One of the great things about studying at the American Language Center is the variety of fun and exciting activities that are available to you on the UCLA campus, Westwood Village, and the Los Angeles area. There also are tours to well-known destinations in California, Arizona, and Nevada.
UCLA is a premier American university. It ranks among the top 10 research universities in the U.S.A. and third best among the nation's PhD programs. In addition to its reputation for academic excellence, UCLA is also well known for its world-class entertainment and sports facilities and its picturesque campus covering an area of 1.7 square kilometers. As an ALC participant, you can have access to many UCLA recreational facilities, libraries, bookstores and student cafes.
Westwood Village is a neighborhood of Los Angeles where UCLA and the American Language Center are located. Westwood has a village-like atmosphere with many movie theaters, cafes, shops, and a fine arts museum. UCLA students call it their hometown and it's a fun place to walk and explore.
Los Angeles covers an area of 10,575 sq. km. with a population of 9.9 million. The first impression of many visitors is that it's a huge, sprawling city without a center. However, they soon discover that L.A. is really a collection of neighborhoods and small towns that merge together to form one large city. Part of the fun of living in Los Angeles is the opportunity to explore these neighborhoods and discover all the culture and excitement the city has to offer. Click here for more information about Los Angeles.
Santa Monica is a well-known beach community with a very pleasant climate and more than 300 days of sunshine per year. You can bicycle, roller-blade, jog, and walk along its 22-mile-long bicycle path. You can walk to many popular attractions on the famous Promenade, or enjoy games and entertainment on the Santa Monica Pier.
Venice Beach is legendary for its colorful life. Artists, musicians, writers, and bodybuilders come to enjoy the freedom of the ocean, sand, and sun. Visitors stroll along the Venice boardwalk weekend afternoons to get a true taste of Venice.
Malibu is north of Santa Monica on the Pacific coast. Home to Hollywood celebrities, Malibu is a fun-filled area with many sea-food restaurants and pleasure and surfing beaches.
The birthplace of the movie industry, Hollywood is only about 30 minutes away from UCLA. The Hollywood Boulevard Walk of Fame, the famous Chinese Theater, the Hollywood Wax Museum, and Paramount Studios are just a few of the many attractions and places to visit in "Tinseltown."
Los Angles is home to many professional sports teams, including baseball's L.A. Dodgers, basketball's L.A. Lakers and L.A. Clippers, hockey's L.A. Kings, and soccer's L.A. Galaxy. If you prefer to participate rather than watch, you can visit any of Southern California's miles of beautiful beaches for swimming or surfing, ski, hike in nearby mountains, or explore the raw beauty of the desert.
The ALC works closely with California Tours, an independent tour company, which schedules student excursions to popular California and Southwest destinations, such San Francisco, San Diego, the Grand Canyon, and Las Vegas. They also organize weekend ski trips to nearby mountains or to the desert, just an hour and a half from Los Angeles.
