When it comes to launching a life in a new country, basic language skills can speak volumes.
Lingyi ‘Lynn’ Zhou knew, in order to build a better future for her family, she’d need to start with a sturdy foundation. For the determined immigrant, who made the move from China to the United States in 2014, that meant gaining confidence, expanding her tech skills, and most critically, improving her English.
“I didn’t [have] confidence to get jobs,” Zhou reflects. “Language is a big, big barrier for me.”
That’s when Zhou learned about the abundance of opportunities at Irvine Valley College supporting non-native English-speaking students. Thanks to the noncredit Adult English as a Second Language (AESL) courses, students like Zhou can learn English at their own pace, whether they’re at a beginner, intermediate, or advanced level.
Zhou’s improved English skills are already opening doors. Having dipped a toe into IVC’s basic skills offerings, Zhou is now determined to dive into the deep end, with the ultimate goal of becoming a dental assistant.
“[As a] dental assistant, you need basic computer skills,” explains the Laser-focused student. “My computer skills were very weak.”
This realization led the self-admitted Luddite to enroll in IVC’s Computer Information Management course, where she’s learning to master computing principles essential to work as a dental assistant.
The CIM 510: Introduction to Computers and Keyboarding course presents a well-rounded introduction to the basics, including using the Windows interface, typing Word documents, composing emails, and efficiently typing on a keyboard. Thanks to the support and guidance of her Computer Information Management professor, Carolina Kussoy, Zhou is expanding on her computing knowledge every day.
“This class and teacher [are] perfect to help us use the skills and learn more about computers, especially keyboarding,” beams Zhou.
Kussoy says Zhou has always been “very motivated,” citing the student’s enthusiasm to participate in class as a stand-out quality amongst her classmates.
“She was engaged with labs, posting thoughtful questions, and working with her peers in collaborative assignments,” says the Professor.
One “memorable” activity, according to Kussoy, involved a class brainstorm session on the impact of technology on the world of education. As her group’s presenter, Lingyi’s passion and organization earned high marks from the impressed professor.
“Lingyi presented the group’s findings by describing student’s use of learning management systems like Canvas, along with leveraging Zoom to participate in online classes, and learning computer applications for accessing textbook material and assignments,” Kussoy recalls.
Now, Zhou is crushing her CIM courses and soaring through her dental assistant program. She’s hoping, with her newfound confidence, to someday level up to dental hygienist.
“I chose this dental assistant [program] because this is a hands-on class,” says Zhou. “This class can give me further space to step up.”
Dental assistants earn an average salary of $47,140 in California, according to ONET. Meanwhile, the sector is expected to grow statewide by 21 percent over the next decade, making IVC’s high-salary pathways more essential than ever. The future is bright for students like Zhou, who admits she found IVC at exactly the right time. In particular, the newly confident student credits her persistence to Kussoy’s ever-present guidance.
“She always tries her best to get our better understanding, as she uses a lot of examples until we can completely understand,” Zhou reflects.
For Kussoy’s part, Zhou’s success has been nothing short of inspiring.
“With Lingyi, success comes through in the pathway,” concludes the IVC faculty member. “In two semesters, Lingyi has been able to apply her IVC ESL and CIM courses to the dental assistant program, and her natural affinity toward helping people.”
With her experience so far at Irvine Valley College, Zhou is drawing meticulous blueprints for a limitless future. As for other non-native English-speaking students planning to attend Irvine Valley College, the confident Laser has a few words of advice: “Just step out!”
“I suggest to students, they can have more opportunity, more chances to speak English … and practice English … with people from another country or locals,” explains Zhou.
Even when she wasn’t learning English, Zhou was learning English. The dedicated student credits the CIM course as helping her feel more secure in both her fundamental English and computer skills.
“This class is very helpful for every student, especially for new immigrants,” she concludes. “I just feel [more] confident now that I took this class.”
Learn more about IVC’s noncredit Computer Information Management courses »