ASC Holiday Parties! - December 2011

This year, ASC celebrated the winter holidays with two amazing parties put on by the Commonwealth Ave. and Downtown schools. Students, teachers, and staff members of all different religions and beliefs came together to commemorate an amazing year of experiences and usher in an even better 2012! Everyone enjoyed catered food, a game of Yankee Swap, and free prizes (including tuition discounts)! Click on the images below to view larger versions, or Like us on Facebook to see even more!

College Fair for International Students - December 2011

On December 15, 2011, ASC held its first semi-annual college fair at the Downtown school. The event was attended by representatives from Cambridge College, Quincy College, Salem State University, Middlesex Community College, Mass Bay Community College, Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology, and UMass Boston. It was a valuable experience for all of our students and guests, whether their plans were to attend college in the United States or if they desired to gain more practice with native English speakers. Click on an image below to view a larger version or "Like" us on Facebook to see the full album!

We Are Boston Gala - December 2011

On December 14, 2011, ASC's staff and teachers attended a dinner hosted by the Mayor's Office of New Bostonians. The purpose of this event was to recognize outstanding members of Boston's immigrant community, as well as native Bostonians who have made great strides to improve the lives of immigrants in their own communities. A lovely international buffet was served to complement amazing musical, dance, and theater performances. Check out these pictures below or "Like" us on Facebook to see even more!

First Semi-Annual College Fair Hosted by ASC - December 2011

On Thursday, December 15, 2011, ASC will host its first ever semi-annual College Fair at its downtown location. Admissions officers from UMass Boston, Cambridge College, Salem State University, Quincy College, Mass Bay Community College, Middlesex Community College, and Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology will be present to answer students' questions about their Certificate, Associate's, Bachelor's, and Master's Degree Programs. Boston-area students are encouraged to attend, get more information, and bring their questions! If you would like to attend, please call 617-338-5288 or e-mail ASC to RSVP. ASC classes will meet at 9:30AM and the college fair will officially start at 11:00AM.

ASC on Ice (Skating) - December 2011

Beth, our Comm. Ave. teacher of Levels 3 and 4, took students out to the Frog Pond this December for a day of ice skating. Great weather prevailed after the rain and the students had an outstanding time! The Frog Pond is one of Boston's best places to visit during the Winter season, when the area is covered with smooth ice that's perfect for an afternoon of skating.

Giving Thanks - November 2011

Students from both campuses gathered in the downtown ballroom to celebrate Thanksgiving and share a wonderful meal with fellow students, friends, teachers, and staff members. Director Carl Nelson gave an inspiring speech and invited both students and teachers to share what they were thankful for on this wonderful occasion. Students, teachers, and staff members prepared family recipes or food from their native countries, and the amazing Annie Wu Nelson cooked bountiful portions of moist turkey, succulent ham, and traditional American sides. Check out the pictures below or "Like" ASC on Facebook to see more!

A Frightfully Fun Halloween Party - October 2011

ASC students from both the downtown school and the Comm. Ave. campus joined together to celebrate Halloween with fun costumes, pumpkin carving, and even a "haunted house" made from an abandoned hallway! We participated in fun games like a candy corn relay, mummifying staff members, and bobbing for donuts on a string. Students with the best costumes won iTunes gift cards. Click on the images below or visit the ASC Facebook Page to see more pictures!

ASC Students Enjoy Apple Picking! - September 2011

We had a great turnout for our annual apple picking trip to the Belkin Family Lookout Farm! Students picked many different kinds of apples, pears, and peaches, but the highlight of our day was enjoying the nice weather and having a good time with friends, faculty, and staff. Click on an image below to view a larger version, or "Like" us on Facebook to see even more pictures!

Former ASC Student Featured in The Improper Bostonian - June 2011

If you pick up a copy of this week's Improper Bostonian, you can read an article on page 10 entitled "Snout and About," featuring an up-and-coming restaurant on Dartmouth Street called the Salty Pig. The restaurant's owners called upon Asyera "Bella" Sidauruk, a former ASC student who is currently studying at Suffolk University, to create artwork and illustrations for the restaurant's interior. After witnessing firsthand Bella's skill and ingenuity, owners Michael Moxley and Jim Cochener invited her to design a matching mural for their other restaurant, Coda, based in the Back Bay/South End neighborhood. ASC is proud to have hosted such a talented and intelligent student, who received a scholarship for her studies at Suffolk due to her portfolio. Click on the image below to view a pdf of the article.

ASC Teachers to Ride in Support of Bikes Not Bombs - June 2011On June 12, 2011, ASC teachers Jason, Eric, and Tyler will ride in support of Bikes Not Bombs, a local bike shop and non-profit organization that promotes bicycle recycling and community empowerment in low-income neighborhoods of Boston by training disadvantaged youth in bicycle repair, leadership, and good citizenship. BNB also benefits the Global South by donating bicycles to individuals and farms in Third World countries. ASC has agreed to match 50% of the donations received in support of these teachers - GO TEAM ASC! Click on the image below to view the full-sized flyer:

Memorial Day Picnic and Barbecue - May 2011ASC hosted its annual Memorial Day Picnic and Barbecue at the softball diamond of Boston Common on Thursday, May 26. The event was well-attended by both the Commonwealth Ave. and Downtown schools. We were happy to see so many of our students, their friends, and their family members come together to share a wonderful, sunny afternoon with teachers and staff! Activities included riding Swan Boats in the Public Garden; playing soccer, badminton, tennis, and volleyball; folding origami; and beading necklaces. This year, the Downtown school claimed the trophy for the relay competition between both campuses. Authentic Brazilian barbecue dishes were catered by Midwest Grill of Cambridge and bountiful side dishes, vegetarian options, and fruit were prepared by our talented Director and chef de cuisine, Annie Nelson! Click on the thumbnails and videos below to see our pictures and YouTube videos from the picnic:

ASC Raises $1200 to Support Earthquake Relief in Japan!At the end of our March session of classes, ASC had raised $600 to support the Red Cross' relief efforts in Japan, and our generous directors, Carl and Annie Nelson, agreed to match 100% of the donations received from teachers, students, and staff members. A total of $1200 was given to the American Red Cross on behalf of our school! See our collection flyer below:

Alumni Day - February 2011This year, ASC hosted its first ever Alumni Day, bringing a group of current and former ASC students together to discuss continuing education after ASC. Four former students (Lancho, Pui, Guzel and Poon) made up a panel which entertained questions from a large group of current students on all aspects of higher education after ASC. These topics included college interview tips as well as what documents a student needs in order to apply to college. The importance of resumes and personal statements was also discussed, as was the importance of your TOEFL score.

The panel, with students from Northeastern University, New England Conservatory, Bunkerhill Community College and Cambridge College, also gave general tips for student success at college. The importance of finding a "study buddy" and taking advantage of professors' office hours were highlighted as support for the nonnative student. The former students also recommended that ASC students keep their materials on academic writing, as they are invaluable in crafting academic papers at the university level. Gaining confidence while at ASC is also extremely important, since most college courses require participation and presentations.

The panelists also discussed some of the more surprising things about college, including: the high cost of a nonresident to attend college, the strict attendance policies (no absences!) and the large amount of work that will need to be completed outside of the lecture hall.

The discussion also touched upon the isolation that can occur when you realize you're the only nonnative speaker! Here at ASC, all the students are students of English. But once you've been accepted into a college, it is assumed you can perform with the same level of proficiency as native speakers. Relationships with college professors won't always be as close as those with ASC teachers. Preparing now can alleviate some of the stress this situation can bring about.

It was wonderful to have these former students share their personal experience and tips. Higher education in America may be a challenge, but it is not out of reach for our students. It helps to know what to expect, and to have the skills from ASC before you begin college. Overall, the message of these former students was "You can do it too!"

September 2010For all students, the September classes will now begin on Tuesday the 7th of September. Earlier versions of our calendar listed a one week summer vacation so that September classes would begin on August 30th. But now, all students will have a two-week summer vacation instead. Have a good summer!

April 2010 - Free TOEFL LessonOn Saturday April 17th ASC will have a free iBT TOEFL lesson! Anyone is welcome to join. Please call (617 730 3705) or email (info@ascenglish.com) to register.

There will be an overview of the iBT TOEFL test, a lesson, then a question and answer session

March 2010 - Performance DayAt the end of March we had our first performance day of the year. It was a great success for all the classes. One of the highlights was the new ASC song!

February 2010 - Free iBT test and seminar Saturday Feb 20th at 1pm, ASC English is offering a free iBT TOEFL test so anyone who is interested in studying TOEFL test is welcome!

It includes the full iBT practice test and a TOEFL seminar

If you are interested, please call us at 617-730-3705 or email jamie@ascenglish.com

January 2010 - Free English Assessment and Consultation ASC is working with Quincy College to offer two free English Assessment events:

Saturday Jan 16th@2pm, at ASC English(1106 Commonwealth Ave, Boston)
This is a special events for au pairs.

Thursday Jan 28th@2pm and 5pm, at Quincy College (150 Newport Avenue Extension, Quincy, MA)
Everyone is welcome to join this events.

Please see our flyer for details. If you are interested, please email jamie@ascenglish.com with any questions or to book a seat.
See you there!

August 2009 - New College Partnership Agreements ASC English is proud to announce its conditional acceptance agreements with Cambridge College and Quincy College. In July 2009, ASC English adopted a new curriculum which focuses on the skills students need for academic success. ASC has worked closely with both Cambridge College and Quincy College to create an agreement which ensures that our students are ready for the rigors of higher education.
Cambridge College: ASC students can transfer to Cambridge College after completing our new Level 5 class and receiving a letter of recommendation by ASC. TOEFL scores are not required. That being said, TOEFL students must score at least a 79 on a TOEFL practice test to be eligible for admission to Cambridge College .
Quincy College: In order to be admitted to Quincy College, students must pass our new Level 4 class and receive a letter of recommendation by ASC.

June 2009 - ASC English Open House at Downtown Boston ASC English proudly invites you to join us for an Open House at our newest location in downtown Boston. Our new school is conveniently located and its modern interior is designed to serve our growing student population. During the event, many surprise gifts will be given out. New students, who fill out an application form and register at the Open House, will receive a $100 tuition discount. Old students, who introduce a new student to our school who registers at the Open House, will receive a $50 tuition discount! We welcome you to bring all your international friends to enjoy a FREE Chinese buffet for lunch as well as many fun activities and games. You will also have a chance to win the grand prize of "FREE TUITION FOR ONE MONTH". Don't miss this once in a "blue moon" chance! Have fun celebrating ASC's new downtown location with us!

Time:06/26/09 (Friday) 11:00am -2:00pm

Location:65 Harrison Ave. 6th floor, Boston, MA 02111(Green Line to "Boylston"; Red Line to "Downtown Crossing" or "South Station"; Orange Line to "Chinatown")

October 2008 - ASC English now has an additional location in Downtown Boston!! In October, we opened our downtown Boston location for Super A students. The address is 65 Harrison Ave, 6th Floor, Boston , which is close to Chinatown T Station on the Orange Line, Boylston T Station on the Green Line, and South Station and Downtown Crossing T Station on the Red Line. Now Super A students will have an option to study either at the main campus (1106 Commonwealth Ave, Boston) or at the downtown location. Please come to the main campus to apply for admission, and let us know if you prefer to study at our new location. Free wireless internet connection is available at this location too. Welcome to Downtown Boston!!

June 2008 - Former ASC student receives $13000 scholarship from Suffolk University Veronika Gusakova attended ASC during Summer of 2007. Upon completing our College Preparation Program, Veronika transferred to Quincy College where she studied business. After graduating from Quincy College with her associates degree, Veronika was accepted at Suffolk University where she will complete her bachelors in Business. Veronika was awarded a $13000.00 scholarship—something very unusual for an international student. Congratulations Veronika!

May 23, 2008 - Memorial Day BBQ ASC celebrated the "unofficial" start of summer a few days early along the banks of the Charles River at Memorial Beach. Students experienced traditional American BBQ foods and enjoyed the early summer sun while playing games like soccer and volleyball with their teachers and classmates. It was a fun (and delicious) way to finish a week of classes and launch into the 3-day weekend. View photos »

May 19, 2008 - Movie Mondays! During the first week of May, ASC installed a movie projector and screen in one of our largest classrooms. This new technology is now often be used by teachers during class time to bring the internet and video resources to our students. Additionally, every Monday afternoon students have the opportunity to watch a free movie…complete with popcorn! The first movie to debut on the ASC screen was "The Princess Bride", a classic romantic comedy, well-know by most Americans.

April/May 2008 - Local College Visits Both Quincy College and Cambridge College have recently visited ASC English to hold information sessions about the programs they offer and the application process. College representatives gave detailed presentations and allowed plenty of time for ASC students to ask specific questions.