Lee Center for English Language and Learning kicks off another semester
Photo by Rhianna Barrow.
In early February, the Center for English Language and Literacy restarted its weekly classes, inviting English learners of all ages to come together.
With classes taught by Lee students since 2011, program attendees come from Cleveland and the greater Chattanooga area to improve their language skills.
Director of CELL Dr. Chris Blake said any level of English proficiency learners have prior to attending is welcomed and encouraged at CELL.
“CELL is not your typical English class as you have experienced before with lecture and homework,” said Blake. “[Learners] are going to be using English in an authentic way.”
Before COVID-19, the organization served anywhere from 130-150 people on Thursday nights. Now, following last semester’s rebrand of the former English Language Center, classes were expanded.
Courses on Tuesday nights help students with reading and writing, while Thursday nights work towards speaking and listening. Part of this new literacy initiative stems from a recent grant CELL received from the Dollar General Literacy Foundation.
“It took months of research and preparation to get the program up and running,” said Director of Literacy and Master of Arts in Teaching graduate student Veronica Hodge. “After this first semester, I’m excited to continue to polish the experience for our students.”
Student teachers have spent the first two weeks of the spring semester preparing for opening night, assigning roles and making lesson plans as they look to jump back in.
Senior English education major Trevor Arrowood spent two semesters during his time at Lee working for CELL. “It was so cool to be able to teach these people English, but just the camaraderie that would happen from week to week,” Arrowood said. “It was so special and a part of Cleveland I wouldn’t get to know otherwise.”
For more information about CELL, contact Chris Blake at cblake@leeuniversity.edu.
