CELOP Alumni: Where Are They Now? Giulia Ciaghi, Italy

February 9th, 2018 in Highlight.

CELOP Alumna Giulia Ciaghi.

1. What is your name?

My name is Giulia Ciaghi.

2. Where are you from?

I am from Trento, a small city in Northern Italy.

3. Where do you live now?

I live in Boston, MA.

4. When and for how long did you study at CELOP?

I studied at CELOP for about a year and a half.

5. Why did you choose CELOP?

CELOP seemed a very sound and well organized school where to learn English. It has multiple levels of English classes, with different focus (medical, business) and most of all it was connected to Boston University.

6. What were some of the things you liked most about CELOP? Do you have a favorite memory?

My instructors were great. They did not only teach me English they helped me being away from home while a teenager. They supported me and made me a better person. I know it might sound silly but I loved doing homework, especially the one about writing papers. I had friends and all but writing allowed me going to college and working at Harvard Medical School.

7. In what ways did CELOP help you prepare for what you are doing now?

CELOP helped improving my English to a native speaker. That allowed me to graduate with a degree in English Literature and work as a writer at Harvard Medical School.

8. Where did you attend college for your undergraduate degree? What was your major and when did you graduate?

I went to Boston University, College of Arts and Sciences. I majored in 2014 with a B.A. in English Literature.

9. Where are you working/studying now?

I am doing a Master of Science in Medical/Health Informatics at Boston University.

10. Tell us about what you want to do in the future. What is your dream job?

To be honest, I do not have dream job. I am a person who likes to learn and I keep evolving. So, now my dream could be one thing and in a couple of years another one. I just go with what makes me happy for now.

11. What was your favorite thing to do in Boston?

Walking downtown early in the morning on a weekend day and enjoy the tranquility of the city.

12. What was your favorite restaurant in Boston?

My favorite restaurant in Boston is called Hong Kong Eatery.

13. What would you tell someone who is thinking about studying at CELOP but is unsure?

CELOP is a great place where to make new friends, learn English, and have fun with it thanks to the amazing teachers even if far away from home. If you listen to your instructors and do what they say, I can assure you that your English will be as good as the native speakers and it will be useful if you do a B.A., or even an M.S. like I am doing.

Staff Spotlight: A moment with…William Marion

January 31st, 2018 in Highlight.

CELOP's Foreign Student Advisor, William Marion, takes a moment for a brief interview.

1. What aspect of your role do you enjoy the most?

I enjoy helping students transfer their immigration records after acceptance to their degree programs. It’s great to see our students do well at CELOP and achieve their academic goals.

2. What did you do before working at CELOP?

I worked in international sales and accounts receivable at a music distribution company formerly based in Malden, Massachusetts. I spent most of my paycheck on the records and CD’s that we distributed.

3. Where are you from?

My father was in the military so we moved around a lot when I was growing up. I often tell people I’m from Florida as that’s where my father retired and where I graduated high school.

4. Favorite thing to do in Boston?

I am a huge music fan, so I go to concerts quite often. Boston has an amazing music scene with a variety of music venues; from club shows, art museums to huge stadiums. Speaking of which, my wife and I are really looking forward to taking our nieces to see Taylor Swift at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts this summer.

5. If you had to eat one meal, every day for the rest of your life, what would it be?

That’s pretty simple; it would definitely be phở  (Vietnamese soup). I find a well-cooked bowl of phở not only makes you full, but actually makes you feel better. A good falafel wrap is a close second. I could also eat that all the time. Just thinking about this question is making me hungry.

6. What’s your favorite TV Show?

Probably all of Anthony Bourdain’s television shows. He’s a chef that travels the world, interviews interesting people and tries different types of food. An upcoming episode of “Parts Unknown” has him interviewing Anton Newcombe (one of my favorite musicians/producers) in his Berlin, Germany recording studio. Supposedly Anton ends up cooking him an Icelandic lamb dish. I guess that future episode is pretty much where my “worlds collide” (see the question and answer below)!

7. What is the best destination you’ve travelled to?

It’s a three way split between Reykjavik, Iceland; Berlin, Germany; and Beirut, Lebanon. Of course, as you can imagine, it’s because all of those cities have great music scenes and restaurants.

8. Favorite restaurant in Boston?

Alden & Harlow is an amazing restaurant in Harvard Square, Cambridge. They serve small portions so you can try and share different types of menu items. The restaurant also have delicious vegetarian dishes that meat eaters would also enjoy.

9. What are your hobbies?

I like to cook, especially grilling or barbecuing outside. I also collect vinyl records. During my free time I like to go hiking and camping usually in Vermont or New Hampshire.

10. What is your hidden talent?

I have a high tolerance for cold weather. I don’t know if that’s a talent but I just wanted to share that fact with you all.

11. What would people never guess you do in your role?

Because I lived in a lot of different places in the U.S. I end up being an informal travel guide for different U.S. cities & states. Ask me about the San Francisco Bay Area or the Southern U.S. and I can talk your ear off!

CELOP Alumna and Current Student Share their Story: Amalia Hernandez & Elida Diaz, Venezuela

January 31st, 2018 in Highlight.

CELOP Alumna, Elida Diaz (left) and current student, Amalia Hernandez (right).

Elida Diaz knows from personal experience what it’s like to study at CELOP. “I studied here in 1978 or 1979, shortly after CELOP first opened. I lived in the dorm at Warren Towers. My classes were across the street in an older building. I was in class all day I remember—morning and afternoon. I had a motorcycle I could travel all around New England with. I started studying at CELOP that Fall and stayed a full year.”

CELOP Alumna, Elida Diaz.

Recently, when a close friend of Elida’s asked her where she should send her daughter Amalia to study English, Elida didn’t think twice. “My friend asked, ‘Elida, where should I send Amalia?’ I said I recommend CELOP. For me it’s the best in Boston. But Amalia has a friend who recommended a different English school in Boston. She studied at that school this Fall, but did not like it. That’s when I told her she really should go to CELOP. Now she sees the difference. The different way, the different students, the organization, even the fact that she got a BU ID card. She likes it very much so far.”

Elida Diaz with current CELOP student and family friend, Amalia Hernandez.

Now a current student in CELOP’s Intensive 25 program this Spring, Amalia Hernandez is starting to feel like she made the right choice. “I needed to learn English perfectly. I talked to Elida. She recommended it and said that it’s the best in Boston. I wanted to come to Boston to prepare my English for my college application. I want to study Marketing & Business in the future,” Amalia said.

Current CELOP student, Amalia Hernandez.

Elida and Amalia first met in their home country of Venezuela. “I first met Amalia when she was seven years old. I am a friend of her family’s. Her father had asked me to plan a big party for his company. There were probably 400 people there and Amalia got up, and spoke perfectly to everyone, introduced herself, her family, and the company. I started crying because she was so confident and unafraid. Now, I want Amalia to have the best English, best university, best education. That’s why I wanted her to study at CELOP,” Elida shared.

Now a Business Advisor, Elida wants more people to know about how helpful CELOP can be. When asked what she would tell someone who is thinking about applying for CELOP, Elida asserted, “You must come to CELOP. You learn so much at CELOP.”

CELOP Alumni: Where are they Now? Ariyaporn Lertariyanunt, Thailand

January 26th, 2018 in Highlight.

CELOP Alumnae, Ariyaporn Lertariyanunt.

1. What is your name?

Ariyaporn Lertariyanunt (Amp)

2. Where are you from?

Bangkok, Thailand

3. Where do you live now?

Boston

4. When and for how long did you study at CELOP?

I studied at CELOP last Spring (Spring 2017) and only studied for a semester.

5. Why did you choose CELOP?

Before I came to Boston, I had looked through many language schools/institutions websites and reviews. I found that CELOP was the best language school in Boston. I have heard good reputation about CELOP that the school offers variety of English classes that allows students to choose their two electives in a semester, which makes it differ from other language schools I have ever known so far. The school also has good staff and faculty and there are diverse backgrounds of students where we can meet people from almost every part of the world. These are the reasons why I undoubtedly chose to come to CELOP.

6. What were some of the things you liked most about CELOP? Do you have a favorite memory?

What I liked most about CELOP were staff and faculty. CELOP staff and faculty were very nice and very easy to reach. They were all very helpful and supportive. My favorite memory was the last day of the semester when everyone brought in food to class and celebrated together. That day made me feel that CELOP classmates and faculty were more like a family than someone who only stayed in our life temporarily.

7. In what ways did CELOP help you prepare for what you are doing now?

CELOP helped me to have better English competency as well as better understanding about the US education style and culture that enabled me to pursue my master degree in the US.

8. Where did you attend college for your undergraduate degree? What was your major and when did you graduate?

I attended Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok Thailand for my undergraduate degree. My major was Language and Culture, my minor was Chinese, and I graduated in May 2014.

9. Where are you working/studying now?

I am currently studying at Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies, Boston University.

10. Tell us about what you want to do in the future. What is your dream job?

I would like to work in the United Nations as a full-time job and work as a university professor as a part-time job. I am planning to pursue Ph.D. after my master degree.

11. What was your favorite thing to do in Boston?

I love to go to Public Garden. Every season gives different atmospheres and feelings there.

12. What was your favorite restaurant in Boston?

Deuxave is my all-time favorite restaurant in Boston. It has been the best French cuisine I have ever had.

13. What would you tell someone who is thinking about studying at CELOP but is unsure?

CELOP is a key to your bright future and you will never regret.

CELOP Alumni: Where are They Now? Abdulrahman Alhejaili, Saudi Arabia

January 17th, 2018 in Highlight.

CELOP Alumnus, Abdul Alhejaili

1. What is your name?

My name is Abdulrahman Alhejaili; I go by Abdul

2. Where are you from?

I’m from Makkah city, Saudi Arabia.

3. Where do you live now?

I live in South Lawrence, MA

4. When and for how long did you study at CELOP?

I studied at CELOP for five semesters from September 2013 to April 2015.

5. Why did you choose CELOP?

I chose CELOP for two reasons. First, it was recommended to me by my cousin’s friend. He told me that CELOP will prepare me well for my Master’s degree. Second, CELOP has excellent reputation and great methods of teaching English.

6. What were some of the things you liked most about CELOP? Do you have a favorite memory?

There were a lot of things I liked about CELOP such as field trips, student activities, conversation club and the Pizza Party at the end of each semester. The most amazing thing that I loved about CELOP was the diversity of the student body; it was like the global village to me. I had the chance to meet a lot of students from different countries and became friends with a lot of them. Now, I have friends from Brazil, Mexico, China, Japan, Venezuela, Panama, Germany, Thailand, Kazakhstan, Turkey, Russia, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, South Korea, Spain, and Libya. I still connect with them via Facebook and Instagram. My favorite memory was a trip to Salem, MA with my instructor, Susan Barry and my classmates to experience Halloween. It was in my first semester and it was amazing.

7. In what ways did CELOP help you prepare for what you are doing now?

When I came to CELOP, I did not speak English and started from Level A. CELOP taught me the language and prepared me to achieve my master’s degree which is one of my goals in this life. Beside that, there are a lot of skills in English that I learned from CELOP. For instance, in my graduate program, I was required to do a lot of presentations and I was very comfortable presenting because this skill was acquired at CELOP. In addition, I still follow my teacher Olivia Szabo’s advice which is to memorize 5-10 words each week by writing them in sentences in nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs. This method has helped me to extend my English vocabulary. CELOP was a great place for me to master the language.

8. Where did you attend college for your undergraduate degree? What was your major and when did you graduate?

I earned my undergraduate degree in Mass Communication from Umm Al- Qura University in Makkah city, Saudi Arabia in 2012 and I just finished my masters’ degree in Communication Management from Emerson College, Boston, MA in May 2017.

9. Where are you working/studying now?

Since I finished my maters’ degree, I have been doing freelance work while I am looking to find an internship in a Public Relations Agency in Boston. If I do not find one by Jan 15^th 2018, I will go back to my country to expand my career opportunities.

10. Tell us about what you want to do in the future. What is your dream job?

I want to do a lot of things in the future, but my main goal is to find a job in the communication field as my undergraduate and graduate degrees concentrate on communication. I can apply all the skills that I have learned to my new position. A second thing I would like to do in my future is to volunteer outside my country because volunteering provides a lot of lessons such as gaining new skills, solving problems, rescuing people lives and making a difference in society. Another thing I would like to do is traveling as it will expose me to new people, cultures and lifestyles. My dream job is to work in the Federation International Football Association (FIFA) because I love soccer and I still enjoy watching and playing it.

11. What was your favorite thing to do in Boston?

My favorite thing to do in Boston is to attend Celtics games because basketball is my second favorite sports after soccer. Also, I enjoyed going to a lot of places such as Boston Common, Public Garden and Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park, Museum of Fine Arts, Museum of Science and many others cultural landmarks.

12. What was your favorite restaurant in Boston?

It is called Maggiano’s and it is an Italian restaurant. Their delicious Spaghetti and Meatball remind me of my mother’s spaghetti and meatball and my American roommate introduced me to it.

13. What would you tell someone who is thinking about studying at CELOP but is unsure?

GO FOR IT! Trust me; you will not regret it. If I did not study at CELOP, I would not have achieved my Masters’ degree.

CELOP Alumni: Where are They Now? Yasser Al-Salman, Iraq & Zhao (Frank) Huang, China

January 9th, 2018 in Highlight.

CELOP Alumni Yasser Al-Salman, left, and Zhao (Frank) Huang, center, sit down for a brief interview.

CELOP alumni Yasser Al-Salman of Iraq and Zhao (Frank) Huang of China were part of a tight-knit group of Pre-MBA students at CELOP in Summer 2017. “This is our original family in the U.S. Our class had a very close bond—like a family,” Yasser said, describing the Pre-MBA program.

The Pre-MBA program, which runs every summer at CELOP, is designed to prepare students for the rigors of a graduate business school environment. The program is open to those entering an MBA or graduate program, as well as business professionals who plan to apply to an MBA program in the future.

Prior to CELOP, Frank earned his undergraduate degree in International Economy and Trade and went on to become a Project Manager at one of China’s largest companies. He traveled all over the globe for different projects, but ultimately decided to continue his education with an MBA at Boston University’s Questrom School of Business. He enrolled at CELOP the summer prior to the start of his program. “The basic ideas of what we learned from CELOP are very helpful. All my classmates said that if they didn’t do CELOP, they’d be worse off. Learning more, in particular, about case studies was the most helpful thing I learned. Participation is now 40% of my grade in business school. So CELOP helped me learn how to prepare my cases prior to class,” Frank shared.

Frank’s classmate Yasser decided to come to CELOP after earning his undergraduate degree from a British university and working for several years in his home country on projects with power plants. “I decided to come to CELOP for the teachers—they were so useful for me. They helped me increase my knowledge about MBA and enhance my English,” Yasser said. Currently, Yasser is preparing to take the GMAT and apply for MBA programs in the U.S.

Yasser and Frank returned to CELOP for a visit this Fall.

Both Yasser and Frank credit two of their CELOP teachers, Imelda Stoffregen and John Kopec, for helping them get to where they want to be. “We love our teachers. They improved our skills, both with English and in life. Our class with John, we learned a lot about American culture. While with Imelda, she helped to push us to study hard,” Yasser shared.

Yasser and Frank with their CELOP teachers, Imelda and John.

When asked what they would tell someone who is thinking about applying for the Pre-MBA program at CELOP, Frank said, “MBA students who are coming to the U.S. to study, it’s a really good program. It gives you the chance to study all your skills before your program. You don’t have a lot of time to study those skills in grad school. It’s a good transition. And the friendship. I made many friends at CELOP in my class. I built a network.”

CELOP Alumni: Where are They Now? Gianluca Follega, Italy

December 18th, 2017 in Highlight.

CELOP Alumnus, Gianluca Follega

1. What is your name?

Gianluca Follega

2. Where are you from?

I’m from Rome, Italy.

3. Where do you live now?

I still live in Rome.

4. When and for how long did you study at CELOP?

I studied at CELOP in 2014 during the summer for four weeks.

5. Why did you choose CELOP?

Because I really wanted to improve my English and at the same time have an experience abroad, possibly in the USA since I had never been there before. So I searched on my University’s website and I found CELOP and all the references were so good that I couldn’t have any doubts about it that was the right place!!

6. What were some of the things you liked most about CELOP? Do you have a favorite memory?

The thing I liked most about CELOP was the way classes were structured. I liked the way the teachers made all the students participate to the class because I think that this helped a lot to get us to know each other and to create a sort of “family” so that no one was afraid to make a mistake or say something wrong, we were all there to learn. I also enjoyed particularly a day when we all had to prepare a five-minute talk to share something about our country, I think that was really interesting because I could learn something new about other cultures that I would had never known in other ways.

7. In what ways did CELOP help you prepare for what you are doing now?

I think that CELOP helped me not only for what I’m doing now but for everything I will do. I’m not just talking about English, that nowadays is really important, but about all the experience itself. Studying at CELOP allowed me to interact with people from all over the world and I believe that the way the classes are structured helps you to reach a deeper knowledge of all the different cultures, because all the classes are very interactive.

8. Where did you attend college for your undergraduate degree? What was your major and when did you graduate?

For both my undergraduate degree and my major I studied at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore of Rome. I graduated in Economics and Management in October 2015.

Few months ago, in July, I also finished an Executive Master, that is just a three months course, in Compliance, Management, Finance, Risk and Auditing at Università La Sapienza of Rome.

9. Where are you working/studying now?

Now I’m working for a company “OASI Spa” that produces a software for anti-money laundering that is sold to banks. My job is to analyze if there are any problems with the correct functioning of the software and if there are solve them.

10. Tell us about what you want to do in the future. What is your dream job?

I would like to start my own company. At the moment, while I’m working for OASI Spa, I’m trying to create a startup with a friend. The startup is about public transportation and to be more specific about trains.

11. What was your favorite thing to do in Boston?

I really liked walking around the city center or little Italy and go out for dinner with friends

12. What was your favorite restaurant in Boston?

I tried many restaurants in Boston but I have to say that my favorite one was for sure Finn’s because I love Japanese food, but if I have to choose a typical America restaurant I would probably say Joe’s!

13. What would you tell someone who is thinking about studying at CELOP but is unsure?

Don’t think too much and just go!! It’ll be an awesome experience and the best opportunity you will ever have to improve your English, know many people with different cultures and visit an incredible city. Don’t let it go!!

Faculty Spotlight: A moment with…Susan Berry

December 18th, 2017 in Highlight.

CELOP faculty member Susan Berry takes a moment for a brief interview.

1. What aspect of your role do you enjoy the most?

I love witnessing student’ progress and helping them to make plans for improvement. CELOP students usually have pretty clear goals for their English development and ideas on where they need to improve in order to meet those goals. I like helping them to develop their plans and see them through.

2. What did you do before working at CELOP?

I traveled around the US and the world working with native and non-native English speaking teachers on developing their teaching skills. I helped them develop strategies on teaching in English (not translating), getting their students speaking and creating specific learning objectives. Some of the countries that I got to work in were Korea, Mexico, Poland, Ecuador, and Brazil.

3. Where are you from?

I’m from Santa Cruz, California, which is a town that is known for its amazing waves. So there are a lot of international surfing competitions. It’s also known for its giant Redwood trees (so big you can drive a car through them!).

4. Favorite thing to do in Boston?

I love riding my bike through the city streets of Boston and Cambridge! It’s a great way to get around and see the beautiful neighborhoods, river, harbor and parks! There is an inexpensive system of rental bikes that you can join called Hubway Bikes. Just be sure to wear a helmet and follow the rules of the road!

5. If you had to eat one meal, every day for the rest of your life, what would it be?

One meal or one food? I love fruit! Always have. Especially because my parents were hippies and we were only allowed to have natural sugars as kids.

6. What’s your favorite TV Show?

I just recently cancelled my cable so I’m a little out of it, but I love the sitcom Brooklyn Nine-Nine! It’s a comedy with an excellent writer and actor named Andy Samburg.

7. What is the best destination you’ve travelled to?

My husband and I traveled around England on our foldable bikes when the Tour de France started there!

8. Favorite restaurant in Boston?

R.F. O’Sullivan’s in Somerville for a hamburger and onion rings! Ok, so it’s not Boston, but cross the river and check this place out! So far above McDonald’s hamburgers!

9. What are your hobbies?

Besides bike riding, my husband and I love restoring and renovating our old Victorian house and entertaining guests in it!

10. What is your hidden talent?

I rowed in the Head of the Charles regatta in 2014, which is an international rowing race that happens in October on the Charles River. We came in last place but it was a lot of fun to be competing against such skilled rowers!

11. What would people never guess you do in your role?

They would never guess that I do most of my reviewing of papers and lesson planning on the train to and from Worcester. It’s my second office!

Student Experience: Current CELOP Student Shi Luo shares her experience touring the Fraunhofer Center for Sustainable Energy Systems

December 18th, 2017 in Highlight.

By Shi Luo

All I knew about green building are just concepts from books and the Internet until we made our class trip to the Fraunhofer Center for Sustainable Energy Systems (CSE). After this tour, everything about green building became vivid to me. Fraunhofer CSE, according to their website, is “an applied research and development laboratory dedicated to building tomorrow’s energy future.”

The building is located at 5 Channel Center Street, Boston, MA, and there is a contrast between the ancient facade and the modern décor inside. Entering the lobby, I saw beautiful LED light belts changing colors and screens on walls showing graphs. I felt like I was in a science-fiction movie. It was hard for me to imagine that such a building interior with metropolitan style was reconstructed in a brick building more than 100-year-old! This renovation was initiated and conducted by CSE by means of several sustainable technologies as well as taking full advantage of the original characters and materials.

Our guide was Dr. Kurt Roth, Director of Building Energy Systems. Dr. Roth explained their motivation for focusing on solar energy, the roles they play in green building, the range of their clientele to us and he patiently answered all our questions. Then he led us to the monitor room, in which computers showed the temperature, moisture and other data of each layer of the building. How amazing that the status of the whole building was under control and water flows used for cooling and heating could be adjusted according to the statistics! In the photovoltaic laboratory we saw different kinds of machines for testing and Dr. Roth explained to us how they worked. We were told that we were lucky because the newly-built electricity storage control center had been completed only 2 days before our visit.

The tour lasted for an hour, and this hour seemed long enough that I really learned a lot; on the other hand, it was too short because I hoped to learn even more. For the first time I realized how many difficulties had to be overcome in pursuing application of the design of green buildings. After this tour, an interesting change in me is that I find myself subconsciously looking for green signs when I enter a building.

Faculty Spotlight: A moment with…Adrianne Saltz

December 14th, 2017 in Highlight.

CELOP faculty member, Adrianne Saltz, takes a moment for an interview.

1. What aspect of your role do you enjoy the most?

It goes without saying, interaction with all kinds of people from all over the world.

2. What did you do before working at CELOP?

Well, as many of my students know, that was before the invention of electricity. I taught EFL in Barcelona, Spain, my second home, for six years.

3. Where are you from?

The moon, or, if you don’t believe that, I was born in Brooklyn.

4. Favorite thing to do in Boston?

Walk the streets, looking up, down and all around. It’s such a beautiful place.

5. If you had to eat one meal, every day for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Anything with olive oil, garlic, and/or tomatoes in it.

6. What’s your favorite TV Show?

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. He keeps me sane.

7. What is the best destination you’ve travelled to?

I don’t have one favorite.

8. Favorite restaurant in Boston?

Ditto.

9. What are your hobbies?

I love to cook, ride my bike, and do ceramics.

10. What is your hidden talent?

Not really hidden, because I have such a big mouth, but I am trilingual: English (I think), Iberian “Thpanish”, and Catalan.

11. What would people never guess you do in your role?

Sometimes we need to act as therapists or counselors, which was not taught as part of the MA in ESL. I try to do my best to help my students learn.