Jorge, Ivonne, and Martha had one shared goal: improving their English. The Rojas Rumilla siblings made studying at the Rice University Intensive English Program “a family thing”. For Jorge Rojas Rumilla, the first of the siblings to enroll in our program, English is the most important language to learn. A development and sales professional, he thinks people need to speak more than one language in a globalized world. He compared over ten ESL programs, and the Intensive English Program at Rice University stood out for him due to its affiliation to one of the top universities in the U.S. and its informative website. It didn’t hurt that the program is located in Houston, Texas, an easy two-hour flight from his native Puebla, Mexico. In the fall of 2018, he moved with his family to Houston so he could study English.
Jorge was impressed with his classes and the joy his teachers took in their job. His family was impressed with Houston’s parks, malls, museums and the food diversity. (One of the most diverse cities in the U.S., Houston boasts a famously varied and vibrant food scene.) But for Jorge, the most memorable aspect of his experience was the multicultural exchange in his classes. In his class alone, there were 8 countries represented. He says that the communication that happened in class transcended language and national borders. People who share the same objective often create an instant connection.
One year later, when Jorge’s sisters decided it was time for them to polish their English skills, they did not have to look for a program, since their brother had already found “the best ESL program in Texas”. Just as Jorge had done a year earlier, Ivonne and Martha came from Puebla with their families to study in our Intensive English Program.
Ivonne is a lawyer. She says that learning English had been a personal challenge since she was in college. Having spent many summers in Houston, she jumped at the opportunity to come and study in the Intensive English Program at Rice. After eight months in our program, she says that she can communicate in English with more confidence and fluency. An unexpected result of studying in our program was that the teachers’ enthusiasm for teaching motivated her to study education and become a teacher herself. Besides learning English and discovering a new vocation, she gained much insight from her fellow students from over 25 different countries. “Houston is one of my favorite cities. It is one of the most multicultural cities in the United States.” For Ivonne, being exposed to that many cultures has been a very valuable opportunity. “It opens up the world and helps you as a human being to always listen, tolerate, love and accept others.” Ivonne says this has been one of the most beautiful and enriching experiences for her and her family. Sharing the same goal with her sister and being able to undertake this adventure together, made it that much more unforgettable.
Martha has a bachelor’s degree in international relations and an MBA. She used to work as a master production planner at Cadbury Adams, a gum and candy transnational company. Her dream is to earn a master’s degree in Global Affairs from Rice University. She came to the Intensive English Program at Rice to get ready to pursue graduate studies. Her experience in our program fulfilled her high expectations, as it helped her develop her speaking, writing and grammar skills, and improve her pronunciation as well. Besides the language skills she developed, Martha learned about the American culture in her classes and that helped in her adaptation process. “Now I am really prepared to study in the U.S. I feel so happy to have chosen Rice. The teachers are passionate and excellent, the campus is amazing and all the staff are always willing to help. Everyone makes you feel at home.” After completing the program, Martha had to return to Mexico, but she plans to come back to the U.S. to pursue her dream. While she is in Mexico, she will be teaching international relations at the University of the Americas Puebla. “I leave with my heart full of great memories and my brain full of knowledge and everything that I experienced at Rice. Everything is perfect. The group size, the extracurricular activities, the teachers, people from other parts of the world: everything enriches your learning experience.”
Two years ago, the Glasscock School of Continuing Studies, of which the Intensive English Program is a part, launched the Faces of Impact webpage. Its mission is to highlight the ways in which individual students, instructors, staff, and other school constituents make an impact in our community. Both Ivonne and Martha were chosen to be featured as part of this group of impact makers. They still grace the webpage with their smiling faces and a brief comment on how they have made an impact in our community of language learners. The Intensive English Program at Rice made an impact on the Rojas Rumilla siblings, and Jorge, Ivonne and Martha each undoubtedly made an impact on the program as well.
