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Adjectives to describe food

  For humans, food lies on an emotional level as well as the instinctual need for survival. We use food as connection, love, memory, identity, understanding, and creation. While there is nothing wrong with eating alone, history has shown us in ALL cultures, meals were meant to be shared. Food brings people together and can even transcend language barriers. Nevertheless, we would like to teach you some ways to connect with the English language through food.  Let us start with taste, it is one of your five senses and is used quite often. Every time you put food, drink, or something in your mouth, you are tasting it. We have words in English to describe these sensations, known as adjectives. Adjectives describe any and every noun and all five of your senses, from taste to smell, sound, sight and touch. Adjectives are important because they help relate an object, person, or place to another person. In this case, it is relating the pleasant taste of food. Have you ever tasted food ...

Why Small Class Sizes Matter

Teachers, students, and faculty of education have debated on this topic for years. Does the student to teacher ratio matter when it comes to productive learning? Through research and trials, the general consensus is: YES. A smaller class size has improved not only academic learning, but the social and emotional wellbeing of students and teachers. While most schools cannot just downsize their classes, here at AELS, we are able to provide this class setting. Our students can reap the benefits provided below. Each student gets noticed by their teacher. With less students to keep track of, teachers can begin to personalize learning goals for each student. They can observe and assess students and provide timely feedback that will allow the student to fix, understand, and enhance their learning. There is time for students to have one on one with the teacher. This allows students to share any personal struggles or concerns they are not comfortable sharing with the class. Furthermore, a sm...

How to Prepare for TOEFL

If you are planning to go to a university in the United States, chances are that you will need to take the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language). The TOEFL is a test that students take to let universities know that they can be successful. The TOEFL has 4 sections that measure your reading, listening, speaking, and writing skills. The test takes around 3 to 3 ½ hours to complete, and you will need to prepare in advance to get a higher score. The TOEFL test may seem like an impossible obstacle, but if you prepare with enough time, you can reduce some of the stress related to the test. Keep reading to find useful tips to help you reach your goals.   First, you will need to know the format of the test. The first part of the test is reading. There are between 30-40 questions. You will need to read the passages and then answer the questions about the passage. After reading is the listening section. You will listen to conversations and lectures and then answer questions based ...

What to Do if Your Visa Is Denied

Last week, our blog discussed how to apply for an F-1 visa. After you have been accepted into a SEVP approved school, completed the Form DS-160, and scheduled your visa interview, you will need to prepare for your visa interview. Hopefully, your visa application is approved. The consular office that conducts your interview will determine whether or not you are qualified to receive a student visa. They may also require further documents or information to approve your application. If your visa application is approved, GREAT! You may have to pay a visa issuance fee, but then it is time to get ready for your trip. Pack up your things, book your flight, and arrange your housing situation as soon as you can. On the other hand, if your visa application is denied, you might be unsure of what to do next. Your options vary based on the reason for your visa denial. You should receive a notice explaining the reason for your denial or if further documents are needed. You cannot appeal the decisio...

How to Get Started

  Do you want to study to improve your English? Do you not know where to begin? American English Language School can help! Plenty of people want to study English in the United States, but they don’t know where or how to start. If that sounds like you, keep reading to find more information to help you get started on your journey to mastering English!   First, you need to think about where you want to go to study English. What part of the U.S. do you want to visit? If you are looking for some sunny weather, beaches, and famous attractions like Disneyland and Hollywood, then Los Angeles is the perfect location for you to come and study. We recommend researching popular attractions in different cities to find the right language school for you.   After you have decided which school is right for you, you will need to apply. Different schools have different requirements needed to apply. Generally, you will need to submit an application form along with copies of your pa...

College Pathway Program

  American English Language School has gained a reputation for helping our students to reach higher levels of English proficiency. Our smaller class sizes and emphasis on conversation help students to improve their English more than they would at other language schools. The teachers in our language school are qualified and passionate about teaching English. In order to have committed students, we need to have committed teachers as well. Our ESL program is for students who are committed to improving their English. There are no shortcuts to learning English; a big factor in becoming proficient in English is dedication. If you are determined to improve your English reading, writing, listening, and speaking, American English Language School offers an intensive English course to help you improve. There are 6 levels in our ESL course; the levels are Basic and Level 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. Each level of our ESL course lasts 3 months; after 3 months, if students pass their level, they will ...

Why AELS Requires You to Sign Up for Quarters instead of Months?

  Plenty of other language schools let students enroll whenever they want for however long they desire. They can enroll for 4 weeks, 8 weeks, or 10 weeks with no problems. However, at American English Language School, each level of our ESL program is 3 months, so the minimum amount of time students can study is 3 months. Are you wondering why you must study for a minimum of 3 months?   First, when students enroll in an ESL program, they tend to be shy or embarrassed to participate during the class. If students don’t participate, it prevents them from improving. In order to help students improve as much as possible, each level of our ESL course is 3 months long. During the first week of classes, teachers and students work on getting to know each other. Students work on introducing each other and learning about their fellow students. They also do some ice breakers to feel more comfortable with each other. We do this to make students feel more comfortable participating in the cla...