The Academy News Do you want help
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with your statement of purpose? Who can help you at Language Academy? See p.3 for
DIRECTOR’S WELCOME LETTER 2013
the answer.
Dear Fall 2013 Students:
Hiking to the Hollywood Sign was an adventure for Allen. See p. 4 for the story. Go to www.usc.edu/ langacad/ and click on “Current Students” for the online edition of The Academy News
Welcome to the USC Language Academy Intensive English Program! We are very excited about your arrival! The faculty and staff of the Academy are ready to help you achieve these goals: 1.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Who’s Who at 2 the Academy FAQs for new
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students GRE Tips for
live with, study with and have adventures with people from all over the world! You can get to know them very well while you share your cultures and dreams. Visit USC Language Academy on Facebook. Then, stay connected after you leave Language Academy using our alumni website.
bly and confidently.
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Increase your English and use it with confidence: For 21 hours each week, your instructors will work hard to help you learn more English. You will speak English with USC students in small conversation groups to help you speak English comforta-
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Improve your test scores: You may select iBT TOEFL or IELTS classes to help improve your test scores. Daily writing and listening exercises will also help you improve your writing and listening scores.
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Get to know American culture, Los Angeles and USC: Every week you can visit a new place in Los Angeles, talk to Americans and learn about the variety of cultures. You can explore USC’s many facilities so conveniently because you are right on campus!
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Make new friends from other cultures: You will
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Fully understand your options for admission to USC or other colleges and universities: You can meet with our Academic Advisor, Pamela Yamamoto Ireland, to help you understand all your admission options, timelines and requirements.
(Continued on p. 4)
Success Hollywood
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Sign Hike Movie
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Review Pics of the
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UPCOMING ACTIVITIES Welcome Picnic TODAY!!! Friday, September 13th 12:00pm—2:00pm @ JEF Courtyard
L.A. County Fair Friday, September 20, 2013 12:00pm—9:00pm ($10)
Come meet the new and continuing Language Academy students at the Welcome Picnic TODAY! Lunch will be served! Since it is supposed to rain today, we will have the picnic INSIDE! Meet at the Marks Hall Lounge, behind Doheny Library. See maps in the announcements for more information.
Come see the rural side of the L.A! See livestock shows and competitions, pig races, circus acts, carnival rides and and enjoy lots of fair food. This is a great American summer past time! Sign up today at 12:00pm in JEF Courtyard. Bring $10 cash payment.
Week
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Welcome Letter
gether we will accomplish all of our goals.
Drinking Laws in U.S.
Continued from p. 1
On behalf of the faculty and staff, let me The laws about drinking alcohol in 6. Be involved in your classes, with the facul- welcome you again to the USC Language the United States are strict. You must ty, staff, and with your classmates to make Academy. I look forward to meeting be 21 years old to purchase any kind of each of you and helping you have a great this term the best it can be: Actively paralcoholic drink, even beer or wine. ticipate in classes. Ask questions! Fo- fall session. Avoid trouble and obey the law. cus on your homework and contribute Sincerely, to group projects by doing your best American alcohol laws are a work. Organize study dates with patchwork of rules that vary by friends. Make every moment of your Kate O’Connor state, county, and towns. In some semester count! Director, places (primarily in the South), en7. Have fun!: All of our students have se- USC Language Academy tire counties or towns may prohibit rious goals and plans, but don’t forget Rossier School of alcohol. to have fun! Silvia Green, the Student Education
In all states, however, the drinking age is set at 21 for both sexes and is fairly well enforced with ID checks by the alcohol seller. Furthermore, it is illegal in most states to provide a minor with alcohol even in the company of his parents.
Services Coordinator, will plan many fun activities for you. Be friendly and outgoing. Remember a smile is the universal language. We believe we attract the best students of English in the world (YOU!). That means we have to be the best English program in the world. If we work to-
Who’s Who at Language Academy? New students are often unsure who to go to for any questions or problems. What if you want help with your email account? What if you want someone to tell you about applying to a USC program? This directory can help:
Advisor Gil Cho. See Gil for
Level changes
Fees and Billing gcho@usc.edu
Classroom policies Homework questions
Program Information. See
Director Kate O’Connor:
Student Services Coordinator Silvia Green. See Silvia for Problems with email accounts/ USCard/health/housing
See Kate for
General Information
keo@usc.edu Assistant Director College Advisor Pam Yamamoto Ireland. See Pam for Advising for college applications Statement of Purpose
pyamaoto@usc.edu Admission and Immigration
Immigration questions
See your teachers for
Academy Activities
Jessica Stern for information about Language Academy. jepsica@usc.edu
Signing up for Language Labs merlos@usc.edu
Academic Director Deb Detzel. See Deb for Electives Attendance detzel@usc.edu
New students had lunch on Tuesday at EVK. Classes started on Thursday.
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Frequently Asked Questions Q. I want to go to the gym. What do I do? A. The Lyon Center (gym) is located across the street from the USC Language Academy. In order to go work out at the gym, you need a sticker from the staff at the Lyon Center. As a Language Academy student, you have free access to the gym (this does not include special classes, which are an additional fee) where you can run, lift weights, and stretch. They might tell you to fill out a form online—BUT—don’t. Only USC students should fill out the online form. As a Language Academy student, you will need to fill out a paper form and sign it. Then, the front desk staff will give you a nice sticker to go on your USC ID card. You will show it to the front desk staff every time you go to the gym. Q. I want to put money on my USC ID card. What do I do? A. PLEASE DON’T USE THE MACHINE AT LEAVEY LIBRARY! Unfortunately, the USC system has some trouble with Language Academy cards, so you need to make sure to follow these instructions carefully. If you would like to put money on your USC ID card (USCard) so that you may use your card like a “debit” card on the USC campus, you will add “discretionary” funds either online or at the USCard office, located in Parking Structure X (PSX). To add money to your card online, go to www.usc.edu/ vipcardservices. Click on the button for VIPs. You will need to enter your name, email address and USC ID number (10-digit number located on your USC ID card). Then you can type in the amount of money you would like to add to your USC ID card. You will then receive an email to verify the information and to ask for a credit card number that the money will come from. If you don’t want to use the online system, stop by the USCard office and have them do it for you. Just bring your USC ID card and a credit card. You can check your balance any time online, at the office, or at any USC cashier. “Discretionary” funds, or “discresh” as USC students call it, can be used at any food place on campus, as well as the USC Bookstore. Q. I want to sign up for my USC email address. What do I do? A. You can follow the directions on the 10 Easy Steps handout you received during Orientation, or simply visit www.usc.edu/firstlogin and follow the directions. If you are still having problems signing up for your email address, you can email Jessica at jessicrs@rossier.usc.edu, and she can set it up for you. Remember to put in your first name as it appears on your USC ID card, and your last name as it appears on your USC ID card. Then enter your birthday. Then you will click on the button at the very bottom that says “Please check here if you are activating an organizational account or a guest/affiliate account with email services.” Remember to write down your username and password!! (You will have a different username and password for the Language Lab sign-up website that you create!)
have to be a demon over your shoulder. There are ways to tackle it, from learning the right content to masterBy ASSYL ZHAKUPOV ing the tricks of the test. A lot of websites out there on the I know that many Language Internet claim to have the best tips Academy students (of course except and tricks, or shortcuts to helping you my Annenberg school classmates ace the exam, but a few pieces of and those who have already received advice I have tried and heard from acceptances) are probably dreading those around me have been the most over the GRE—a graduate school helpful in my own preparation and I entrance exam that is nothing short hope to share those with you. of ominous. However, it doesn’t
GRE TIPS
First, there is a reason that every GRE Verbal Reasoning book has a long list of words in the back of the book. This is because they are IMPORTANT! Essentially, sleep with your dictionary. (No, not in that way, but you know what I mean). Spend every extra minute you have after studying to memorize the meanings of the GRE hit-list. Don’t just memorize. In fact, engrain them in your memory See GRE Tips on p.8
Life in L. A.
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Hiking to the Hollywood Sign By ALLEN TIAN
____________________ Finally, I took a real look at the famous Hollywood sign, in person! It was one of the nicest days in LA. My friends, Virgil, Changpei, Demitri and I went hiking in Griffith Park. Actually our plan was just to visit the Griffith Observatory. But we ended up hiking due to a statement by Demitri. “I once hiked to the Hollywood sign,” he said when he stood in front of the observatory pointing at those big white woods over the mountains. Of course, for people like us who only had seen that famous sign on TV screens, never would we be that silly to let this chance slip away. So, we went hiking! The way to the Hollywood sign was different from the one Dimitri took, as we were at observatory, which is southeast from where people usually begin to hike. But we decided to give it a try. The route was not steep at first, but dusty and without shade. We could see the first 200 meters of it, but the left was coiling to the back of the mountain as if it was hiding from us. Hot, as it was, exposed under ultraviolet ray and embraced by heating air, we all sweated badly just after 10 minutes walking. Virgil, who used to do bicycling in Taiwan, said, “I think hiking here can even compete with mountain bicycling!” Yes, everyone agreed. When trees became fewer and fewer, it meant we were close to the top of the mountain. Certainly, it was not where the Hollywood sign was
Allen (far right) and his friends hiked to the Hollywood sign in Griffith Park
set. It was still far away from us, luring us with its bright body from time to time. But, we were all shocked by the scene on top. It was the city L.A. To the south, the whole city was spreading all the way to the horizon, vast but trim. Downtown was one of the several places we could tell immediately due to the outstanding height, but right now, those skyscrapers were just like toy bricks for kids. We tried to locate USC, but it was concealed in thousands of “bricks.” The view was so fascinating that we rested there, devouring it for quite a long time. Keep walking. The mountain routes were like the body of a snake, up and down, curving and long. As we took a different way, there were times we got lost, but we managed to find the right one. After about two hours walking, we could see Hollywood right there as if we could touch it with a giant jump! But we were on the
wrong way again and it took too long time to go back. But we noticed that there was a shortcut, accurately speaking, a very steep slope leading to another mountain road beneath the road we stood on. A little bit dangerous. What to do? To go back, which meant giving up; or take the challenge? After a quick discussion, we decided to try it. I used to go climbing several times, so I went first. I told Changpei, who was a little afraid, “you will be safe. I am just in front you and can stop you at anytime. We can make it!” Carefully and slowly, we moved inch by inch to the end of the slope. We watched and helped each other. Finally, four of us successfully and safely landed on the right way. Then, after turning three corners, we saw what we wanted, the Hollywood sign! Huge, beautiful, and amazing! It just sat there, quietly and calmly, looking at the whole city, at us. It was like after travelling thousands of
miles that we meet with our beloved one at the end. It was exhausting, but how awesome it was… I could not remember how many pictures did we take or how may gestures we made while taking pictures. We were just so happy and so thrilled. We enjoyed the sunset with Hollywood sign there. It was the most beautiful scene I had ever seen in my life. We were happy that we did not give up. Though we took several wrong ways, we were happy that we helped and cooperated with each other in the face of difficulties. It was the last activity we had as students of Language Academy, but we had practiced real Trojans’ belief of being faithful, courageous and ambitious all along the way. As for being scholarly and skillful, I believe we will definitely fulfill them in the new coming term. Fight on!
Movie Review
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Portrait of Adolescence in “The Spectacular Now” By XI (SILVIA) KANG
_________________ “The Spectacular Now,” directed by James Ponsoldt was released on August 2, 2013. This film won the Special Jury Award for Acting at the Sundance Film Festival, and its script was co-written by Scott Neustadter and Michael Weber, the writers of “500 Days of Summer.” The film creates a vivid portrait of adolescence that confronts love and adulthood. Based upon the novel “The Spectacular Now” by Tim Tharp, the film follows protagonist Sutter Keely, who used to be popular and carefree, but is still not satisfied with his life. However, after falling in love with Aimee Finecky, a kind and genuine girl, he undergoes a series of unexpected incidents, and realizes that he should live for the moment and cherish what he already has. It is a movie filled with warmth. On July 31, 2013, an informal premiere was held at the George Lucas Building in the USC School of Cinematic Arts. James Ponsoldt, the director of the movie, was invited to the theatre to introduce his film as well as answer audience questions. Critic Todd McCarthy described this film
this movie can be natural and organic, which means I did not want to push anything since I want to show the process [of becoming an adult].” When it comes to the characters, Ponsoldt also mentioned that Shailene Woodley, who plays Aimee, had a different opinion of her character after reading the script. Woodley thought the original character of Aimee from the novel is considered a nerd. However, she believed her character in the script is not a nerd since being academic and having little interest in popular culture does not necessarily indicate one is a nerd or outcast. As a result, Ponsoldt added that they “made some changes, and the character of Aimee in the Protagonist Sutter Keely discovers first love in movie is quite different from the one in “The Spectacular Now,” released August 2. the book.” “The Spectacular Now” is a movie as “a sincere, refreshingly unaffected look which is worthwhile to watch. It is not at teenagers and their attitudes about the only a coming-of-age story about a young future.” man, but also includes a valuable life phiPonsoldt commented on the subject by stating, “I am always interested in writ- losophy. One will gain a better undering something about adolescence which is standing of the essence of life after watching the characters’ experiences. very similar to my adolescence. Besides that, I had a lot of conversations with the actors about the characters, and the conversations were under the foundation of trust.” Moreover, Ponsoldt added, “I hope
Recycling in Los Angeles By SCARLETT CHEN __________________________
The City of Los Angels ranked the first, 65 percent, on the list of recycling rates for 10 largest cities in the U.S. As a new resident of Los Angeles, the forerunner in protecting the environment, students at USC Language Academy should also contribute to recycling. According to the report from Los Angeles City Bureau of Sanitation, other major cities such as New York and Chicago had rates of 55 and 52.4, ranking the third and fifth on the list. Although the law does not require recycling, it is the duty for each resident to help save the world. Students who live
on campus or immediately close to campus could bring their recyclable material, such as beverage cans, old papers and bottles, to campus. Every building on campus has recycling bins standing either at the entrance doors or in the back of the
classrooms. Students who are not familiar with what to recycle could follow the instruction on recycling bins. Students who live far away from campus can find recycling stations near their apartments. Some of the property has recycling bins next to trash bins. If not, students can also bring recyclable materials to recycling centers. Some of the centers pay people who recycle cans and papers. It is important for residents to recycle because the resources on the earth is limited. People need to take care of their mutual home – the earth. For more information about recycling, please visit http:// dpw.lacounty.gov/epd/rethinkla/recycle/ and http://earth911.com/.
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pizza while running hastily out the door towards the exam cenContinued from p. 5 ter. Quality food and good hydration( drinking water) will enso every time you see the word, able you to think more clearly you will not only know the during the already stressful exmeaning, but feel it. This is am. important because during the Great results require smart test, nerves will kick in and preparation. Best of luck! cause some brain freezes, but knowing the words backwards Facts about GRE and forwards will make taking the test many times easier. According the Educational Second, take as many Testing Service (ETS), practice tests and answer as about 650,000 people take many practice questions as you the GRE each year. can. There are only so many ways these questions, num About 48% of all test takers bers, and answer choices can have earned undergraduate be phrased, so having seen degrees in fields, such as many of them will be to your engineering, math, and sciadvantage on test day. ences. Third, and finally, get good sleep the night before the exam. Eat a solid breakfast. That does not mean munching on a cereal bar or a piece of leftover
GRE TIPS
USC Language Academy Rossier School of Education Phone: 213-740-0080 Fax: 213-740-0088 Web: www.usc.edu/ langacad Check out The Academy News online at www.usc.edu/langacad.Go to “Student Information” and then click on “The Academy
The Academy News is a weekly newsletter produced by students in the Journalism Elective of the USC Language Academy. All students in the Language Academy Program are encouraged to send news stories and photos to Sonja Lovelace at slovelac@usc.edu.
Pics of the Week New students attended orientation this week, and all students picked up their schedules on Thursday. PALs (bottom right) answered questions and helped everybody find their way around campus. Thanks, PALs!
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