English Language Institute at the U of U

Remember a couple of weeks ago when our ELI students volunteered at Nihon Matsuri SLC? 🇯🇵✨

For many of our students from Japan, it was a chance to experience a little bit of home while building a new home here in Utah. From helping attendees and supporting activities to celebrating Japanese culture with the community, it was a meaningful day filled with connection, learning, and plenty of smiles.

We're so proud of the way our students continue to engage with the community, share their cultures, and make lasting memories beyond the classroom. Thank you to everyone at Nihon Matsuri SLC for welcoming us and making it such a special experience! ❤️🌸

🎓✨ Celebrating Our Spring 2026 ELI Graduates! ✨🎓

As we reflect on our Spring 2026 term, we're looking back on not one, but two special graduation celebrations and the incredible students who made them so memorable. ❤️

This spring, we had the privilege of celebrating students from different programs and cohorts, each with their own unique journey, accomplishments, and stories of perseverance. Watching our graduates reach this milestone reminded us why we do what we do—creating opportunities, building community, and helping students achieve their goals. 🌎✨

These ceremonies were made even more meaningful as they marked our final graduations before moving into our new location. While we're excited for what's ahead, we'll always cherish the memories, friendships, and achievements celebrated within those walls. 🏫💙

To all of our Spring 2026 graduates: thank you for being part of the ELI family. We are so proud of everything you've accomplished and grateful for the joy, determination, and diverse perspectives you brought to our community. Though we'll miss seeing you in our classrooms and hallways, we know your brightest chapters are still ahead. 🌟

Congratulations once again, graduates! 🎉 No matter where your journey takes you next, you'll always have a home at ELI. ❤️🎓

Sometimes it’s hard to believe how fast a semester can fly by 🥹💙

Lately we’ve been missing all of our Spring ELI students a little extra, so we wanted to throw it back to orientation and remember where it all started. New faces, nervous smiles, new friendships, and the excitement of beginning something new together.

Since those first days, this semester has been filled with so many memories, conversations, laughs, events, and moments that made our community so special. We’ve had so much fun with all of you, and looking back at these first-day moments reminds us just how much this semester meant to us.

Thank you for being part of the ELI family this spring, and for those of you staying with us this summer, we’re so excited to keep making more memories together 🌎✨

Just about a month ago, and we’re still thinking about it 🌍✨

We had the opportunity to welcome incredible educators and colleagues from around the world to the University of Utah. From Czechia to Uzbekistan, it was a moment full of meaningful conversations, shared ideas, and connections that continue to grow.

We’re also so proud of our team at the English Language Institute 🙌 Hosting TESOL International Association 2026 here in Salt Lake City gave us the chance to bring the global ELT community together, and our team truly showed up. From presentations to workshops to building international partnerships, their impact speaks for itself.

Looking back, it’s a reminder of how powerful these moments can be. Language as a bridge. Connection that lasts.

Still feeling grateful for our ELI staff and the community they build every day 💙✨
You can read more about the experience here: https://loom.ly/IibnaIw

We’re still finding color in our hair from Holi 🎨😂
Celebrating Holi was something we won’t forget 🎨💛

Holi is a festival from India that celebrates spring, love, and new beginnings. It is all about joy, connection, and coming together, and getting covered in color is part of the fun. Being able to celebrate it here in Utah with the local community made it even more special. It was such a cool way to experience a tradition from around the world right here in Salt Lake City.

Colors in the air, music everywhere, and everyone just laughing and being in the moment. We showed up, got covered in color, and left with the best memories 🫶

Miss it already!!

⛸️❄️ Ice, laughs, and a whole lot of main character energy.
Our night with Eli turned into spins, smiles, and just enough chaos to make it unforgettable 😄✨ From first steps on the ice to full confidence glides (and a few near wipeouts), everyone showed up and made it their own. Nights like this are what it’s all about 💙

🐍 A huge thank you to our amazing friends at Scales and Tails for giving our English Language Institute students a "scale-tastic" time! They brought some incredible reptiles that had everyone curious, excited, and maybe just a little brave. 🦎

Scales and Tails is a local organization that creates fun, interactive experiences with reptiles and birds while inspiring a love for science and conservation.

Learning English and meeting reptiles? Now that’s what we call a wild experience. Let’s keep the fun going! 🌿

Green looks good on us 💚🍀

We brought the energy, the laughs, and just a little bit of Irish spirit to campus today ✨ From shamrocks to spontaneous dance moves (some better than others 😅), it was a day full of fun, connection, and unforgettable moments.

Big shoutout to everyone who showed up and made it special, you’re the real pot of gold 🌈💛

Same time next celebration? We’ll be ready 👀🍀

ELI STUDENTS: COME TO ST. PATRICK’S DAY AT THE GATEWAY! ☘️

Not an official ELI activity but something you might like to go to…

Looking for something fun to do tomorrow?
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at The Gateway this Saturday, March 14 from 11:00 AM–5:00 PM! 🇮🇪🎉

The day begins with a St. Patrick’s Day Parade starting at 200 South and 600 West, traveling east to Rio Grande and through The Gateway.

After the parade, enjoy the Siamsa Celtic Celebration in Olympic Plaza featuring traditional Irish food, performances from local Irish dance companies, and plenty of festive energy. 💃🍀

You’ll also find 25+ vendor booths with local artisans, food options, and beverages. Gateway merchants will be open with special Irish treats throughout the day.

It’s the largest Irish celebration in Salt Lake City and a great chance to explore the city, enjoy local culture, and spend time with friends. Wear green and have fun! ☘️

🦕🌎 Our ELI students had a roar-some time exploring the Natural History Museum of Utah! Walking through exhibits filled with fossils, science, and stories from the past made it easy to see why learning outside the classroom can be so exciting. Safe to say we dug this adventure! 🦖📚