ELC offers a number of “English Plus” programs (such as yoga, music, and dance!).  In these programs, students enjoy morning classes of grammar and conversation and then take part in specialized activities in the afternoons and on weekends. Caroline was our first ever photography student and took such beautiful pictures during her stay.  Her program included tours of some of Boston’s most picturesque neighborhoods as well as visits to Boston’s best art museums.  Caroline was kind enough to answer some questions about her latest visit to Boston and the English Plus Photography program!

Student Photographer: Caroline Matillon

Cara:  I was so excited to see that you would come back for such a special, fun program like English Plus Photography.  What makes you want to visit Boston again and again?

Caroline: I came back for the third time in Boston because I find ELC fantastic.  The atmosphere is friendly and Boston is a very pleasant city.

Beacon Hill

Cara:  What did you think about English Plus Photography? Did it help you improve your photography skills? Did you explore any new Boston neighborhoods?

Caroline: The program is very interesting! First we can discover Boston another way than as a tourist. I learned a lot about using my camera.  Then I learned to look at buildings, statues and monuments from another way.  I discovered new Boston neighborhoods and new buildings. My tour guide was a professional photographer and moments with this professional were so good!

Boston Public Garden

Cara: What has been your favorite moment at ELC Boston?

Caroline: It was last hear during the activity “Pot Luck” when all students brought the specialty food from their country.  It was really fun because all of us tasted everything and we were all excited to share the lunch.

Freedom Trail

Cara: What are your plans for the future? Do you plan to keep practicing your English?

Caroline: This summer I will work at a four-star hotel in the south of France.  I’ll continue my studies of the hospitality industry next year in France.  And for those things I have to improve my English.  So I have a plan to practice my English again. Next year, I’ll be a trainer in a hotel in a country where they speak English.

Photography by Caroline Matillon

Copley Square

Spring in Boston

Granary Burial Ground (where Paul Revere is buried)

Boston Skyline

Quincy Market

Swan Boats

George Washington Statue in the Boston Public Garden

Caroline, thank you for sharing your beautiful photos with us!

]]> http://www.elc.edu/wordpress/?feed=rss2&p=2801 0 http://www.elc.edu/wordpress/?p=2786 http://www.elc.edu/wordpress/?p=2786#comments Fri, 10 May 2013 18:20:10 +0000 Admin http://www.elc.edu/wordpress/?p=2786

This year’s sixth annual ELC Fiesta in the Park was held on a perfect day… May 5^th! Cinco de Mayo! Fiesta in the Park is an annual party hosted by ELC Los Angeles for our students, homestay families, staff, and teachers to join together to enjoy a day with good food, good music, and good company. As usual, we gathered at Burton Chace Park in Marina Del Rey, and had a live Mariachi band for full entertainment. Ellyn, president and founder of ELC, also joined the Mariachi band to perform for us too! 

And for the first time, we also had a piñata for our students. A couple of students were blindfolded, spun around, and took turns trying to break open the piñata with a broomstick. Some students hit it so hard that the broom even got bent near the top! Although some were really close, our new student Melanie was the one who made the critical hit. As soon as the piñata spilled out the candies, students crowded around to pick up some treats for themselves.

Another item that was popular this year were the hula-hoops. We played a game where a line of students had to pass down a hula-hoop through each other, but while holding hands with the next person. We had two lines of students facing each other so that they could race and played for a couple of rounds, including a staff & teachers vs. students round. Students also played with the hula hoop on the side, and also utilized the rope to play jump rope and tug of war. Props definitely go out to one of our students, Tobi, for gathering our students and making our activities so lively!

Thank you and great job to Liz for planning such a great Fiesta! We all had a great time, and the pictures taken by James definitely reflect that. Check out our Facebook page for more great pictures! 

~ Cyndi, the Student Services Coordinator

Once we crossed the Charles River, we floated down the relaxing esplanade, enjoying the bright and colorful cherry blossom and magnolia trees!  The Charles River Esplanade is one of my favorite places in Boston.  Whether you take a walk, hang out on the docks with friends, enjoy a picnic by the water, or kayak downstream with ELC, the Esplanade is sure to impress and relax you.

After kayaking, we sure did work up an appetite!  Our whole group ventured to Tasty Burger in Harvard Square!  Nothing beats a nice greasy burger and fries after a long kayaking trip!  Our visit to Harvard Square certainly got our students ready for our visit to Harvard University on May 14^th! Be sure to join us then as we visit the campus and explore Harvard Square, which has great food and even better shopping!

Yours truly,
Cara, the activities addict! (also known as the Student Services Coordinator at ELC Boston)

Hollywood is a city full of stars and during ELC LA’s picture day, many students had the opportunity to be one. Well… at least they had the opportunity to be in a full on photo shoot equipped with lights and backdrops taken by high profile professional photographer James Benito. After a long two weeks of promoting “picture day” amongst the school population, Cyndi and I were hopeful that picture day would be a success.  It was about five minutes past 3:20 when students started to show up to room 15 to take pictures. Thanks to our recruit Tobi Krebs who rounded up students throughout the school, ELC Los Angeles had many faces to photograph. With props like mustaches, bunny ears, ties, and boa’s, provided by Cyndi and Brandy, students were able to showcase their silly side in front of the camera. Using ELC Boston’s polaroid frame as an idea, Cyndi and I also made a vertical frame like a photo strip, and used the back side to make a horizontal frame like a film strip. It became clear, after just a few minutes, that some students, like Basmah and Sascha, were great models thanks to their love for the camera. Room 15 soon came to life full of fun and laughter as students split into groups and out-posed one another. Towards the end, everyone was invited to take a group picture.

It was so much fun that the ELC staff decided to participate as well. In the end, everyone got a taste of celebrity in front of the camera!
~ Nancy, the Administrative Assistant at ELC Los Angeles

ELC Los Angeles Staff:  Beth, Cyndi, Nancy, James, Vanessa, and Liz

See the full photo album on the ELC Los Angeles Facebook Page!

It’s always a special moment when students return to ELC.  Whether it’s just a visit while they’re passing through or they come back again to study, the staff and teachers at ELC are always so excited to see a familiar face. Simone Griener from Germany just completed the ELC Hat Trick – Today, she finished her third course at ELC Boston.  Aside from being an exemplary student, she is a dear friend of mine.  Before she leaves us again, I took a moment to sit down with her and reflect on her time here in Boston.  

~ Cara, the Student Services Coordinator at ELC Boston 

Cara:  This is your third time at ELC Boston. How would you describe your time at ELC?

Simi: It was a wonderful time, probably the most interesting time ever in my life.  I met people from all over the world I would have never met anywhere else. You learn a lot about different culture, make a lot of new friends and improve your English at the same time — Could it get any better?!

Cara:  What keeps you coming back to ELC Boston?

Simi:  I still want to improve my English skills but I also want to see my friends here and visit the beautiful city.  It is so nice to come back and see familiar places; you feel so much love at ELC. It’s like a family.

Cara: What is your favorite memory at ELC? Any favorite activities?

Simi:  I can’t think of any favorite activity. There were so many favorites! Beginning with the Duck Tour, soccer, going out to Fajitas & Ritas, McCormick & Schmick’s, kayaking, visiting a museum together, or going to a Red Sox or Celtics game, everything was just perfect and impressive. You will have the time of your life!

Cara: What are your future plans?

Simi:  I want to finish my studies in Germany.  I am styding English and Spanish so I want to be a high school teacher afterwards. So maybe I can teach in Boston or in any other country some day.  Thank you for everything!

When we opened up ELC last Thursday morning, students immediately started roaming around the school with full enthusiasm. Why? Because it was the ELC egg hunt day! A couple of our office staff stuffed 170 eggs with little treats, and hid them all around ELC after school on Wednesday. There was also one special gold egg that we made sure to hide carefully, because the finder of the golden egg would receive a golden chocolate bunny for the prize. Yannis and Alex (pictured below) were especially motivated to find the golden egg. By 8:45am, Alex had already found it hanging by a paper clip in our ceiling of the main office!

The egg hunt was a great success and it looked like all the eggs were gone by the time it was our B-block. Some students were calling themselves “egg hunters”, and trying to find the rest of the eggs too. We’re so happy that a lot of our students were really into this Easter-themed activity! 

Pavel Derevyanko was one of our students who is currently an actor in Russia. He actually studied here a few years ago, so he was also a returning student! He always came by the office with a smile, and greeted everyone with full positivity. We wanted to know more about him through an interview, and he happily accepted to answer some questions for us.

When we asked Pavel why he decided to study English, he said that the main reason is self-improvement. He explained “I can talk with many other people and there are a lot of information that is available in English like songs, movies, books,” and more. Pavel also wants to possibly work in the United States, and said “I want to be here not as a tourist, but as a part of society.” He felt that there were more friendly people in the U.S., and more democratic than Russia. Pavel said he returned to ELC because he’s been here, and is comfortable knowing the location and people. Some of his favorite places are Venice Beach, streets like Sunset Blvd, and Marina Del Rey.

Pavel has been acting since 2000, and says that he likes acting because he has a chance to improve himself  and considers it the “greatest work.” Through acting, he can live in others’ lives through the character. Pavel told us that his favorite movie was “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.” When asked why he liked that, he said that it’s hard to explain, but he likes how it’s funny, full of freedom, and he can understand the character.

Pavel said his future plans are to work, have fun, and travel around. And guess what? We asked him if he was planning to return to ELC, and he said yes, he wants to! He also left ELC with a smile, and said “I love you, guys!” Good luck to Pavel from all of us at ELC Los Angeles, and we hope to see you soon again!

Pavel & the ELC Los Angeles Staff

Last Thursday, ELC Boston hosted our first annual picture day and it was a huge success!  Most Americans remember school picture day well…. You wear a nice shirt or blouse, comb your hair with the disposable black plastic comb given to you by the photographer, and sit in front of a gray backdrop while being forced to “tilt your head a bit” and smile for your picture.

This, however, was nothing like ELC’s picture day!

In order to ensure the silliest possible pictures, I was sure to make some fun props for our photo shoot! In addition to our devastatingly good-looking students, we had a picture frame, mustaches, bowties, and kissy mouths props.  Migren, our resident student photographer, was so kind to bring in his professional photography equipment and take studio-quality photos of all of our students and some of the staff!  His talent and hard work really paid off – the photos are beautiful and everyone had so much fun!  During the event, three students requested we do another photo booth in April!

Be sure to check out our Facebook album with all the fun photos. You can also like the ELC Boston Facebook page here:

Diego is currently a student at the English Language Center here in Los Angeles, but prior to this, he was actually also an ELC Boston student! Diego is a very friendly student, who drops by our office quite often to have casual conversations with us. Right now he is enrolled in the Cambridge course, and is taking his exams this week. (Please wish him and the other students good luck!) Although the Cambridge exam itself can be pretty stressful, Diego even took the TOEFL iBT test during his own time – what a driven student! We were really lucky to have him here in Los Angeles, and wish him the best with his future.  

~ Cyndi (the Student Services Coordinator at ELC Los Angeles) & the ELC staff 

Cyndi: How was your stay in Boston, and how was your stay in Los Angeles? Were there any similarities or differences?

Diego: Boston, regarded as the European city of America, was such an incredible experience, not only did I meet amazing people from different countries, but it also was my first winter experience in the USA. My house was located close to the airport; as soon as I opened the window, I was able to see Boston’s skyline. At school, the ELC Staff was always willing to help everybody and the teachers were available at any time to resolve any doubts. In other words, my 6 months in Boston were unforgettable. Then, in January 2013, I moved to Los Angeles, the staff seemed as if they already knew me. I had the opportunity to go to San Francisco as well as Las Vegas. LA, unlike Boston, is a Big City, it takes more time to go to the beach, but trust me, it’s worth it. After 8 weeks at ELC LA studying for Cambridge Exam I am leaving with many memories to tell.

Diego: Well, after General English I wanted to prepare for the Cambridge Exam, so I made a decision to move out of Boston and enroll in the 8-weeks Cambridge Preparation Course. Now I can say that this was the right decision, I feel confident I will pass the test. In addition, I am glad to have known many places in California as well as around the USA such as New York, Houston, Chicago, Miami, and the already mentioned San Francisco and Las Vegas.

Diego: Undoubtedly, my favorite memory at ELC was on Halloween. It was funny to see everybody wearing costumes, even during class. There were different competitions and free food. Spooky! In fact, there is a town on the outskirts of Boston famous for the Salem witch trials; I highly recommend visiting it.

Cyndi: What are your future plans?

Diego: Among my future plans are to continue my studies, start a Master Degree or MBA, and work as Engineer for a multinational company now that I can speak English, Portuguese, and of course Spanish. As Shakespeare said: “Farewell! God knows when we shall meet again ELC”

1. Wear Green!  Seriously. This is not a joke! On SPD, this is the only acceptable color for clothing is some shade of green.  This tradition pays homage to the Irish flag, which is green, white, and orange. If you wear another color on March 17, you can expect to be pinched by your fellow partiers!
2. Go to ANY Irish Pub in Boston:  Boston has the best and most numerous Irish pubs in the USA! The best neighborhoods to find a busy Irish pub are in downtown Boston & Back Bay. St. Pat’s Day is one of biggest events in Boston so you’ll be sure to find Irish music (sometimes live!), dancing, green beer (don’t worry—its just food coloring!), and delicious Irish food!
3. The Boston Saint Patrick’s Day Parade:  The Saint Patrick’s Day Parade is Boston’s biggest parade of the year.  Thousands march as up to a million spectators line the streets in South Boston to enjoy the Irish Festivities.  This year, the event takes place right on Saint Patrick’s Day!  For the best viewing spots, take the T to Broadway around 1:00PM.  The parade will last about three hours!
4. Irish Step Dancers at Faneuil Hall Marketplace: Faneuil Hall Marketplace is home to some of the best street performers on the East Coast. On St. Patrick’s Day, you’ll find talented Irish step dancers performing to traditional Irish tunes.  There will also be plenty of other special treats like yummy Irish food at Cheers.
5. St. Patrick’s Day Road Race: Each year on St. Patrick’s Day, the South Boston Boys & Girls Club sponsors a 5K run to benefit needy children in the Boston area.  The race starts and ends at the Boys & Girls Club at 230 West 6^th Street in South Boston. 
6. Dropkick Murphys Concert at the House of Blues: The Dropkick Murphy’s are Boston’s most famous Celtic punk-rock band that was formed right here in Quincy, MA.  Although they spend most of the year touring the United States, they find their way home each St. Patrick’s Day for a special concert for their fans in Boston.  Tickets can be found at stubhub.com!
7. Boston Irish Film Festival: This four-day festival takes place at the Brattle Theater in Cambridge, MA & the Somerville Theater in Somerville, MA.  The festival will showcase 30 of the best contemporary Irish films, shorts and documentaries. Visit www.irishfilmfestival.com for more information!