60 for 60: Center for the Global Learner fosters intercultural understanding

In celebration of Durham Technical Community College’s 60th anniversary, the College is publishing 60 for 60 – a storytelling campaign that highlights the people, places, and events that have progressed and shaped the College’s six decades of impact. To view more 60 for 60 stories, visit www.durhamtech.edu/60for60.   

What started as an opportunity to serve the growing Latinx population in North Carolina, now serves students from countries all over the world that come to Durham Tech to pursue their academic and professional goals.  

“Before the Center for the Global Learner existed, several college employees worked on international issues and initiatives, but collaboration occurred in social contexts rather than as a deliberate strategy. The creation of the CGL gave these employees a much stronger opportunity for daily direct communication and stronger collaboration,” said Karin Abell, Director of English as a Second Language at Durham Tech. 

The Center for the Global Learner was established in Fall 2009 to support Durham Tech’s vision of fostering intercultural understanding and the development of engaged global citizens.  

Prior to the creation of the Center for the Global Learner, Durham Tech implemented two Spanish-English interpretation certificates: Community Spanish Facilitator and Medical Spanish Facilitator during the 2002-2003 academic year. Both aimed to help facilitate oral and written communications between Spanish and English speakers in the workforce environment. 

The demand for interpretation courses began to increase, which led to more opportunities at the College and the Center grew significantly.   

When the Center was established, it offered the following programs and services: 

• English as a Second Language (ESL) 
• Beyond Basic ESL 
• English for Academic Purposes (EAP) 
• English Language and Culture Immersion 
• Community Spanish Interpreter 
• International Student Serivces 
• Hispanic Community Engagement 
• Study/Travel Abroad 
• English for Workforce Development 
• Customized Tutoring 

“We continue to offer the ESL program and international student services. We expanded the Continuing Education courses for non-native English speakers, and we now offer a comprehensive program that focuses on academic English-language skills. We have a robust interpretation/translation department that now offers two diplomas and two certificates,” said Constanza Gomez-Joines, Executive Director of the Center for the Global Learner. 

The Center provides resources to students with diverse backgrounds and focuses on outreach, engagement, and support in the Hispanic, immigrant, and refugee community. 

In 2005, the Center offered their first study abroad trip and has since traveled to Chile, Mexico, Peru, Argentina, Uruguay, Ecuador, Dominican Republic, Cuba, Jamaica, Ghana, United Kingdom, Nicaragua, and Thailand.  

“Traveling abroad brings you out of your comfort zone. It will also highlight some of the things we take for granted here in the US,” said Samuel Payton, Associate in Science Student, who traveled to Nicaragua through a study abroad program in 2018. 

Students participating in travel abroad opportunities can gain broader perspectives, experience different cultures, and attain travel experience. 

The Center also assists students with visas, DACA status, and undocumented students.  

In 2013, International Student Services began to offer I-20 visa documents to students who were applying abroad and wanted to study at the College.  

“The CGL provides a vast arena of programs that can help students master the skills required to succeed in academia. The program caters to the needs of students from different walks and wards of academia by offering various courses through ESL, BBESL, and EAP,” said Yashpreet Kaur, English for Academic Purposes/Continuing Education for Non-Native English Speakers Instructor.  

Farwa Shah, English Language Pathways Coordinator at Durham Tech, said students should take advantage of the variety of programs and courses that CGL offers with the aim to empower them by helping to develop their language, academic and professional skills. 

The Center has several new initiatives in the works, including new courses, new partnerships, and camps for students. 

“No matter what language or financial needs or backgrounds students have, they can be rest assured that the CGL has something to offer in order to prepare them for the growing and reviving market in North Carolina and beyond. By offering different courses to address not only students’ language skills but also cognitive ones, CGL is committed to see the students succeed and well-prepared for the community,” said Anita Ghajar-Selim, English for Academic Purposes/Continuing Education instructor.  

The Center for the Global Learner also partners with Durham Public Schools to train their bilingual interpreters, creates MOU’s with other colleges to provide English pathways, and partners with Sister Cities of Durham to promote cultural immersion programs. 

Visit the Center for the Global Learner website to learn more.

Read a CGL success story here: Looking to solve industry issues, three Honduran dentists seek new knowledge at Durham Tech | The Insider

For more information, contact Desiree Towson, M.S., Communications and Public Relations Coordinator, at allisontowsond@durhamtech.edu