Once you have made the decision to study
English in America, you still must deal with the choice of which
location in the United States is best for you. If you have never
travelled in the United States before, it is difficult to imagine
the huge variety of environmental and cultural differences which
can be found in our country. However, if you wish to explore American
culture in the context of one of its most vibrant and forward-looking
areas, you should definitely consider coming to Southern California.
The International Study Guides invited Brian Henry of the FLS Language
Centres to introduce us to the movie capital of the world. Southern
California is home to the motion picture and television industry,
and this means that what happens in Los Angeles and the surrounding
area has a huge influence on the rest of the globe. When you visit
the Los Angeles area, you are visiting a city unique for its incredible
cultural diversity. These factors, combined with L.A.’s strategic
location on the Pacific Rim, mean that a trip to Los Angeles is
a little like a trip to the future of the rest of the world.
Climate and Surroundings
Whether you enjoy the beach, the mountains or the desert, Southern
California can provide you with the ideal environment for outdoor
enjoyment. The temperature in Los Angeles usually ranges from 60
-80 degrees Fahrenheit, although the famous California summers are
very sunny and hot. Even on the hottest days, however, the beach
is never far away. Surfing, sailing and all of the other water sports
are extremely popular in Southern California and there are many
public beaches where you can enjoy these activities. Don’t
forget that only about two hours from the beach lie such popular
ski resorts as Big Bear and Mammoth. The Southern California area
is rarely humid, and the average annual rainfall is only about 14
inches. Snow never falls in the Los Angeles area proper, only in
the local mountains.
While Los Angeles itself is a bustling, urban environment, it is
surrounded by safe and quiet suburban areas, featuring neighbourhoods
that are well-landscaped and maintained. This means that the international
student can stay in a calm, secure environment, while still being
close to the advantages of a major metropolitan centre. Another
advantage to L.A.’s , pluralistic cultural scene, is that if
you ever become homesick for your home country’s cuisine, you
are sure to find a number of fine restaurants that serve the food
you crave. Whether you are looking for food from Japan, Korea, Thailand,
Greece, Argentina, France or the Middle East, you are sure to find
plenty of restaurants in L.A. that serve your favourite specialities.
Entertainment Capital of the U.S.
One of the main reasons that students come to Los Angeles is to
enjoy the world-famous attractions that have made the area a popular
destination for years. Of course, Southern California is the home
to Disneyland, Magic Mountain, Universal Studios and Knott’s
Berry Farm - theme parks that promise to provide a full day of excitement
to visitors. Visitors also have the opportunity to see such famous
locales as Hollywood, with its Walk of Fame, Beverly Hills, with
its extravagant mansions, Rodeo Drive, the home of designer shopping,
Melrose Avenue, with its funky boutiques and cafes and Malibu Beach,
the perfect place to watch a sunset. If you are searching for stars,
try taking a tour of one of L.A.’s TV or movie studios, get
tickets to watch a taping of a popular TV show, or hang out at some
of the trendiest nightclubs anywhere.
As a visitor to Los Angeles, you will find that L.A. is not only
the home to the movie and TV industry, but also a vibrant centre
of activity for music, theatre, sports, and other cultural events.
Music fans, depending on their taste, can enjoy the world-class
concerts of the L.A. Philharmonic, the vibrant, cutting-edge rock
scene of Sunset Boulevard with clubs devoted to hard rock, punk,
ska and reggae, or the many comfortable restaurants and bars featuring
top jazz musicians. Sports fans can see some of the most popular
athletes in American play for the L.A. Dodgers, the L.A. Lakers,
the Mighty Ducks or the Angels. The fine arts are also well represented
in L.A., with such museum of Contemporary of Art, Los Angeles County
Museum of Art and the city’s newest cultural institution, the
Getty Centre for the Arts.
A Destination for Education.
Perhaps most importantly for international students, Southern California
is home to some of America’s most prestigious colleges and
universities. In the greater Los Angeles area, you will find such
renown institutes as UCLA, UC Irvine, Cal Tech, Loyola Marymount,
USC and Pepperdine. These universities are supported and complemented
by a huge network of state colleges and community colleges, which
offer special services and programs for international students.
The impressive research facilities, huge libraries and extensive
programs of these schools provide opportunities for almost any conceivable
educational goal. In addition, Southern California is home to a
wide variety of vocational schools which can provide services to
meet virtually any student need.
If you are looking for one place which offers everything, Los Angeles
is your choice. Great weather, varied environments, a vibrant culture
and endless educational opportunities: they are all here in Southern
California.
Author: Brian Henry, FLS Language Centres, California
Please visit the FLS Language Centres web site: http://www.fls.net
Author's E-mail: acadvpfls@aol.com
This article first appeared in Studying Abroad Latin American
Edition
