The winter session graduation day was a glaring success. All the students and staff celebrated together. The festivities included delicious food and drinks. The Valedictorian gave a short speech encouraging students to look forward to the future. The day was wonderful as everyone enjoyed the food and friendship as the four wonderful students who finished level 5 of the program at ALA were recognized.

We look forward to the next step in our journey.

ALA celebrated the Lunar New year on January 29. Everyone enjoyed the delicious food as we honored the culture of our Asian students. All were excited to see what the year of the snake would bring for them. The best part of course, aside from fellowship, was the red envelopes which were given to each person following the Chinese tradition.

Red envelope started in China before spreading thought southeast Asia. Red envelopes are given on holidays and special events such as weddings.

Our level five students enjoyed lunch provided by the academy. Teachers and students from the lower levels celebrated with and cogratulated those who have completed all five levels at ALA. Brunellia Mitsingou, who is our Valedictorian student this year, said some inspiring words to everyone. Then students enjoyed flavored Palestinian food, including hummus, falafel and shawarma. Traditional music from each student’s culture was played and danced as part of the graduation party.

At ALA, we are committed to providing students with the best cultural experiences at all levels to ensure students know that they are the most important part of our Academy.

Students had a blast celebrating Thanksgiving in the USA. Every student brought typical food from their home country, demonstrating the rich cultures from around the world. This activity was a way to deepen understanding of each students’ culture not only for their classmates but for them as well. Students described and shared with one another the type of food each had cooked at home.  Finally, students were given the opportunity to share their individual talents with everyone here at ALA in the ALA talent show. Karaoke, dancing, and make up were part of the wonderful talents students performed, delighting both teachers and classmates alike. At ALA, culture plays an important role in developing awareness and empathy about each other.

Students took a trip to the Greensboro Science Center. While learning about the animals, students also participated in a scavenger hunt. They gathered information for a future presentation about endangered animals that was specially designed to enhance their ability to interact in everyday life. The trip not only offered another opportunity to speak with locals, but it was also fun and exciting for students. ALA uses this type of activity to practice reading and speaking skills to enhance the learning process.

Students continue the learning process through unique activities, intentionally designed to enhance specific learning objectives. Students enjoyed a picture walk that helped them clarify the necessity of making inferences while reading. Interviewing each other is another perfect opportunity to practice speaking skills while also learning about their classmates. There is never a dull moment at ALA, where we prepare you for everyday life as well as your professional and educational future.

Students and teachers alike dressed up in costumes for Halloween

As part of the celebration students participated and judged a costume contest. Students modeled their outfits in a costume parade. After viewing all the costumes, everyone voted for their favorite costumes. ALA awarded prizes to the three top students and candy for all students was provided which sweetened everyone’s day.

Everyone had fun celebrating a part of American culture and taking a short break from the rigorous course taught on a daily basis here at ALA. At ALA culture is considered an extremely important part of the educational process.

Contact us for more information about ALA.

Graduation is an important step towards achieving your goals here at American Language Academy. Our level five students enjoyed lunch provided by the academy. Teachers and students from the lower levels celebrated with and congratulated those who have completed all five levels at ALA. Everyone enjoyed flavored wings covered with delicious sauces. Traditional music from each students’ culture was played as part of the graduation party.

At ALA, we are committed to providing students with the best experiences at all levels to ensure students know that they are the most important part of our Academy.

Contact us for more information about ALA.

Studying abroad offers different experiences that students really enjoy. One of the amazing activities was interviewing people in downtown Greensboro. Students, guided by the teachers, created a set of questions and used them to interview people from different backgrounds at coffee shops, libraries and restaurants. These questions related to topics that were part of their education program. The purpose of this activity was to deepen students’ comprehension of the subject area being studied, as well as develop speaking skills by asking questions in real life settings.

At ALA, we are interested in providing students with a wide range of experiential, social and recreational activities to help them practice and improve their English fluency, as well as to connect with others to enjoy American culture and activities.

Contact us for more information about ALA.

Making friends is your single most effective tool for learning a foreign language. The difficulty of finding speakers of the language you’re trying to master when you’re in your home country can make this an unrealistic challenge, but here you are trying to learn English in an English-speaking country, so take advantage of it! Here are a few ways to make friends:

• Join a club

There are all kinds of clubs in any small or medium-sized city, so look for something that interests you. You could join a book club, a chess club, a gardening club, a dance class, or a gym class. Of course, you will need to talk to the people in your club to fully enjoy this situation, so don’t hesitate to ask someone you like for a cup of coffee or invite them to dinner.

• Volunteer

There are many volunteering opportunities that will combine doing good for the community with meeting new people. You can participate in a soup kitchen, join your local temple, mosque or church, or volunteer at the library. In all these circumstances, you should be able to meet people and use your English.

• Meet your neighbors

Neighborhoods in the U.S. may seem like blocks of closed doors, but with a little effort you will discover that most people want to have a good relationship with their neighbors. The best way to meet your neighbors is to take them a pie, cookies, or a dish from your country. Introduce yourself and your family if you have one. Invite them over for coffee or dinner. You can even be the one to organize a block party—your neighbors will probably be thrilled!

You may think that making friends in a foreign country is too hard a task, but most people want to know you and learn about your culture as much as you want to know them. For someone who’s never travelled, meeting a person from another country is like going on a little adventure, so don’t be shy! Get out there and enjoy showing local people all you have to offer!