Category: English Language Institute
Learning English Across Generations
July 21, 2026 Written by Kaitlyn Diehl
A daughter鈥檚 ELI experience inspires her mother to study there, too.
In the 47 years since the English Language Institute鈥檚 conception in 1979, it has served four generations of students from around the world. Since the ELI offers a variety of programs and accommodates students of all ages, we鈥檝e even had the exciting opportunity to serve multiple generations within the same family who come to the ELI for different reasons.
This is the case with ELI alumna Emily Liu and her mother Lanzhu Liu; while Emily wanted to learn English to broaden her skillset for her career, her mom wanted to learn English to be able to travel in her retirement. The ELI met both goals.
The journey begins
Emily Liu came to the U.S. to study at the ELI in 2008. She was in her twenties and already building a career when her mother suggested that she study abroad to 鈥渟ee the world and understand life from more than one perspective.鈥
鈥淎t that time, information about U.S. universities was not as easy to access as it is today,鈥 said Emily. 鈥淏ut my mom still encouraged me to take that step. In many ways, she helped open a door for me that she had never had the chance to open for herself when she was young.鈥
Emily had no idea that accepting this adventure would change the course of her life forever; after graduating from the ELI, she matriculated into the 91原创 to study civil engineering and earn her master鈥檚 degree in business administration.聽
Right after graduation she worked for a Fortune 500 speciality chemical company, but soon her path led back to the ELI as an international recruitment specialist, a role which allowed her to share her experience with international students and inspire them to follow their dreams, too.
From one generation to the next
One such student was her own mother: Lanzhu Liu. While visiting her daughter in the U.S., she learned there is no age limit to the ELI鈥檚 Intensive English Program. Emily encouraged her to give it a try.
Lanzhu had always had an interest in English, but did not have many opportunities to study it in a systematic way or practice her skills. Now retired, she hoped that studying English would help her communicate better while traveling the world.
鈥淔or me, English is not only a language tool, it is like a door to a new world. I can understand more signs, hear more information and have simple conversations with people from other countries. Even if I can only say a few sentences, the feeling is different.鈥
Growing through the challenge
Lanzhu鈥檚 adjustment to life at the ELI included multiple challenges. The first was age; many of her classmates were younger and learned and reacted faster than her. Instead of giving up, Lanzhu used this as a cue to work harder.
鈥淏eing older did not make learning easier, but it gave me a stronger sense of responsibility. I knew this chance was not easy to get, so I wanted to hold on to it.鈥
Her next challenge was embracing the language during day-to-day interactions. Lanzhu spent her first few weeks worrying about misunderstanding the homework assignments. She learned to use her English to ask her teachers for help and they were happy to accommodate.
English also helped her bridge the language gap with fellow classmates who did not share the same first language. Lanzhu recalled a time in which she needed help from a Saudi Arabian student. Both were worried that their English was not perfect and that they would have trouble understanding each other鈥檚 accents.聽
鈥淭his experience helped me understand that learning English is not about speaking like a native speaker. It is about communicating when you need to, solving problems and connecting with other people,鈥 Lanzhu said.
Lanzhu鈥檚 daughter Emily faced similar challenges during her first few months in the U.S.
鈥淚n Chinese culture, making a mistake in front of others can feel like 鈥榣osing face.鈥 So for me, speaking English was not only a language challenge. It was also an emotional challenge,鈥 she said.
Emily learned to overcome this fear by watching other students take risks. On one occasion, an ELI instructor asked a question about China. While the Chinese students remained silent鈥搘orried that their English was not strong enough to speak up鈥揳 brave Colombian student who had never been to China or even Asia, shared her opinion openly and confidently.聽
鈥淚 remember feeling surprised,鈥 Emily said. 鈥淎s Chinese students, we probably would not have answered a question about Colombia if there were Colombian students in the room. She was not afraid to try. That moment helped me realize that communication is not always about having the most perfect answer. Sometimes it is about being willing to join the conversation.鈥
The English education impact
Despite their fears, both Emily and Lanzhu agreed that the challenges were worth overcoming.
Emily鈥檚 experience at the ELI鈥揳s a student and then as a recruiter鈥揾elped 鈥渁waken her real passion at the intersection of international education and technology,鈥 particularly, in how technology like artificial intelligence can support student recruitment and learning. Since 2016, she has presented on this topic at NAFSA, APAIE, EducationUSA, and U.S. Embassy forums. A particularly meaningful milestone came when she gave a presentation at an EnglishUSA professional development event in front of more than 30 ESL directors and instructors on how adult learners can use AI to practice spoken English.
鈥淟ooking back, the ELI did more than prepare me for graduate study; it gave me the first environment where I began to speak, observe, work and grow across cultures. That foundation has continued to shape my career, from recruitment to education technology to my current interest in artificial intelligence.鈥
Lanzhu learned her age was actually an asset in the classroom because she had more life experience and leadership skills to share with younger students. After graduating from the ELI she returned to host a . Lanzhu鈥檚 newfound English skills allowed her to share an artform she spent decades perfecting during her career in China.
鈥淭hat moment was very special to me,鈥 she said. 鈥淚 realized that learning English did not mean I had to leave my old self behind. It gave me a new way to share my culture, my experience and my story with more people. For me, age is not a barrier. If you are willing to learn, it is never too late.鈥
Emily was moved by her mother鈥檚 tenacity.
鈥淎fter retirement, many people鈥檚 social circles become smaller and life can easily become centered only around family,鈥 she said. 鈥淎t the ELI, my mom had something for herself. She was not only learning English, she was meeting new people, experiencing a new culture and beginning a new chapter in her own life.鈥
Emily continued, 鈥淭he ELI gave both of us something different. For me, it helped me start my academic and professional journey in the United States. For my mom, it gave her a place to continue learning, growing and discovering the world in her own way.鈥
The ELI is a great fit for all English as a foreign language learners鈥搘hether they are students preparing for a degree program or older adults beginning a new learning journey.
