Fiorella Santos Saenz

Posted on Wednesday, July 6th, 2016

How did you learn about the dual credit program? Who did you complete your application with?

I went to talk with my guidance counsellor and I was asking if I could do anything to help with my English and improve my English. I was in ESL. She told me that there was a dual credit course that they offer at Algonquin. I took ESL at Algonquin. She completed my application with me.

Fiorella Santos Saenz

Did you attend an orientation session? What did you find most helpful about orientation?

Yes, I attended orientation, at the beginning of August. I really liked it. I was nervous, even though I knew it wasn’t going to be that hard. Some of the students were saying it wasn’t that hard.

Did you think you were you prepared for the course?

It was worth going because I was less nervous the first day. They teach us how to use our accounts (Blackboard) and what benefits we have using our student card and all that.

Do you think the dual credit was a good fit?

I think it was for me. I learned a lot of stuff that I didn’t learn at ESL in high school. I think it was really helpful because we worked a lot on the essay part. Right now we are doing essays in my class. It was really helpful.

I was supposed to take Grade 11 this year, but because I want to graduate this year they told me I had to do Grade 12. I had an option to take ESL here at my high school or one at college. It allowed me to take the Grade 12 credit here.

Did you require any accommodations? Were your needs meet?

I was taking a math class here at my high school and I was missing the class twice a week because I was at my dual credit, so I needed someone to teach me math. I got some math help. I got it at the college.

How was transportation?

I took the bus. I used to miss my bus by a few minutes or seconds and would have to wait half an hour.

How comfortable were you with the technology aspect of the course?

I think I was OK. I didn’t bring any tech to class besides my phone. I can’t carry too much stuff with me or I lose everything! I was able to manage.

What were the greatest differences between high school and college?

The teacher explained the differences between High school and college at the beginning before the assessments. I think it was good. I got used to it. Maybe the first assignment was hard for me. I didn’t know how the teacher would correct me. He explained how it worked, but I wasn’t sure. It was more like an English thing for me. The second and third time I was getting better.

If you needed to communicate with your College instructor, what was the best way?

Some days I could stay for extra help for a few minutes and my college instructor was really helpful. He was really understanding. He was available through email.

Challenges?

I was missing classes here at high school. Coming from college to high school was really hard with the transportation. I would prefer to do attend the dual credit program after lunch here because it’s easier to get into the class and avoid missing high school classes.

Suggestions?

I’d suggest having the classes later in the day. In the morning, I had no problem getting there, but the only problem was going from the college back to my high school. I would sometimes miss half a period here. The teachers sometimes don’t give any extra help. I have to find help myself.

I was able to manage. I got some help from the college, too.

I finished dual credit program and I didn’t have time to go back and talk to the person in the dual credit office. I didn’t really have the time to go back and ask. I heard that they were giving out a certificate that said you finished, but I wasn’t sure when and how I could get it. I still don’t know.

Would you recommend that other students take a dual credit? Why or why not?

Yes. It’s very helpful. I feel like it’s another experience, more than just the classroom. Here, you get the ESL teacher giving you an assignment and they give you a month. During that month, you’re practicing other stuff, not the essay— you don’t do it in the class. At college, they give you an assignment to do for two days. Over those two days, the teacher is available for you, helps you, talks to you, corrects your mistakes and gives you tips for getting better.

What do you hope to do once you’ve graduated from High School?

I’m planning to go to university for psychology. If not, I’ll take a course at the college. I got accepted into university; I’m just not sure if it’s the right thing to do.

Last say/best advice

Ask the teacher to leave 30 minutes before the class, if you need to leave early. If there is something more important going on, talk to the teacher. At the beginning of the year, I talked to the teacher and let him know my situation, and he was understanding and helped me a lot.

I am really thankful to have had the chance to do that class. I went to many schools and this was the best school I had an opportunity to do that kind of thing at.

I find it really helpful besides the transportation being hard and missing classes a bit. But I really liked it.

• Posted in
• Current Students Integrated Suburban