Instructional Components
- TOEFL preparation (internet and paper -based) and Institutional TOEFL offered three times per year (paper-based)
- Integrated academic preparation in reading, writing, listening, speaking, pronunciation and grammar
- The study of United States culture
- Computer literacy
- Development of study skills
The intensive English as a Second Language program provides individualized instruction in small classes. Dedicated professional faculty and state-of-the-art computer software make your learning experiences more effective.
ELI students on F1 visa attend class 20 hours per week. Each session is eight weeks long; there are five sessions per year. Students may attend multiple sessions. Class attendance is mandatory when class in in session for all international students with F-1 visa. ELI helps students gain confidence and academic skills necessary to transfer into academic credit classes. We accept students on many types of other visa's as long as study or enrichment is permissible. People on a tourist visa can take 10-16 hours a week of non-TOEFL enrichment ESL classes.
Typical Daily Class Schedule
Monday
- Listening
- TOEFL Reading Preparation and Discussion
Tuesday
- TOEFL Grammar for Writing
- Pronunciation and Idioms
Wednesday
- Everyday and Academic Vocabulary
- Academic Reading Skills
Thursday
- Conversation and Culture
- Writing Skills Workshop
Friday
- Grammar Through Listening and Speaking
- English in Action: Experiencing American Culture
ELI Instructors
Emily Meyers
The three big loves of Emily Meyers’ life are traveling, learning, and teaching. Although Emily grew up in the northeastern part of the United States, she has lived in eleven different places within five different countries. After completing her B.A in English and her TEFL/TESL/TESOL certification, Emily lived in Australia for a year and then she moved to China where she spent almost two years teaching English at the elementary and higher education levels. After returning from China, Emily moved to San Diego to complete her M.Ed. in TESOL where she has made a home teaching the wonderful students of San Diego and those who travel to this beautiful city. On the weekends she can be found hiking with her fiancé and grading papers at her favorite café.
Sou Lackkaty
Sou was born in Vientiane, Laos. She started her schooling in RoiEt, Thailand and continued her education in the United States. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree from San Diego State University and a Master of Arts degree from Ohio University in Linguistics with emphasis in TESOL. In 2005, Sou went to Chile as a Fulbright Fellow and worked with the Universidad de Atacama.
Sou enjoys learning and teaching languages. She speaks, reads, and writes five languages. For the past 12 years, Sou has taught ESL and various other subjects with the San Diego Community College District in San Diego, California, The Northern Jiaotong University in Beijing, China, Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, and Universidad de Atacama in Copiapo, Chile. Currently, Sou is a part-time instructor with MiraCosta College and UCSD's ELI Program.
It is Sou's love for continued/lifetime learning and interest in peoples, places, languages, cultures, and customs that has motivated her to want to share this love and interest with others. Sou hopes to continue her lifelong "dream job" as a teacher who shares and inspires her students for the love of learning; the love of knowledge.
Zakia Farouq
Zakia was born in Kabul, Afghanistan and moved to the United States in May of 1981. She speaks Farsi, English, and Spanish. As an ESL student, Ms. Farouq attended elementary, middle, and high school in New York. Receiving her BS and Master’s in TESOL from St.John's University, she began teaching ESL at Long Island City High School in Astoria, Queens where she coordinated the Saturday institute which emphasized essay writing in preparation for the New York State Regents Examination.
In August of 2001, she moved to San Diego and has been a special education teacher, a reading instructor, and an ESL instructor at Palomar and MiraCosta Colleges. Zakia says, “I love teaching especially because I was in my student's seat once. I can relate to the hardships that my students feel and go through everyday because I went through the same struggles. My goal is to help each individual student be able to reach his or her dreams. I am very enthusiastic about helping my ESL students be as successful as they can be in college and whatever path they may choose to pursue for their future or their career.”
Kristin Maccarrone
Kristin Maccarrone has a Masters Degree in Human Behavior and is certified in TEFL. She taught Corporate English in Italy for four years. In addition to teaching English, she teaches Beginning French Conversation and Beginning Italian Conversation for Community Services. She is a Certified Mediator for the San Diego Court system. She enjoys gardening, cooking, and international travel.
Carla Stoner
Carla was born and raised in San Diego, has a B.A. in English and a Certificate in Applied Linguistics from SDSU; an Adult Ed. Teaching Certificate and an A.A. from Grossmont College. She’s been teaching ESL at MiraCosta College since 1998 through the Community Learning Center and the E.L.I. since 2012. Carla has also taught at Grossmont Adult Ed., San Dieguito Adult Ed. and Correctional Ed. Carla also worked in engineering at Pacific Bell for 18 years before discovering the joy of teaching English to second language learners. She says that learning about other cultures through her wonderful students has completely changed and enriched her life. She enjoys her family, the outdoors and surfing.
Cassandra Govan
Cassandra Govan is an experienced, dedicated teacher who has taught many students in different schools throughout the US. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, earned a Masters degree in Education, and is certified as an English as a Second Language (ESL) instructor. She first began teaching ESL to elementary school students in Richmond, Virginia, before transitioning to teaching adults in Silver Spring, Maryland at MedTech Institute. Then her Alma Mater, Virginia Commonwealth University, hired her as an ESL instructor where she taught for four years, also aiding the program in getting full accreditation from the Commission on English Language Program Accreditation. She is currently residing in Oceanside, California teaching ESL in MiraCosta’s English Language Institute. She also teaches ESL to the non-English speaking parents of Torrey Hills Elementary school students. She is passionate about teaching and is devoted to helping her students reach their highest potential.
