Studying English, Enjoying a Boston Summer – Just 22 Years Apart

in Global Matters
October 2nd, 2024

Tangier followed in her mother Leli Chen’s footsteps at CELOP

When Leli Chen studied at CELOP 22 years ago little did she know that her daughter, Tangier Lai, would end up following a similar path. Tangier, who participated in CELOP’s EducationUSA Academy, enjoyed the program and says she improved her English language skills as well as her interpersonal skills. She also learned about the process and requirements for applying to colleges in the U.S.

“I learned how to cooperate with other people and how to overcome challenges,” she says while reflecting on her academics and the experience of living in the Warren Towers residence hall with other international students this past summer. Although the program is short – just three weeks – it packs in many valuable workshops, activities, tours, and class time studying English. It also focuses on innovation and entrepreneurship, with students learning the vocabulary and concepts associated with business.

CELOP Senior Lecturer Carol Piñeiro taught both Leli and Tangier, and though they participated in different programs, feels great pride in seeing students come to CELOP generation after generation, as Leli and Tangier have done.

“The story of Leli and her daughter Tangier is not uncommon to CELOP,” says Maria Arruda, Managing Director of CELOP.  “Last summer we hosted a student from Vietnam whose brother and father also attended CELOP at one point. I think what’s unique to this story is that Leli and her daughter were taught by the same wonderful teacher, Carol.”

“I have taught at CELOP for more than 40 years, and it’s gratifying to know that the students one teaches go on to become successful professionals, which means they’re eventually able to send their children to CELOP to study,” Piñeiro says. “In general, the younger generation is much savvier about social media. Facebook was just starting 20 years ago, when Leli was a student. The advancements in technology have changed the ways students present information. Tangier’s class was very quick to gather information and put images, sound, and video together in a pleasing and professional way.”

Tangier thought about one of her favorite assignments that Piñeiro gave the class. “We had to write a personal statement,” Tangier explains. “Carol asked us to think deeply about our own story. I thought about my academic achievements in science debates in Taiwan.”

An 11^th grader at Chang-Hua girl’s senior high school in Taiwan, Tangier developed a strong interest in science at an early age and excels in a gifted student program for math and science. She hopes to major in physics and perhaps earn a master’s degree in the future.

Piñeiro delights in saying, “Tangier is as motivated as her mother was when she came to Boston to do a graduate degree two decades ago.”

Tangier hopes to be accepted to a U.S. college or university and has visited many different states over the years with her family. Tangier agrees with her mother’s outlook that “everyone who comes here [to the U.S.], comes with their own perspective, and we are all a bit different – and that’s the best takeaway.”

When Leli first came to the U.S. and Boston University, she was earning her second graduate degree and was accepted to the Master of Science in Public Relations program. At CELOP, before she started her graduate degree, Leli took a class in media studies with Piñeiro along with other graduates who had been accepted to the College of Communication.

“The main focus was on improving listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills in order to navigate the area they had chosen, like public relations in Leli’s case,” explains Piñeiro. “The students put a lot of effort into the course and felt more prepared for their graduate study by the end of their time with CELOP.”

Reflecting on her experience, Leli says, “I really liked the way CELOP educated us and helped us…they knew we were not young students and that we had experience.”

Leli and her fellow students learned about citations and how to create presentations. She describes it as intensive but helpful, and she credits the program with helping her kick off her successful time at BU and keeping pace with other students in the graduate program.

After BU, Leli moved back to Shanghai and worked at the award-winning global public relations consultancy firm Edelman PR and then eventually moved back to Taiwan, where she and her husband are raising their two daughters.

“I remember Leli being a motivated and enthusiastic participant in class, ready to discuss the topic on the table and always a team player,” says Piñeiro. “I think Leli has raised her daughter to be like her, eager to participate in academic life and engage in the quest for knowledge, no matter where it takes her.”

Arruda adds that as CELOP looks ahead to its 50^th year anniversary in 2025, highlighting special alumni stories like that of Leli and Tangier’s will be a focus.