BE Demographics Update - Summer 2008

Since Summer of 2005, we have had students from 109 countries in the Basic English program.

For this term ( Summer 2008), here is the distribution of origins of our students, based on their responses to in-class surveys.

Africa 63%
Asia 12.7%
Europe (except Spain) 4.2%
Spanish-speaking countries 16.4%
Middle East 2.1%
Other 1.6%

# of responses = 189

If we compare Summer 2007 and Summer 2008, we see the following changes in our student population:

	SU 07	SU 08	Change
Africa	50.8%	63.0%	+ 12.2%
Asia	9.6%	12.7%	+ 3.1%
Europe (except Spain)	2.7%	4.2%	+ 1.5%
Spanish-speaking countries	30.5%	16.4%	- 14.1%
Middle East	3.7%	2.1%	-1.6%
Other	2.7%	1.6%	-1.1%
# of responses	187	189

Only time will tell if this is a one-time occurrence or if there is a real shift in our population going on.

The answer to the question “Do you have a job? If so, do you work full-time or part-time?” also yielded some interesting information when compared to last summer quarter.

	SU 07	SU 08	Change
Full-time	47.8%	37.8%	-10.0%
Part-time	18.4%	18.5%	+ 0.1%
No	33.8%	43.7%	+ 9.9%
# of responses	157	135

Other information from the in-class surveys for Summer 2008 ...

AGE

• Youngest student: 19 years old
• Oldest student: 65 years old
• Average age: 32.1 years old

TIME in the U.S.

• Shortest time: 4 days
• Longest time: 13 years
• Average time: 4.1 years

Current pay rate

Instructors --
Just as a reminder, your pay rate for the 2008-2009 year is $21.53 per hour.

Testing schedule – Summer 2008

Basic English 4

Beverly’s class (8:00 – 9:30) Thursday, Sept. 4

Beverly’s class (9:30 – 12:30) Thursday, Sept. 4

Shelly’s class (1:00 – 4:00) Saturday, Sept. 6

Shelly’s class (5:30 – 8:30) Thursday, Sept. 4

Basic English 5

Manning’s class (8:00 – 9:30) Thursday, Sept. 4

Beverly’s class (9:30 – 12:30) Wednesday, Sept. 3

Tafsir’s class (1:00 – 4:00) Saturday, Sept. 6

Tafsir’s class (6:00 – 8:00) Wednesday, Sept. 3

Basic Writing 1 (9:30 – 12:30) Wednesday, Sept. 3

Basic Writing 2 (9:30 – 12:30) Thursday, Sept. 4

Ramadan begins Sept. 2, 2008

The Islamic holy month of Ramadan will begin on Sept. 2. Muslims who observe Ramadan do not eat or drink between sunrise and sunset until the celebration of Eid al Fitr, which takes place on Oct. 2.

The first week of Ramadan is often challenging for students as they become accustomed to not eating or drinking (or smoking, if they are smokers) during the day. Depending on the time of the class, students may need to take a brief break for prayer. Furthermore, if you have a class that is in progress at the time of sunset, be aware that your Muslim students should be able to take a brief break to pray and break their fast. There is no problem with students eating or drinking in class (except in a computer lab!), as long as they do it without disturbing other students.

BE testing procedures

Please read this information carefully.

For security purposes, all tests will be kept in my office.

ALL DAYTIME instructors -- Come to my office to pick up the tests you need. If I'm not in, Kimberly, Suzanne, Stacy and Thelma all have a key to my office.

Basic English 1, 2 and 3 EVENING and WEEKEND instructors -- I will leave tests in a sealed envelope in your mailboxes.

Basic English 4 and 5 EVENING and WEEKEND instructors -- Be sure to come to my office BEFORE the date of your test to pick up the tests you need. If I'm not in, Kimberly, Suzanne, Stacy and Thelma all have a key to my office.

Tests for BE4, BE5 and Writing 1 & 2 have now been sorted correctly. (Sorry about last term, folks...). Here are the tests and test sections that should be used for each class.

Basic English 4
Test: 9E Survey (Tests are labeled Set B.)
Section: Reading -- pages 1 - 15

Basic English 5
Test: 9E Complete Battery (Tests are labeled Set C.)
Section: Reading -- pages 1 - 19

Basic Writing 1 and Basic Writing 2
Test: 10 E Complete Battery (Tests are labeled Set A.)
Section: Language -- pages 45 - 58

CALENDAR: August - September, 2008

AUGUST
13 Time cards due for period of 8/1 - 8/15
14 Hawa Jibril poetry reading and book introduction at CSCC!
15 Electronic time entry due for period of 8/1 - 8/15
15 Seth's birthday
15 Patty V's birthday
21 Jan W's birthday
28 Time cards due for period of 8/16 - 8/31
31 Electronic time entry due for period of 8/16 - 8/31

SEPTEMBER
01 Labor Day. No classes; all campus offices will be closed.
02 Basic English Summer classes end this week.
02 Ramadan begins. (Islam)
06 Beverly's birthday
12 Time cards due for period of 9/1 - 9/15
15 Electronic time entry due for period of 9/1 - 9/15
16 Independence Day (Mexico)
17 Citizenship Day (U.S.)
29 Basic English Autumn classes begin this week.
29 Time cards due for period of 9/16 - 9/30
30 Electronic time entry due for period of 9/16 - 9/30
30 Rosh Hashanah (Judaism)

Observations

Each term I will come around and do brief observations of instructors and classes -- so don't be surprised if you see me come and sit in the back of your class for a while!