Four New Haven high school students will attend English Language Learner program at Yale

The Yale English Language Institute has awarded full scholarships to four New Haven high school students to attend its intensive English Language Learner program this summer, the district said in a statement.

“I am proud that these four gifted and deserving students received scholarships to sharpen their English language skills at the Yale English Language Institute,” Department of English Language Learners Programs Supervisor Pedro Mendia-Landa said, also in the statement. “These students are a sample of the talented and diverse student population that all of our schools serve. The Yale Language Institute program will provide an opportunity to excel academically and socially as they improve their English and meet students from around the world. We are greatly appreciative to Yale University for opening its doors to such a group of capable students”

The students, all juniors, are: Romuald Mbaisseroum, who attends Wilbur Cross High School and is originally from the African nation of Chad. His first language is French; Mercy Lliuichuzhca, who attends Wilbur Cross and is originally from Ecuador; Erick Valdez, who also attends Wilbur Cross and is originally from the Dominican Republic; David Perez, who attends Hillhouse High School and is originally from Mexico, the statement said.

The students will take an intensive six-week English language program, the statement said. Core subjects are: reading, vocabulary, expository writing, speaking and listening skills. The program also offers electives on a variety of subjects, including American film, pronunciation, poetry, and the American identity. The program runs from June 27 to August 5, the statement said.

Editor's note: All information in this post was contributed.