Impact of the WWU Employee Language Program
Since it’s beginnings in 2013, the WWU Employee Language has served hundreds of faculty and staff to learn another language, support outreach and engagement projects, translate research materials, and build a sense of community across faculty, staff, and students.
Testimonials from Faculty and Staff Participants
I have loved being part of the ELP! It is one of the best employee benefits that Western offers (this and the employee fitness classes!) and is one of the reasons I accepted my position at Western. It’s a great way to learn in an environment from students and connect with other employees and students.
Anonymous ELP Participant
I have participated in the ELP for years and it has been a wonderful addition to my professional and personal development. The language skills and confidence I built from the classes and conversation partners has directly benefited my work. Last year I traveled to Mexico on behalf of the Education Abroad office at WWU and my experience there was enhanced by my ability to understand and communicate in Spanish. I also have the opportunity to travel to Portugal in May, so I really appreciate the opportunity to meet with the Portuguese conversation partner to learn some language basics and cultural information. I have also built relationships with other WWU staff through participation in the language classes. I have really appreciated the ELP’s ability to offer both in person and virtual programming which meets my needs. I really hope that funding can be awarded to support the program in continuing, it is by far the most significant “perk” of employment at WWU.
Anonymous ELP Participant
I am writing in support of the Employee Language Program and the benefits of having such a unique program on campus:
- Providing an opportunity for graduate students to gain instructional teaching
- Providing an opportunity for employees to expand their own cultural understanding, language knowledge, practice and feature these accomplishments on their professional resume
I initially participated in this program to learn conversational Spanish, and as WWU becomes a more diverse campus, having the basic skills to communicate with student support networks -such as family, is essential. I have also utilized language skills in my volunteer work outside of WWU. One of the best examples of collaborating with the ELP was when we were able to work directly with graduate students to translate a comprehensive overview of Career Services, for use during Fall Family Weekend. These types of collaborations help share campus resources with a broader audience, one that is essential to include when striving for all-student success and retention.
Britta Eschete, Classified Staff, Career Services Center & Adult and Higher Education Graduate Student
I just learned that ELP Program might be terminated for the spring quarter, and I have no words to express my sadness and disappointment. I was fortunate to participate in the program from the beginning and I have no words to describe in how many ways I benefited from it: from meeting so may wonderful and motivated students and colleagues to learning Spanish to the point that I can communicate and read in Spanish, which improved my work skills ang gave me pleasure that I can’t describe. I truly hope that this wonderful program will be kept and funded for the wonderful WWU community and all of us.
Thank you in advance,
Dubravka Ilic
I am delighted to provide a testimonial for the Employee Language Program (ELP), specifically regarding my participation in the Conversation Partners since last fall quarter.
Warm regards,
Throughout my involvement, I have had the privilege of collaborating with a remarkable student facilitator who possesses exceptional proficiency in French and demonstrates a keen enthusiasm for sharing their language skills. As a language educator, I am deeply impressed by the student’s inherent teaching abilities and recognize their immense potential to emerge as a stellar educator in the future.
Personally, my engagement in the program has been immensely rewarding. Delving into French language study through this partnership has yielded significant benefits for me. Each interaction has afforded me invaluable insights into the nuances of the language, thereby augmenting my comprehension and proficiency. Moreover, the program has afforded me a unique opportunity to assume the role of a student once more. By immersing myself in the learning process, I am able to refine and enhance my own teaching methodologies, gaining fresh perspectives and empathy by experiencing firsthand the challenges and triumphs encountered by my own students.
In summary, my involvement in the Conversation Partners program has been both enriching and enlightening. It has not only deepened my understanding of the French language but has also enabled me to continually evolve and refine my teaching practice. I am immensely grateful for the opportunity to participate in such a valuable program and look forward to its continued success in nurturing linguistic proficiency and cross-cultural understanding within our community.
Wenling Su
Senior Instructor of Chinese
Department of Modern and Classical Languages
Testimonials from Student and Alumni Facilitators
I am in my third and last year at WWU and my time in the Employee Language Program is one I will never forget. I eagerly joined the ELP as a facilitator in Fall of 2022. The program came to my attention when facilitators visited my SPAN 302 class, sparking my interest in the opportunity to teach Spanish. Since becoming involved with the ELP, I’ve gained invaluable experience in language instruction.
Miguel Angel Acuña-Martinez
Originally, I had planned to graduate in the spring of last year with a major in sociology and a minor in Spanish. However, my time with the ELP was so fulfilling that I made the decision to extend my stay at Western by adding a Spanish major. This choice was driven by my deep love for teaching and connecting with others through our workshops. Throughout my time with the program, I’ve cherished the learning process involved in teaching and the connections I’ve formed with participants. Engaging with individuals from diverse backgrounds during our workshops has been particularly rewarding. I’ve relished the opportunity to create a supportive and comfortable learning environment for all participants.
One of the significant benefits I have observed from my participation in the ELP is the opportunity to teach a cultural way of speaking Spanish that I deeply cherish, while simultaneously fostering a newfound appreciation and love for the Spanish language. As a first-generation Mexican-American, I have long grappled with a sense of disconnection from my heritage and cultural roots. Language has been a particularly challenging aspect, as I struggled with Spanish communication due to learning English at a young age. It wasn’t until I made the conscious decision to reclaim my maternal language that I began to feel a sense of confidence in speaking Spanish. Upon joining the ELP, I harbored doubts about my proficiency in speaking, let alone teaching Spanish. However, with the unwavering support of my dedicated facilitators, I was able to overcome these uncertainties. Through my journey with the ELP, I came to the realization that my greatest insecurity has transformed into my greatest strength.
Not only does the ELP mean so much to me but everyone I work with. We have been able to do amazing things as a program that has given many of us the opportunity to take on projects that we wouldn’t have been able to do otherwise. We have been able to organize panels and speakers series, Help other programs with translations and work alongside other student clubs! Through the ELP we have been able to gain work experience, make meaningful connections, and most importantly we got to create a community.
My name is Laura Rios Garcia and I am in my third year at Western Washington University. During my spring quarter of my freshman year I took a Spanish class simply for a GUR credit and at the end of the quarter my professor Kirsten Drickey offered me a job in the ELP. I was eager for the opportunity and accepted my professor’s offer. And ever since joining the program in fall quarter 2022 the ELP has drastically changed my time at WWU. Not only was I presented with an offer that changed my time at Western but the offer given to me in 2022 has equipped me with various skills that would not have been attainable without the help of the ELP.
Laura Rios Garcia
In 2021 I came with a goal to major in political science at WWU and had no interest in double majoring or even minoring in any other departments. Although, that all changed with the help of the ELP. My first quarter of teaching with the program helped me see how incredible it is to be able to teach others and continue to learn at the same time. I have been with the ELP now for about a year and a half and there has never been a moment I have not felt proud about the work we do as facilitators. Going to weekly meetings where everyone gets to talk about our week’s teaching and getting to teach with all my wonderful co-workers have been very special moments in my life. So much so that it led me to declare a double major in political science and Spanish.
Joining the program as a native Spanish speaker has helped me expand my knowledge of Latin America and helped me strengthen my proficiency. I come from a family of immigrants and as a first generation college student and to be offered the opportunity to help others learn the language I grew up speaking with my parents and grandparents is a feeling that can’t be compared with. Hearing my parents tell other family members and friends about the work I get to do makes me never want to stop teaching and continuing to share my personal experiences with participants. The work I do is not only to teach but also to share the world my parents introduced me to with others.
Words cannot describe how life changing the ELP has been and how positively it has impacted my time at Western. This program helps people come together and create amazing memories that will never be forgotten. It has been an incredible honor to work along with my co-workers and my boss for the past year and half and definitely one of my proudest moments in my time at western. . With certainty the ELP will continue to make positive changes to students who work in the program.