FAQ for Fac/Staff

ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) support for multilingual students is housed in World Languages, Cultures, & Media. Dr. Robin Rhodes is the director of ESOL and multilingual student academic support with an office in Carnegie. ESOL support involves a layered approach which offers opportunities to staff, faculty, and students in the following:

• Academic English courses for both international and domestic students who do not speak English as a preferred language. The courses are advanced academic English and focus on American culture. Dr. Rhodes also teaches courses about how to teach English as an additional language, business and language skills for the global workplace, and language and education in East Africa.
• One to one support for students (and faculty and staff!) who need assistance in English reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Please email Robin for assistance if at any point you are working with a student who is struggling with English language skills. 
• Training of WORD Studio tutors in multilingual writing pedagogy and making sure there are tutors who identify as multilingual students.
• Starfish account available to address concerns and request support. 
• Multilingual student teaching assistants for academic English courses.
• Evaluation of and recommendations for ESOL courses/support.
• Faculty and staff development on topics such as multilingual writing assessment, linguistic racism, asset-based instructional design, and more. Informational emails during International Education Week, activities during World Languages Week, and events during Diversity and Inclusion Week.
• Informational emails, instructional materials, and in-person consultations with faculty, staff, and students.
• Collaboration across campus departments to advocate for equitable design and assessment, to provide information regarding multilingual needs and programming, and to work on equity issues related to linguistic and cultural backgrounds.
• Student concerns of equity, diversity, and inclusion can be sent to Robin Rhodes, who is on the Faculty DEI committee and FYP Council. 
• Robin is also the coordinator for the Peace Corps Prep Program and on the African Studies Program Board.
• If you are unsure of any service or support related to language and culture on campus – just ask! Not all is listed here!