Gallaudet University
Who We Are
Our Work
Overview
News & Stories
Sep 22, 2023
Sep 21, 2023
Upcoming Events
September 27, 2023
September 28, 2023
University Wide Events
No Communication Compromises
Areas of Study
Schools
Programs
Changing the world
Research
Community & Innovation
Research Experiences & Services
Our Global Presence
Global at Home
Global Learning For All
Global Engagement
Your Journey Starts Here
Admissions
Financial Aid
Explore Our Campus
Connect
Discover
Influence
Directories
Popular Keywords
Jan 1, 1970
Sep 17, 2023
Aug 31, 2023
Explore
Quick Links
GU
/
English Language Institute
How the ELI Started
HMB E253
(202) 250-2606
(202) 651-5721
Email Us
In the fall semester of 1986, the English Language Institute was informally established by the then International Center on Deafness (ICD), which was located in HMB 117.
Mr. Eli Savanick, the Director of ICD, hired a teacher, Mr. Wayne Smith, and along with an assistant started a tutorial class as a pilot program. Mr. Wayne Smith had an office near ICD.
For the first semester, the first two students were Miguel Giacoman from Honduras and Ali Abdul-Jabbar from Qatar. For the second semester, David Hsu from Taiwan also joined the pilot program as a student.
During the May 1994 commencement, Ms. Satu Kujala, a valedictorian and an ELI alumnus from Finland, addressed the audience including the US President Bill Clinton. Ms. Larisa Aranbayeva, an ELI alumnus, was the graduate student speaker at the May 2006 Gallaudet University commencement. Ms. Haydee...
Resource Type: Archives & Exhibits