Image provided by: Clackamas Community College; Oregon City, OR
About The Clackamas print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1989-2019 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 15, 2000)
b Feature WedNEsdAy, N ovemòer I?, 2000 Clackamas student advances in MAGGIE JIRASEK Feature Co-Edit or Konstantina Nikolopoulos, “Tina” to her friends, credits Clackamas’ English as a Sec ond Language Department, and Don Shula’s Tutorial Services program, with a whole new di rection in her life. Nikolopoulos, born and raised in Germany by a Greek father and Kroatian mother, came to the United States in 1999 for a vacation, but her plans shifted when she visited Portland, home to David Medill, whom she had known in Germany for almost 15 years before his return to the States in 1997. “My plan was to travel around for some time. I came to the U.S. to visit an old friend but then things happened and we got married, so I decided to start a new life here in Oregon,” explained Nikolopoulos. Not knowing the language, or having friends besides Medill, life was lonelier than Nikolopoulos had imagined. “I did not speak any English and everything was new to me. Soon I became very unhappy and I got homesick,” she re- called. “Most of the time, I was just hiding in my apartment.” Already proficient in both German and Greek, Nikolopoulos set out to learn English. Home movies were a big help, because she could pause the video and her hus band would translate for her. Then Nikolopoulos heard about the English as a Second Language program at Clackamas. “I heard that they offer a spe- "I want to moti vate students struggling as I was struggling," Tina Nikolopoulos student cial program for people with English as a second language. I started in summer of 1999 but before the term was over, I had to go back to Germany for a short period of time,” said Nikolopoulos. When returning to Oregon, Nikolopoulos realized how much she loved being part of the ESL program and she re turned to Clackamas. “I kept on thinking about the nice people here at Clackamas and I wanted to improve my English, so I came back and my classes went even better,” said Nikolopoulos. Lori Hartill, ESL instructor,- considers Nikolopoulos an as set to her advanced reading and writing class. “Tina is really a joy to have' in class, because she is very well-read—and she’s not afraid to speak out,” Hartill said. While looking one day for the German Club, Nikolopoulos found instead German Instruc tor Djck Stones. They visited, speaking German together, and Stones was so impressed with Nikolopoulos’ literacy and Ger man enunciation that he sug gested she consider tutoring his German language students. Today, he could not be more pleased. “Tina has probably been the most outgoing and available tutor we’ve ever had,” he re marked. “Her patience, her friendly demeanor, her perky personality and knowledge of the German language makes her an ideal tutor. The students re ally like her.” Much to the delight of Don Shula, head of Tutorial Ser vices at Clackamas, Nikolopoulos has become a very sought-after and dedi cated tutor. “I love being a tutor,” she re TI je ClAckAMAs P rint as she tutors German MIKE POLLOCK / Clackamas Print Tina Nikolopoulos, involved in the ESL program at Clackamas and a German tutor, immigrated to the United States in 1999. marked. “The tutoring program at CCC provides students with an alternative tool for learning without any cost. Everybody who needs help or just wants to improve is eligible for a tu tor. It’s also a great opportu nity for people who enjoy help ing others to become tutors. I want to motivate students struggling as 1 was struggling. It is very, very hard to immi grate into a different culture. But as much as I love my stu dents, there is a selfish reason for tutoring. It improves my language skills and I meet new, interesting people. In my opin ion, tutoring is one of the most beneficial programs at Clackamas.” Both her instructors and her students inspire Nikolopoulos to continue on the path she has discovered at Clackamas. “After I’m done with the ESL program, I would like to start work ing on a degree in foreign lan guages— and of course continue tutoring German. I am thinking about either working as a teacher or a translator some day,” ex plained Nikolopoulos. “I finally found a way to settle down and feel happy again and I would like to thank everyone here at the col lege who has helped me and made such a great impact on my life.” BIOLOGY . SECONDARY EDUCATION . MARKETING • SOCIAL STUDIES. TOCUS ON YOUR CAREER MIKE POLLOCK / Clackamas Print I German club officers, front from left: Phil Harris (vice president, | finance), Brian Petro (president). Back from left: Kara Meadows ■ (treasurer), Rebecca Baker (secretary), Rachel Shanks (vice ■ president, publicity). ¡German club raffles ¡dinner at Gustav's I I I Feature Co-Editor I I The German Club and its I newly-named officers have be I gun the new school year with a I fundraiser/ticket raffle, for a $35 MAGGIE JIRASEK ■Gustav’s dinner, to help finance I the club’s annual trip to Germany Inext June. I “Our major goal this year is to | make sure that our funds provide ¡enough money to send our stu dents to Germany next year,” re- |marked Dick Stones, German in structor. I Every year, several fundraisers Sand activities are organized by "the German Club in order to help ■students visit Germany. “We are doing two raffles for ■Gustav’s and we are selling ad- Ivent calendars prior to Thanks- Igiving,” said Stones. “In the past, we have also done carl washes, food sales and candy I sales. Every student will earn] money for himself or herself.” Stones also plans to establish an endowment fund to help stu dents finance their travels and to provide scholarships for lan guage students. “I want to help the students,JI and I’m very excited about this I year. I think our new officers are | well prepared to promote our ac-1 tivities,” explained Stones. Named as officers for the 2000- 01 school year are Brian Petro, president; Phil Harris, vice presi dent (finance); Rachel Shanks, vice president (publicity); Kara Meadows, treasurer and Rebecca ■ Baker, secretary. For more information on howl to purchase raffle tickets call I Dick Stones at ext. 2392. Concordia is an accredited university recognized for quality Personal attention is given to make transfer as easy as possible Most majors include mentors and internships Merit scholarships and financial aid are available Day and evening classes Graduate with a resume as well as a degree CONNECT AT CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY 2811 NE Holman St • Portland • Oregon ■ 97^0 1-800-321-9371 ww.cu-portland.edu admissionsOcu-portlancL.edu
