adriana mentioned that her confidence level has increased dramatically since starting English classes (she was very shy).

Eva Ramirez Gonzalez

Last semester's goal: to be able to read forms and information coming home from school and knowing where and how to sign them.

Eva reported that she really couldn't do this until now. She feels that for the most part, she is now comfortable both reading and filling forms out with the correct information.

Olimpia Chun Martin

"I have learned more vocabulary and can understand my co-workers and customers (she works in a deli) better."

Jose Morales Ramirez

I can express myself better and have more confidence speaking with my co-workers. I can better understand certain everyday words and phrases.

Cresecencio Martinez Prado

I have more vocabulary and am not as nervous/afraid to speak English.

Santiago Yunga Monge

I have learned how to say and identify singular/plural nouns and specific phrases related to my job (Knoxie's grill).

Evelin Vasquez Mateo

I feel that I learned more English last semester because I can talk with my boss and she tells me, “Oh, you can talk more clearly in English - that's so cool!" 

Naydelita Gonzalez Escalante

"I'm less shy about talking and working with someone else (who doesn't speak Spanish). My co-worker lets me be responsible on my own and communicate with people in English (cleaning service). When they ask me to do specific things like "please, can you change my sheets today?", I know what they're telling me. I'm surprised at my progress.”

Lillian Aguilar Peralta

I understand much more and have learned to talk more- this motivates me to learn more!! 

Students in Kayla Weber’s ESL class in Greensboro receive their attendance certificate. They have accomplished the required attendance and they have taken their post-test: Jaime Joel Cortez, Bernarda Miguel Rivera, Eyner Miguel Rivera, Angelica Barrios Ortiz, Milagros Rodriguez Granillo, Erica Orozco Miguel, Nallely Fernanda Lopez, and Arnoldo Tomas Ramirez.

Students in Allison Luersen’s ESL class in Greensboro receive their attendance certificate. They have accomplished the required attendance and they have taken their post-test: Alba Gomez Gonzalez, Guinder Galvez, Edna Castañon, Liliana Mendez Perez, Librada Garnica Rubio, Nancy Alvarez, Ruth Fuentes Bonilla, Aliza Fuentes, Nancy Alvarez Rustrian, Janet Menenguez.

In the National Reporting System for Adult Education (NRS), the Educational Functioning Level (EFL) descriptors are intended to guide teaching and assessment for adult learners.



The descriptors are: Beginning ESL Literacy, Low Beginning ESL, High Beginning ESL, Low Intermediate ESL, High Intermediate ESL, Advanced ESL.

The testing levels are: A for Beginning ESL, B for Intermediate ESL, and C for Advanced ESL.

These levels are organized into three modalities: interpretive, productive, and interactive. These modalities describe your abilities to process, understand, interpret, and produce language at each level.

What can you do or cannot do at your current level? What are your concerns? What level are you aiming for in the short term? What level do you need to be in to be able to accomplish your goals?

Work with your instructor in class and send us your questions. We will publish your questions and responses in our next issue: scilla@chesapeake.edu and plyonsdaniels@chesapeake.edu

“There are three kinds of people in the world: those who make things happen, those who watch things happen, and those who say, 'What happened?'”

Anne Landers

Alexius Smith

Instructor: Dr. Patricia Daniels

"Alexius is a remarkable person. She has a full-time job, cares for seven children, and manages to keep a 95% attendance record. She arrives to class early and eager to complete her assignments. She is not shy about asking questions until she fully understands the math lesson. Her quiz scores average 90%. She is an exemplary student."

Earth Day is April 22nd. The theme this year is our “Planet vs Plastics.” This theme is to make everyone aware of the health risk of plastics to humans, animals, and the environment, (especially our oceans and waterways). Take the Earth Day Quiz and discover what you know about the forces that are changing our earth. www.earthday.org/earth-day-quizzes

Finding job opportunities on the Eastern Shore of Maryland can be achieved through a combination of online resources, local networking, and traditional job search methods. Here are some data-driven strategies to help you in your job search:

1. Online Job Portals: Utilize popular job search websites that cater to the Eastern Shore region, such as Indeed, LinkedIn, Glassdoor, and Monster. These platforms allow you to filter job listings based on location and job type.
2. State and Local Job Boards: Check the Maryland Department of Labor website and other local employment agencies for job listings specific to the Eastern Shore area. Websites like Maryland Workforce Exchange (mwejobs.maryland.gov) offer job listings and resources tailored to the state.
3. Networking: Attend job fairs, industry events, and networking functions in the Eastern Shore region. Building connections with professionals and employers can lead to hidden job opportunities and referrals
4. Local Chambers of Commerce: Contact local chambers of commerce in the Eastern Shore area. They often have job boards or can provide information about businesses that are hiring.
5. Social Media: Follow companies and organizations on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Some employers post job openings directly on their social media pages.
6. Job Search Apps: Download job search apps like JobSearch, Jobr, and Snagajob to receive job alerts and find job opportunities directly on your mobile device.

Presidential Trivia for President's Day, February 19, 2024

1. He is the only president to have a U.S. state named after him.
2. This president was the tallest president at 6ft. 4in. 
3. His home was called Monticello.
4. He was the first president to appear on television.
5. This president appeared in 53 movies. 

Solution to last issue’s Brain Game:

The military time or 24-hour clock.

Next Issue: Expand Your Opportunities!

For more information about our programs, please contact:

Brenda Horrocks

Director Adult Education

Wye Mills Campus, EDC 10

410-827-5929 | bhorrocks@chesapeake.edu | www.chesapeake.edu

1000 College Circle | P.O. Box 8, Wye Mills, MD 21679

Chesapeake College empowers students from diverse communities to excel in further education, employment, and participation in an interconnected world.