Goodwin College Teaming Up With Yard Goats In ESL Program For Players

HARTFORD, CT - Goodwin College is teaming up with the Hartford Yard Goats as part of what the school is calling "a cultural education program" to help players on the minor league baseball team learn English as a second language.

The program was announced on Tuesday morning.

Goodwin Assistant Professor of English Phillip Fox will work with players whose primary language is not English to help them develop their language skills, school officials said.

"I am excited to be part of the collaboration between Goodwin College, the Colorado Rockies, and the Hartford Yard Goats," Fox said.

The Rockies are the major league parent team of the Hartford Yard Goats, and utilize a cultural education program with colleges and ESL programs to prepare their non-native English players for life in America.

Fox was first approached to work with the Yard Goats by Danielle Wilken, Goodwin's vice president for academic Affairs and dean of faculty. Fox has worked as assistant professor of English at Goodwin for more than four years, working extensively with developmental English and English as a second language students.

"I certainly look forward to teaching Yard Goats players, as well as learning from them," Fox said. "It's truly an honor to work for Goodwin College as it spreads a positive mission to the local community."

Fox, who is also an assistant men's basketball coach at Goodwin, said that he is excited to foster relationships between the athletic organizations. Goodwin is not receiving monetary compensation for providing this service to the players.

"After talking with Eric Emet, Goodwin's director of athletics and recreation, I can say that Goodwin Athletics is honored to make professional connections with the Yard Goats," Fox said. "And we look forward to productive relationships between our student athletes and their professional athletes."

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Photo Credit: MILB