AOI College of Languages

This month, students and teachers from the Torrance Campus visited the Getty Center in Los Angeles.

This museum houses a spectacular collection of Western art from the Middle Ages to the present. Artwork includes European paintings, drawings, manuscripts, sculpture and decorative arts, and European and American photographs.

Upon arrival, the students took a tram up to the top of the hill where the Getty is located. Even before stepping inside the Getty, the students and teachers were impressed with the gorgeous and breathtaking views of L.A. that were visible from the top of the hill.

When they entered the Getty, the students were already in awe of the dramatic architecture of the building itself. Everyone meandered through the museum at their own pace, stopping to ponder over their favorite artwork. Some students completed questionnaires about the artwork that their teachers had given them.

Then, the students went outside of the building and visited the peaceful gardens at the Getty, which provided some beautiful plants and flowers, along with more gorgeous view of L.A.  The students had a great time exploring the artwork and hanging out with each other and their teachers.

Francesca Bandi

What are your future goals with your English skills?

I was an architect at a company in Italy and I came here to AOI in order to improve my professional career. I needed to learn English and I have advanced my English already in three months.

What do you like to do on your free time?

I like to do a lot of sport activities. I really like to jog and swim and I also love to dance. On the weekends I like to hang out with my friends and I love going to the beach. I am married and I love to spend a lot of time with my husband as well. I watch American TV at home too in order to improve my English and it helped a lot.

Describe your learning and social experiences at AOI?

I was so proud of myself when I finished my first book in English. My first month here I couldn’t understand anything and now I am used to being back at school learning English. AOI has helped greatly with my English and my self-confidence in the language. At first I felt strange coming back to school after already having a career, I felt like a teenager again, but I needed to improve my English and taking classes at AOI helped me with that.

How do you like your teachers and classes?

I love all my teachers they all have their own teaching style. I love David as a teacher because he has a lot of experience teaching. In class we can talk about any topic from news, to culture and even international current events.

Have you traveled anywhere? Is there anywhere you wish to travel?

My architectural job in Italy allowed me to travel to many different countries in Europe including Spain and Germany and many more. I love to travel but I haven’t travelled anywhere around California… yet.

How long are you planning to stay in the United States?

My husband and I are planning to stay in the United States for two to three years. However it depends on my husband’s job. I don’t really plan on taking anymore English classes after AOI.

What do you like about Southern California?

I love it! I love being here and I don’t want to go back to Italy yet! I love the weather in Southern California and I really like living here.

Julie Schulte-King

What is your view on teaching?

Students should talk more than the teacher. It’s the teacher’s responsibility to guide students and point out to them language and grammar errors. It’s essential that teachers provide a safe environment for students to communicate in. Also, let’s get excited about grammar!

How was your first week teaching at AOI?

Exciting & promising.

What made you decide to teach ESL?

I love learning languages and I think communication is a unique experience for every individual; it’s wonderful to facilitate communication. Also, it’s such a joy to have the opportunity to interact with people from so many different cultures on a daily basis. And have I mentioned I am serious about grammar?

What are your hopes and expectations of teaching at AOI?

My hopes and expectations are that students feel confident that they’re improving and are excited about language learning; that I embarrass myself only when necessary and that students never say “She like it” again.

Travels:

Russia to study, Czech Republic for a year, Hungary, Turkey, Germany, Austria, England, to be continued…

The students practiced their English by asking local farmers about their curious-looking produce. Is it a fruit or a vegetable? One farmer offers a student a free sample,  explaining that cherimoya is a fruit that tastes sweet.

Students enjoyed practicing their English with the local farmers and learning about the produce.

Students were given a list of vegetables to find at the farmer’s market. The students are checking their list and looking for the vegetables.

My name is Keiko Watanabe and I am from Japan, and I am currently attending a university in Japan.

I have come to California to further my knowledge in the English Language. I am currently a resident in America for the past 8 months.

May goals are to be more fluent in English and be able to interact with those that speak English. I am currently enrolled in ESL and CITLS classes. The facilities here are great ACL has a lounge area with computer access and a kitchen area as well that provide places to hang out and eat. The Classes here are great and so are the teachers and staff.

I am staying with a host family that has 3 children which I am taking care of. My host family is so great!! And I am really happy to have met them in America. I am going to try to study harder and enjoy myself!!