Here at EC Boston, you will make a lot of friends. Students who come from all over the world speak different languages, and different cultures converge here.You will find that you will not only learn a lot of things like English, but you will also share good times with your international friends, learn about customs and cultures, enjoy activities together, try each other’s country’s food, or prepare food by yourself.

Last week, a Pre-intermediate class composed of teacher Colette and her students, made delicious dessert crepes together. Teacher Colette brought ingredients and and the students learned how to make Banana-Nutella Crepes while using the passive voice to describe the steps in making them.They worked like a team, had fun learning grammar and enjoyed the dessert like a family.

Life is really about friendship and food!
Words by Xiaolei Wang, Pre-Intermediate 3B class

Thank you to Xiaolei Wang for the post and to Colette for showing students how to have fun while they study ESL abroad at EC Boston!

By: Saaed Mohammed Ahmed Aldabddob Alhebsi, a student ambassador

I thought I’d tell you a little bit about myself! One hobby of mine is taking pictures. I love to take pictures, especially around the city of Boston, and to find new places to get good shots. So, I thought I’d run a photography contest for all students at EC Boston. Share an original photo that you’ve taken of a site in Boston to our Facebook page or email it to me: angelavallillo@ecenglish.com. The contest will run for a week starting NOW, and will end at the close of classes on next Friday. So get sharing! Take a little break, while you study ESL abroad at EC Boston, and take some pictures!

I almost forgot what you get if you win the contest! Your picture will be featured on our Facebook page and on this blog with a little interview if you get the best shot! If its really good, I will personally get your picture printed out and framed and put up in the office.

May the best photographer win!!!

Here’s a picture that I took on the top of a parking garage of downtown Boston.

I’m Angela and I’m a junior at Northeastern University studying biochemistry. I’m interning at EC Boston for the summer as the student services intern! I’m going to be running the student ambassador program and creating your activity calendar! I’m taking suggestions for any activities that you would like to do over the summer. Remember to check the activity binder for new, fun activities. I would love for students to join the ambassador program, also! The program is a great way for you to show your EC Boston spirit! You can share your student experiences with new students, show them around the school, and learn about why they chose to study ESL abroad at EC Boston. Best of all, you get free breakfast! Feel free to come find me at the front desk to chat, to give me an idea for an activity, or to learn more about the student ambassador program!

The other mysterious face at the front desk is Daniel! He is the Conversation Partners coordinator intern for the summer! He is a senior at Emmanuel College studying International Relations. He is running the Conversation Partners program and would love if students joined! As an EC student, you are matched with an American student and meet with them once a week for an hour. This is a GREAT way to practice your English and make a new American friend! Feel free to come to the front desk to talk to Daniel about joining this program or to get to know him.

Talk to you soon, friends!

A special thanks to Mayara, Valerie, Min Jung, and Natalia who shared their digital storytelling videos with us on Friday. These were the first students to complete the Digital Storytelling Elective class. Thank you to all who shared videos and all the students, teachers, and staff who came to watch and show their support!

In this class students told their personal stories and goals using narration, images, videos, and music. The first step was discovering a goal or interest to write about. Students brainstormed and worked on creating a story “script.” Next, students had to work on editing their drafts, paying special attention to their word choice. After writing their drafts, students practiced and perfected their pronunciation.  Inputting narration and choosing images happened next. Students carefully selected images and videos to match their narrations and, lastly, added music.

Their hard work paid off! We can’t wait to see what our new students create in Digital Storytelling next month! Come study ESL abroad at EC Boston join our new electives!

Haymarket is Boston’s historic outdoors marketplace, and has been operating since around 1830. Haymarket is the ideal place to buy fruits and vegetables. Located right on the orange line and near Faneuil Hall, Haymarket opens Fridays, rain or shine. Be sure to bring one dollar bills, most items are just $1 or $2. Also be sure to check out the stores alongside the tents, they have a wonderful selection of fish, meats and cheeses. As always, EC encourages you to be eco-friendly, bring your own bags and reduce your use of plastic! Here’s an idea for a great snack, provided by EC students in Melody’s beginner class!

Spring is in the air and seeds are in the soil!  Yesterday afternoon, EC Boston’s Academic Director, Stella Dubish, led students and staff in a gardening demonstration that is sure to yield chives, basil, rosemary, thyme, and once very important sunflower. EC Boston is in competition with her fifteen sister schools to grow the tallest sunflower by July 31st. Sunflowers symbolize positivity in many cultures, they’re environmentally versatile and the seeds taste great! Where is the best spot for sunlight for this sun seeking flower?

Quincy is the birthplace of not just one, but two American presidents: John Adams, the second U.S. president and John Quincy Adams, the sixth U.S. president. By taking the red line T outbound towards Braintree and getting off at the Quincy Center stop, you will be right outside the Adams National Historical Park Visitor Center. Here you will find lots of information on these two very important and influential presidents, as well as ticket information for the historic tours. You can take a trolley tour and visit both of the birthplaces of these presidents, as well as their family estate, which features many original artifacts from four generations of the Adams family. There is also a historic orchard and formal style 18th century garden to walk around. You may even recognize the house and already be familiar with the history of John Adams from the very popular biography by David McCullough or TV miniseries on HBO.

After soaking up some American history, you may want to take a stroll down Wollaston Beach and stop for fried seafood at Tony’s Clam Shop. Or if you are into a trendier or club scene, head to the Marina Bay boardwalk for dinner and a night out at the popular Ocean Club, which features popular house music DJ concerts throughout the summer.

Quincy is known as the “City of Presidents” and is full of fascinating history as well as a lively social scene! Get out of the city and discover Quincy today!

Food insecurity is a real issue across the United States and right here in Massachusetts. Individuals and households that are food insecure do not have enough food to put on the table on a daily basis and do not know where the next meal is coming from.  In Massachusetts the food insecurity rate has risen to 43% since 2008. That is over 700,000 people from children to the elderly, who are not getting enough proper nutrition.

Since 1969 Project Bread has been committed to finding sustainable and innovative ways to combat hunger and the annual 20 mile Walk For Hunger is one of the oldest and most iconic fundraisers.  The 2012 Walk for Hunger brought together more than 43,000 walkers, 200 volunteers and raised $3.6 million to combat hunger. EC Boston students and staff helped raise awareness and enjoyed the great weather by particiating in the walk on Sunday!

When you want to learn a new language in your country, it’s not a very good idea because you just learn it at school and when you are not at school, you’ll hear your language and that’s the difference because when you are in the country where all people speak the language you’re looking for to learn, it makes you  better because you must speak the new language to live and connect with this country.

So I came to Boston to learn English where I can hear and speak just the English language. I came to Boston to learn English. I tried before to learn English in Syria and I learned some percentage in 22 years. I think I learned here the same percentage in 3 months. I registered at EC Boston because it is one of the best schools for learning English here in Boston. Here at EC, I can learn not just from my teacher. I can make conversations with my classmates and learn from those who are better than me, and those who know less than me.

I feel better now and I can say that whenever someone asks me if I speak English, I say “Yes, I speak English.” Now, I can connect with all kinds of people here, and after school I can go to see new places and a new world where I can know more about American culture by meeting new people and learn from them.

Written by Ayad Mirza, Pre-Int 1A