ELC BLOG

Emilie is from Liege, Belgium and she recently graduated from high school. She will be studying at ELC until December.  ELC is one of her many stops before she starts college next September to become a translator. Read on to learn more about Emilie.

Is this your first time in the US?

Yes it is.

What were you surprised to learn about the US or LA? Did you experience culture shock?

Not really, but I was surprised to see how big Los Angeles was.  I also like how people in Los Angeles engage with others and chit-chat about anything.  For example, how I get greeted when I enter a store and they continue to talk with me.  In Belgium they don’t do that.

What do you miss about your country?

I miss the fries. All the fries here are frozen and I don’t like it. They don’t taste as good as the ones back home in Belgium.

What do you do for fun?

I love people watching!  It is so fun to sit in a bus or a random street to watch everything and everyone.

What are your hobbies?

I like to surf the internet and read.  My favorite book right now is The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows.  It is about a woman in the 1940s who writes letter to a man who lives in an island that is under the control of the Germans right after World War II.

Do you have any tips for people who want to learn English?

I would say the key to learning English is to keep speaking English.  It can be hard to speak English all the time for non-native speakers, but I think it is the only way to learn.  I personally have a hard time only speaking in English especially around people who speak French.

What is your favorite place in LA?

I really like Olvera Street in Downtown Los Angeles. I love the music the Mexican bands play there.  It is also very colorful and very lively. Oh, and the Mexican food is so good.

What is your favorite restaurant in Westwood?

I forgot what the name of the restaurant was, but it was a Korean BBQ place.  I had never had Korean food before and it was really good.  It was fun watching the waiter cook the meat in front of me.

What is your favorite type of food?

I love Italian food, especially lasagna.

What are your favorite moments in class at ELC?

I like any time in our communication skills class when someone talks about themselves and everyone joins in the conversation. It is also fun whenever we play Taboo and compete with each other.

What are your plans after ELC?

As soon as I finish my courses here, I will be touring around the world before I start college.  It will be a 6 month trip to Guatemala, Costa Rica, Australia, Mauritius, and South Africa.  I can’t wait to start traveling around the world and see and experience new things.