Words of wisdom from ELC students

In morning you often see the students with coffee from Au Bon Pain. Students often get lunch at the near-by food court City Place, because there is something for everyone! If the weather is nice you will see groups of students eating outside in the Boston Public Garden. Every week you can meet other students and play sports on the Boston Common.

On Fridays you might see students hanging out at the Sweetwater Café or the Rock Bottom Brewery. The best happy hour deals on food are at McCormick & Schmick’s. Do you love Italian food? Go to the North End! You can be the judge of which bakery has the best cannoli: Modern Pastry or Mike’s Pastry?  When you are in the mood for Japanese food, go to Shabu Zen in Chinatown! It has a great atmosphere and shabu-shabu is always fun group dining experience!

Have you heard of the Prudential Center? This iconic Boston skyscraper has the best views of Boston from the bar/restaurant the Top of the Hub!  The Prudential Center is also one of the main shopping hubs in Boston. You can continue your shopping excursion on the famous Newbury Street! You can stop for a refreshing snack at Pink Berry.

Do you like art museums, but it is not part of your budget? Not a problem! The Museum of Fine Arts is free on Wednesday afternoons after 4pm and the Institute of Contemporary Art is free on Thursday afternoons after 5pm. The unique Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is $5 with your student ID!

On weekends you can head across the Charles River and check out Harvard and MIT. We recommend going on the unofficial “Hahvahd Tour” to hear all the stories that admissions will not tell you! It you want to learn about Boston and see the sights, go on the Beantown Trolley Tour! It is hop on-hop off, so you can explore the areas that interest you the most.

Bostonians loves their sports teams. Cheer from the home team at the Red Sox baseball games, the Celtics basketball games, and the Bruins ice hockey games! The Bleacher Bar overlooks Fenway Park! Across the street, you can see some of the most exciting musicians play at the House of Blues. Other fun music venues are the Paradise Rock Club, the Middle East, and the Brighton Music Hall.

At IHOP for National Pancake Day!

1. Move to homestay

If this is your first time in the USA, take a driver to find your homestay or your townhouse. It’s easier… If it’s too expensive, you can take a taxi. Because, it’s complicated to quickly find the right place, and it would be less stressful.

2. Check the way to ELC

If you don’t want to be late, you must check the way to the ELC. You will need a train station map and a map of Boston. Ask your roommate or your host family for some details to buy a ticket.

3. Listen carefully the information’s staff

It’s your first day…The first day in a new environment with a language that you don’t understand. But DON’T PANIC!!! It doesn’t matter if you don’t understand all the information. If you have some questions, problems or fears, you can ask the staff. Every person is very nice and kind. All information is important for your future at ELC so don’t be afraid to ask them.

4. Take the first test

It’s not your final test. So don’t panic again. It’s a test for check your level. Do your best and it will be ok.

5. The first course

After you take the test, the Director of Courses will choose your class and your level. If you are uncomfortable in your class, with your teacher or with the level, you should notify the staff as soon as possible. Then you can change to another class.

6. Lunch at student lounge

It’s important to eat in student lounge with other students. You should speak English to improve it. If you speak your native language with your friends from the same country, the other students could feel like they are isolated from the others. Also we make weekend plans in the lounge!

7. Make friends

If you want to make friends, talk with new people every day. It’s easier to meet friends, know the name of everybody and know each other. You can begin with greeting words like: “Hi”, “Nice to meet you” or “How are you today?” Be careful to be kind, nice and friendly because, if you are every time sad and depressed, nobody will want to speak with you.

8. Go to class

To make progress in English, it’s important to go to courses, speak during the lessons and ask your teacher some questions if you don’t understand something. Take with you a notepad or a notebook for writing your new vocabulary words and doing exercises.

9. Go to activities

ELC organize some activities for students to enjoy their life in Boston. There are some trips and parties. For example, you can go to visit the MFA (Museum of Fine Arts) or eat pancakes on the National Pancake Day. It’s important to sign up the list few hours before the activity. Maybe, you should bring some dollars.

10. The first weekend
The first weekend, you will be a little bit tired. It’s the jetlag, the stress or something. During your first week you spend a lot of energy to understand everything, so on the weekend, you can stay at home and talk with your family. To save your energy for the second week, it’s important to rest and be quiet at home.

By Madeline Zosso, Switzerland and Sachi Yoshikawa, Japan