Skip to main content

Posts

No TOEFL Required: How Los Angeles ESL Students Transfer to College Through AELS

If you are studying English in Los Angeles and want a US degree, the TOEFL is usually the first obstacle you hit. At AELS there is a route that goes around it entirely. Level 5 replaces the exam Since 2008 AELS has held formal agreements with 15 accredited colleges and universities. Complete Level 5 of our ESL program, the highest of our six levels, and your Certificate of Completion is accepted in place of a TOEFL score. No exam, no test-prep year. Eight partner colleges are in Los Angeles For students who want to stay local, eight of the fifteen are Los Angeles community colleges: East Los Angeles College, El Camino College, Los Angeles Pierce College, Los Angeles Harbor College, Los Angeles Trade-Technical College, Pasadena City College, Santa Monica College, and West Los Angeles College. Biola University in La Mirada is on the list too, along with schools in Orange County and the New York Film Academy. A Conditional Letter of Acceptance holds your seat Many partner schools...
Post a Comment
Read more
Recent posts

Change of Status to F-1 in Fullerton: Should You File Before September 15, 2026?

If you are in the United States on a B-2 visitor visa and thinking about studying English, one date should be on your calendar: September 15, 2026 . That is when a new DHS rule replaces "duration of status" for F-1 students with a fixed period of admission — and it changes what a change of status approval actually gives you. Why the timing matters A change of status approval is itself an admission decision. If USCIS approves your Form I-539 before September 15, you still receive duration of status, and transition provisions generally let you continue to the program end date on your I-20. You also keep the 60-day grace period instead of the new 30 days, and any English study completed before that date does not count toward the new 24-month ESL limit. If your approval lands on or after September 15, your I-797 approval notice will carry a new I-94 with a fixed end date. That date, not your I-20, governs how long you may stay — and overstaying it can start unlawful presence ...
Post a Comment
Read more

F-1 Visa Transfer Made Simple: How to Move to AELS Irvine

Thinking about transferring your F-1 student visa to an English language school in Irvine? Good news - the process is simpler than it sounds, and AELS Irvine can walk you through every step. An F-1 transfer does not cancel your visa. It simply moves your SEVIS record from your current SEVP-certified school to a new one - and you keep the same SEVIS ID, so there is no need to pay the SEVIS fee again. Here is the process in four simple steps: Get accepted at AELS Irvine and receive your acceptance letter. Set your transfer release date with your current school's DSO. Receive your new I-20 from AELS once your record is released. Report within 15 days of your program start date to keep your status active. Why do international students choose our Irvine campus? AELS is SEVP-certified and authorized to issue I-20s, so your transfer stays fully compliant. Our ESL classes in Irvine are small and conversation-focused, our teachers are supportive, and our DSOs are ready to ans...
Post a Comment
Read more

Everyday English Idioms: Speak More Naturally — AELS Irvine ESL Classes

Idioms are everywhere in everyday English — in conversations, at work, and in your favorite movies. Translate them word for word and they can be confusing, but learn a few and you will understand more and sound far more natural. That is exactly the kind of real-world English we practice in our ESL classes in Irvine . Here are a few common idioms to get you started: Piece of cake — something very easy. "The test was a piece of cake." Break the ice — to start a conversation and help people feel comfortable. Hit the books — to study hard before a big exam. On the same page — to agree or share the same understanding. Call it a day — to stop working for the day. The secret to learning idioms is not memorizing long lists — it is using them in real conversation. At American English Language School in Irvine , our small-group classes focus on speaking, so you practice everyday expressions the way native speakers actually use them. Whether you are a beginner or working toward flu...
Post a Comment
Read more

6 Everyday Habits to Improve Your Spoken English — AELS Irvine ESL Classes

Do you understand English well but freeze the moment you have to speak? For many adult learners taking ESL classes in Irvine, speaking is the hardest skill to build — and the most rewarding once it clicks. The good news: confident spoken English comes from simple daily habits, not perfection. Here are a few habits our students at AELS Irvine use to speak with confidence: Talk every day, even to yourself. Narrate your morning, describe what you are cooking, or repeat lines from a favorite show. A little daily speaking trains your mouth and mind to form English naturally. Aim to communicate, not to be perfect. Native speakers make small mistakes too. Focus on being understood first — accuracy follows with practice. Learn phrases, not just words. Ready-to-use chunks like "Could you say that again?" make real conversations feel effortless. Shadow native speakers. Pick a short clip and copy the speaker's rhythm and pronunciation to sound more natural. Practice in a s...
Post a Comment
Read more

Speak with Confidence: English Conversation Tips for International Students in Los Angeles

You can read academic papers and write strong essays — but when a classmate asks you a casual question after class, the words disappear. If that is your experience, you are far from alone. At AELS Los Angeles , we work with international students every day who understand far more English than they can comfortably speak. The gap is real, and it is fixable. Why speaking is the hardest skill Reading and writing give you time to pause and revise. Conversation gives you none of it — it is live, unpredictable, and full of slang. Add the fear of being judged, and anxiety blocks recall even when you know the words. Four things that actually help Lower the stakes first. One partner or a small class beats a big group every time. Rehearse your first thirty seconds. Where you are from, what you study — make it automatic. Stay in the conversation. "Sorry, could you repeat that?" is what fluent speakers say too. Track effort, not perfection. Count conversations started, ...
Post a Comment
Read more