OHIO - GSG: English as a Second Language

In 2016, Dr. Matthew Rosen (Assistant Professor of Anthropology) hosted workshops with GSG faculty and students to increase their familiarity with both technology-enabled education and speaking English as a Second Language (ESL).  In 2019, Dr. Greg Kessler (Professor of Instructional Technology) conducted a needs assessment of GSG’s methods of teaching English, conducted workshops on contemporary approaches to teaching English, and laid the groundwork for continued collaboration between OHIO and GSG to enhance GSG’s ESL program. 

The Ohio Program of Intensive English (OPIE) was prepared to begin online English classes with GSG in summer 2021, though the pandemic impacted and shifted plans. Since then, OPIE donated 10 large boxes of ESL books to GSG College. Professor Kalyani Bompilwar of GSG College commented that the books will be “extremely helpful to students. We can keep them in Central library or in the department.” The book donation initiative was organized by OPIE Director Dr. Gerry Krzic and Betsy and Briju Thankachan, who relocated from Athens to Umarkhed during fall 2021. Krzic comments, “Once Betsy and Briju settle into their new surroundings at GSG College, we hope to start our online ESL classes with their assistance.”