My name is Samer. I am from Palestine, and I have a Bachelor's Degree in Pharmacy. I was born and raised in Palestine, then I moved to Jordan after high school. I completed my Bachelor's Degree there. After 5 years, I completed my study. I returned home then I looked for work. I found a vacancy as Aesthetic Medical Representative for Allergan IIc. I worked there for 6 years. In 2024 the situation in my country became bad because of the war. Then I decided to travel and start a new journey, so I applied to the US Embassy in Jerusalem four times then I finally got a Visa.

I moved to the US on January 1st 2025. In the beginning, it was very difficult to adjust to the weather and time. However, I decided to discover the city and then I considered improving my English language. So I registered to study English here at the Tutorium.

I feel so proud of myself and I'm a determined person. I faced a lot of challenges. However, these challenges will not stop me because I have many goals and I want to achieve them.

Meet the writer:

Samer Almakharza is from Palestine. He is studying English here at the Tutorium to improve his English and achieve his academic goals, which is doing well on the TOEFL exam and enrolling in a pharmacy internship program.

Written by Amani and Alexa

Everyone knows starting in a new place can be challenging, especially for a new student. So Alexa, and I decided to interview three new students here in the Tutorium program. The students we interviewed are Ricky Wang from China, Estefania from Mexico, and Lidiia from Russia.

Why did you join the Tutorium class?

Ricky: I’ve been living in Chicago 4 years ago and I want to learn English because English will help me in my life in Chicago, and I want to have a new friend.

Estefania: I’ve been living here in Chicago for about two years, and I want to learn English because I want to get a better job. Learning English will help me find a better job with a good salary.

Lidiia: English is an international language so I joined the program because my old university was interested in students having international English classes. Also, learning English opens up new doors for me.

How did you learn about the Tutorium program, and why did you choose to study here?

Ricky: I searched in google search engine for english classes and AI showed me the Tutorium English program.

Estefania: I searched on the internet for English classes and I found the UIC page, the university website has information about it. I liked it because at university, you can see many students, talk to them, and learn more from them through conversation and making friends. This will help me to improve language skills

Liddia: My teacher in Russia told me about the Tutorium English program from UIC! And I chose it because I want an international program

How do you want to improve your English language as a new student? What do you think about that?

Ricky, I am making friends who speak with me in English, going to the events in the university, making a WhatsApp group so we can talk also outside the university, so the language will be important in my day.

Estefania I worked right now in MacDonalds, so am trying to speak English in the most of my day, and listing music, podcast, reading stories and making friend for sure, because I told you in question before, when you be in university you can see a lot of people who can make with them a friendship and when you speak more and more you will improve your language. And even though you met people from your home town, don't speak with others in your native language, speak in English to learn.

In conclusion, a new student usually starts the program feeling nervous and unsure. At the beginning, everything can feel new and challenging. However, with time, support, and practice, the student becomes more comfortable and confident. By the end of the program, the student is expected to improve their English skills, feel more confident, and adapt better to the Tutorium.

Meet the Writers:

Amani Shehadeh is from Palestine. Her hobbies are swimming and riding horses. These activities help her to relax and have fun. Her goal is to get a master's degree at UIC in social work.

Alexandra Paredes is from Mexico. Her hobby is hiking. Her goal is to speak very well and also complete a career at the university.

What inspired you to start teaching English?

My French teacher at high school was an amazing person, and she inspired me to become a teacher. She grew up in France during World War II, met her husband there and then moved to England. She was kind, patient, and always made her classes interesting and fun. She always had time and patience for all her students and told us fascinating stories of her life in France in the late 1930s and 40s. She was my inspiration to travel the world and then become a teacher. I wanted to be just like her!

What’s something your students have taught you?

I am always learning from my students. I admire their courage and sense of adventure to go and study in a foreign country away from their family and friends. I love to listen to their stories about their childhoods and their travels. Most of all I love it when students talk about the food from their countries and share recipes and restaurant recommendations with me!

What’s your secret to helping students feel confident using English?

I want my students to know that they shouldn’t worry about making mistakes. Just take a deep breath and try! I studied German and French at high school, and my undergraduate degree was in French Language and Literature. I loved it, but it wasn’t always easy. Sometimes learning a language can be frustrating or you feel that you are not making enough progress, but you can’t give up. Keep at it and enjoy making new friends from all over the world. 

What advice would you give to new teachers?

I have been teaching for over 25 years, and I have never wanted to do anything else. My two pieces of advice for new teachers are 

1) Be flexible - sometimes things don’t go according to plan, so you have to adapt and move on to plan B or even plan C!!

2) Enjoy what you do and be open to new ways of doing something or looking at something. Each semester is different, each class is different, and each student is different. Learn from each other and help each other.

If you could teach anywhere in the world, where would it be?

I have taught English in France, South Korea and Japan as well as London and Chicago. I have always wanted to go and teach somewhere in South America – perhaps Ecuador, Argentina or Chile. Maybe one day!!

Have you lost something important on campus? Don’t panic! Here are some things you can do:

The UIC Intracampus (within campus) Bus Service provides free transportation for students on campus. Present your UIC identification card (i-card) to the driver when boarding.

Here are maps of the bus routes:

Have you checked your UI-Pay account to understand how to pay your tuition?

If you have questions or issues with your bill, come to the office TODAY!

Payment options:

Last Thursday, we gathered together during lunch and learned a little bit about Adja, Austin, and Sophia. We explored each other's cultures, hobbies, and friends!

Let's celebrate Valentine's together!

Wear fun Valentine's colors (red, pink, purple, or white) and come to Addams Hall 110 during the IEP lunchtime (11:15am-12:15pm) on Thursday, February 12th. 

You'll have fun decorating yummy sugar cookies to enjoy or give away to that special someone. 

Date: Friday, February 13 
Time: 2:30pm - 4:30pm 
Location: 248 Student Center East (How to Find the Student Veterans Center in SCE video)

Would you like to make cards for your loved ones? Whether that loved one be friends, family, or someone special!

Craft supplies, treats, and other materials are provided while supplies last.

This event is available to all!

To sign up and find out more information, read more>>.

Chicago Theater Week 

February 5-15, 2026

For $15 or $30 (or less!) you can enjoy a show at one of Chicago's theaters across the city. There are so many different shows to see: musicals, dramas, and even improv. Grab a friend or a  classmate and plan a trip to the theater. Don't forget to write about it in your listening and speaking log. 

To view all of the Chicago week shows, click here. 

Friday, February 14, is Valentine's Day. Valentine's Day is a special day to celebrate romantic love, friendship, and admiration. 

Children make Valentine's cards and pass out candy and treats to their friends and sweethearts. Couples send each other cards and flowers and spend time together, such as going on a date or watching a romantic movie at home. Friends gather to celebrate affection and friendship. 

Don't worry if you don't have a sweetheart to spend the day with. Galentines has become a new trend. Galentine's Day is a special day celebrated on February 13, where women spend time with their female friends and enjoy activities that honor their friendships. Don't worry, boys. You can have a blast hanging out with all the guys, too.

No matter how you celebrate the day, there is always a reason to honor the ones you love. 

Here are a few things you can do to celebrate: 

Midterms are coming. Maybe you're nervous, maybe you're confident. The semester may have been easy and fun, but at the same time, you've been working hard and seen little improvement. But midterms can also be a blessing in disguise. To learn how read more>>.

Many universities use the same online application. It is called The Common App. This makes the application process faster for you to the following: 

Watch this video and read the transcript for details on the common app. 

Email questions to tutorium@uic.edu.
Or contact us to schedule a virtual or in-person meeting.