Like many ESOL students, Shifaa H. already holds a university degree from her home country, bringing a strong academic background to ACC. With a Bachelor of Science in Physics from Sinjar, Iraq, Shifaa now aims to continue her education and pursue a master’s degree, with long-term goals of becoming a business manager.

A member of the Yazidi community and a native speaker of the Kurmanji Kurdish dialect, Shifaa also speaks Arabic. She is studying English as her third language. During her first semester in the ESOL Program, Shifaa enrolled in Oral Communication 1 and Reading Vocabulary 1. Over just a few months, she reports making meaningful progress and feeling more capable of expressing her ideas clearly and effectively, whether asking a salesperson a question in a store or navigating daily interactions.

Shifaa emphasizes how valuable it would have been to start the ESOL Program sooner. She notes that ESOL classes provide a foundation for developing grammar, reading, speaking, and writing skills, and that what has really helped her is consistent language practice through both in-class participation and self-directed practice outside of class. She recommends “…surrounding yourself with a variety of English sources to help improve the learning process, such as watching English tutorials, movies, and even listening to English songs.”

Outside of class, Shifaa reads to strengthen her English. She’s active and enjoys road trips, walking, and working out. Her advice to fellow ESOL students is simple and direct: “Always improve—never give up!”

Shifaa’s Oral Communication 1 instructor, Professor Jesser, remarks, “What makes Shifaa stand out is her warmth and her ability to connect with people.  She always has a smile and a greeting for everyone.  She likes to stay after class to tell me about her life back in her homeland and to show me pictures.  She’s a perfect ambassador for her culture!  She really is the beating heart of our class.  Thank you, Shifaa, for your positive and friendly attitude!”