Hear what past students have to say... 

It's been almost 10 years since I got into the Gainesville State College ESL program. Time really flies. At first, I didn't like Gainesville at all because it's so boring. There wasn’t anything that I could do at night except go to Waffle House. Meanwhile, at first, I thought ESL classes were too easy for me since I'd been using English for school back in Hong Kong. However, later on, I realized that my English was just “Chinglish” (Chinese + English). The ESL program definitely helped me a lot in improving my English proficiency.  The ESL program at Gainesville State College is fun at the same time. All the professors were really nice and patient so that I started to like Gainesville. Without the Gainesville ESL program, I believe I couldn’t even speak proper English at all. This program definitely helps students in improving their English standard in every aspect. I strongly recommend the ESL program at Gainesville State College.    中文版  > >

Billy Wong
BA in International Business, University of Georgia, 2007
Most Outstanding Traditional Student at Gainesville State College, 2004

When I first came to college, I thought I was ready to take the world in my hands. I thought I was ready to succeed. It was painful to find out that, in fact, I needed to improve my reading and writing skills to continue with all the plans I had. At first, I felt bad for having to take ESL classes. Soon, I realized that many of my friends took those classes as well. Having to take the ESL courses taught me that it is OK to need help in certain subject areas as long as one has the desire to do their best and move on. Today, I feel thankful for having taken those courses. Yes, it was time consuming to read novels and write essays, but if it wasn’t for those courses and that time spent, I would have totally failed my regular courses given that most classes are based on how capable you are of writing and doing research. One of the most rewarding things that one can take from ESL is knowing that the professors care for our success and that we can still count on them even after we go on to take regular courses.    En español >>

Cendy Vera
Early Childhood Education Major, Gainesville State College
Goizueta Scholar

The English as a Second Language (ESL) program at Gainesville State College made it easy for me to transition from high school to college. Not only because it prepared me academically for the challenges ahead, but because it also provided me with friendships and lifelong relationships that have supported me throughout my post-secondary education. The relaxed atmosphere in every class and the patience and dedication of the professors gave me the confidence that I needed to be successful in every one of my classes.  En español >>

Gabriel Vega
MS, Civil Engineering, GA Tech
BS, Civil Engineering, GA Tech
AS, Civil Engineering, Gainesville State College
Most Outstanding Traditional Student, 2006, Gainesville State College