The ELI Student Spotlight series is designed to highlight students who demonstrate outstanding commitment and enthusiasm in ELI courses.

Meet Joonyoung Cho! Joon was nominated for the winter 2022 ELI Student Spotlight by Pamela Bogart for his work in her GSI Speaking Clinic. Pamela noted that Joon sought out the GSI Speaking Clinic himself before actually becoming a GSI, and "devised hyper-personalized and productive ways of planning for clinic time". Pamela noted that Joon workshopped his lessons in advance, and he received rave reviews from his Psychology students for his interesting and dynamic classes. Congratulations, Joon!

Name: Joonyoung Cho

Hometown: Daegu, South Korea

Degree program: PhD in Social Work and Developmental Psychology

What inspired you to take a class with the English Language Institute? I took ELI 584, GSI Practicum, with Carmela Romano Gillette. I was able to use the content from the GSI Speaking Clinic in my GSI Practicum, and deliver good lessons to my undergraduate Psychology students. 

What have you enjoyed the most about your class? Why? As a GSI, I am in charge of leading discussion sections for undergraduate students, and I often use ELI Clinics to prepare high-quality lessons for my students. By rehearsing lectures, I try to improve pronounciation, and check whether my class content is appropriate. I also focus on providing an engaging and equitable environment for my students. I believe students can feel my passion in teaching, and have received great feedback from my students!

What do you hope to do after graduating from U-M? I would like to become a professor in the United States after graduating, and the ELI plays an instrumental role in becoming a better educator for future psychologists and social workers. At this moment, I cannot imagine where I am going to go because there are many opportunities. If possible, I would like to come back to U-M, and become a professor in the school of Social Work, since I really like Ann Arbor.

What advice would you give to other international students at U-M? I strongly believe that different people have unique strengths, and we all have the potential to become better educators. If you are an international student who needs language and academic support, I highly recommend using the resources provided by the ELI.