DEARBORN —Could Henry Ford ever have imagined that the college bearing his name would one day be the gathering place for over 70 nationalities, all with one goal in mind: learning proficiency in English? Ford, whose father was an Irish immigrant, would be proud of Henry Ford Community College’s (HFCC) English Language Institute (ELI), a program designed to meet the needs of foreign students wishing to speak English.

 The English Language Institute, located in L-142 of the Liberal Arts Building, offers intensive, year round instruction in English and opportunities for students  to learn about American culture and how to prepare for college admissions tests such as the SAT.

 The Center opened in 2001 and now reaches 300-400 foreign students a semester, according to Institute Director Dr. Mary Assel. The institute strives to improve student language skills in four key areas:  listening, speaking, reading and writing.

 First-time ELI students take an assessment test. Based on the test results, students are placed in one of the six class levels of instruction. Although ELI classes do not offer college credit, students enrolled in level five or six are permitted to take regular college classes at HFCC. The program has hundreds of success stories.

 For example, Youssef Barakat was a pharmacist working in Lebanon when he decided to come to America six years ago. He said CVS is interested in hiring him, but he must first pass the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Now in his third semester at ELI, he is almost ready to take the test and start a new career.

 “I’m good as a writer of English,” Barakat said, but added that pronunciation “is my weakness. I found a big improvement in my pronunciation taking classes at ELI.”

 Christina Huebner, an immigrant from Germany, has been in the United States only two months. Once in America, she enrolled at ELI and is making remarkable progress. She, too, has trouble with English pronunciation.

 “I’m improving my English every day,” she explained.  “American slang and tongue twisters are especially hard to learn,” she added.

 Ghofran Mohsen came to America four years ago. As a school girl growing up in Iraq, she learned English from British instructors. Now enrolled at ELI, she hopes to improve her pronunciation of American English. She taught physics while living in Iraq, but now wants to find work in the medical field.

 ELI Director Assel stresses the importance of pronunciation. “Learning to write is essential but not as important as the speaking part of English. We have had foreign doctors from Oakwood come take classes at ELI, primarily to improve their English pronunciation,” she said.

In addition to language instruction, students receive information about American culture. Assel said teachers make a point of “clarifying the differences between a student’s home culture and American culture. Students need to know that maintaining eye contact with the speaker is important in America.”

 The Institute had 480 students enrolled for fall 2010. The numbers fluctuate, but are currently near their peak. However, the Institute did not initially enjoy such great popularity.

 There were just 40 students enrolled in ELI during its first semester in the fall of 2001. But the day after the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, the enrollment figure dropped to nine. Many of the Middle East students withdrew from the program out of fear, Assel explained.

 “Parents were afraid for their children,” she said. “Many students not only left the college, they left the country and returned home,” she added.

 Nine years later, ELI is flourishing and helping hundreds of students each semester. Recently, ELI began to offer courses online, a resource that provides a new avenue through which students can learn English and about American culture. However, the bulk of the classes are taught traditionally.

 To learn more about the English Language Institute, visit //www.hfcc.edu/programs or contact Dr. Mary Assel at 313.317.1556 or via e-mail at massel@hfcc.net.