Discover LA: The Best Music Store in the World

Perhaps you have driven or ridden by it without ever realize its awesomeness. It is right in the heart of Hollywood next to the famous Arclight Theater. Specifically, it is on Sunset Boulevard and Cahuenga (which is also a fun word to say). The building is very distinctive because it is very colorful with art all over the outside. It’s really hard to miss! But don’t keep going by, you need to go inside to check it out! Believe me, it will be worth your time, especially if you’re a fan of music and movies or both.

First of all, Amoeba Music is huge. It is basically the size of a city block. The first floor is all music-related merchandise, and the second floor contains film and TV DVDs for purchase. The variety of amazing and sometimes rare things to buy is mind-blowing. If you can imagine it, you can get it there! It gets even better because they have new CDs, used CDs, new and used vinyl albums, posters, stickers, T-shirts…it’s unbelievable! I don’t even have a record player or a turntable, but sometimes I pick up some vinyl albums because they often have interesting art that you can use for a cheap and stylish way to decorate your place.

So if you go there, (which I highly recommend), you should prepare for two things: 1) prepare to spend more money than you had originally planned and 2) prepare to have your mind blown! It’s an incredible place, so don’t miss an opportunity to check it out! And rock on!

Taken from our monthly e-Newsletter.

http://www.languagesystems.com/

LSI 6th Annual Soccer Tournament

On Friday May 17, Language Systems International (LSI) held its 6^th annual Soccer Tournament! All four campuses- South Bay, LA, Orange County (OC), and Northeast LA- joined in with enthusiastic teams and plenty of cheering fans. Everyone wanted to beat last year’s champion, the Northeast LA Dragons, and take back the trophy to display until next year.

The tournament was very exciting, and the competition among the schools was fierce. Each school was represented by students wearing their school colors. The Northeast LA Dragons wore green, the LA Angels wore yellow, the South Bay Sharks wore blue, and the OC students wore red. Some of the countries represented in the tournament included Brazil, Japan, Korea, China, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Taiwan, and many others.

Each team had been thoroughly prepared by practicing and learning how to work together as a team. Each team also had students cheering them on and encouraging them to do their best for their school! Although each team really wanted to win the soccer trophy, there could only be one champion. In the first round, LA defeated defeated Orange County (OC) and South Bay defeated Northeast LA in overtime. That set up the championship match between the LA Angels and South Bay Sharks. Each school played strong and with a lot of heart, but in the end, the South Bay Sharks came away with the championship trophy. Congratulations, Sharks!

During and after the tournament, students from all four schools had a chance to hang out and make new friends.  After the tournament was finished and the trophy had been passed on to South Bay, LSI provided all the students and players with a pizza lunch. The soccer tournament was a fun event and many students wondered when everyone could get together again. Well, they will not have to wait very long because the next major event involving all 4 LSI schools in a tournament will be the annual Beach Party in August. For that event, each school will need to get a beach volleyball team together to compete for yet another trophy! Mark your calendar and get ready once again for an amazing day!

Earth Day 2013!

The first Earth Day was celebrated on April 22, 1970, launching the modern environmental movement. Since then, the Earth Day Network has worked with more than 20,000 partners in almost 200 countries. Through the years, Earth Day has become the largest civic observance in the world.

Each Language Systems campus celebrates Earth Day in a unique way.

This year LSI-OC organized a beach clean-up and really made a difference!

LSI-South Bay has an ongoing recycling program that reduces waste by keeping bottles, cans, and paper out of the trash.

It's great to see so many students, staff, and teachers getting involved and helping out our planet!

Earth Day - Official Site

LSI 2012 Halloween Party

Every year students, teachers and staff members all look forward to the annual LSI Halloween Bash at the Oiwake Restaurant located in downtown LA's Little Tokyo.  Everyone attending the party is required to wear a costume, and every year LSI students from all four campuses compete in our costume contest to determine which costumes are the funniest, the scariest, the most creative/original, and the best group/pair.  

LSI students are so dedicated to showing up in the most spectacular outifts.

 

At the LSI Halloween Bash, students also get the chance to enjoy a wonderful all-you-can-eat buffet of delicious Japanese Cuisine, such as tempura, udon, curry, yakisoba, california rolls, teriyaki chicken, mapo tofu, and other delicious dishes.  

During dinnertime, students get to hang out and practice speaking English with each other and with their teachers while they enjoy plate after plate of this amazing food. 

 

This year we also had an impersonation contest.  The winner was a student who imitated Michael Jackson by dressing like him and dancing like him.  We also had an amazing Elvis impersonation.  All the students loved watching these performances.  

After all the contests were over, and everyone had their fill of delicious Japanese food, it was time to clear the floor.  That's right!  It was dancing time.  As the DJs arrived, the Oiwake Restaurant became the Oiwake Nightclub!  LSI students and teachers alike love to dance!

 

I love the LSI Halloween Bash.  I look forward to it every year.  Any student who attended this year's party got a very special opportunity to see how American's celebrate Halloween. Thanks LSI for giving us all this chance!  Happy Halloween everybody!

LSI 2012 Beach Party

The clouds gathered above Huntington Beach on the morning of August 24^th and produced a smattering of rain.  A slight wind pushed wave after wave into the sandy shore.  A lone flock of seagulls stalked the beach for remnants of past lunches.  And the four LSI campuses thronged the area in search of a party…and party they did!

Not to be deterred by the lack of sun, LSI students, teachers and staff quickly set about organizing a gripping and combative volleyball tournament.  Competition proved fierce, with all four schools producing lengthy rallies for each coveted point.  Yet, it was the Alhambra school that emerged as victor.

Right after lunch, feeling renewed strength and vigor, the four campuses were once again given the opportunity to flex their collective muscles in the Tug-A-War contest.  Grunts, cheers and screams echoed up and down the beach as LSI Downtown L.A. dug in and dragged the other campuses across the sandy substrate to take the trophy home for the third year in a row.

Several more events ensued – individual races, a relay hole-in-bucket race, and a disgusting food eating competition (in which, to their credit or to their shame, Northeast L.A. proved the hungriest school) and the end of the day was upon us.  But what a great day.

Big thanks to all who made it to the beach, especially Karla, the PCs, teachers, staff and those who helped organize and clean-up.  Can’t wait for the next one in 2013!

For more pictures, please visit our Facebook Page www.facebook.com/LSIUSA  or our website www.languagesystems.com

LSI's 25th Anniversary Party

On June 22, 2012, students, teachers, and staff all gathered at Oiwake Japanese Restaurant in Little Tokyo to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of LSI.

LSI parties are usually fun, but we were so surprised by all the special activities throughout the night. First, Managers and PCs treated everyone to an awesome Karaoke performance of "Celebrate" by Kool and the Gang. They are great singers for sure!

The BIG event of the night was LSI Idol! Many students from each campus auditioned for the chance to win the $500 prize, but only the best from LA, OC, Torrance, and Alhambra could show off their skills at the party. The first performers were dancers from OC who treated us to a steamy couples routine. Next up was a drummer from Torrance who blew the crowd away with a face-melting solo. The third performance was a break dancer from LA who wowed us all with his precise movements. The final act was Revolutionary, a rock band from Alhambra doing an excellent cover of the classic Beatles tune. Everyone was awesome, but our guest judges could only choose one winner...... Junya! The Drummer from Torrance was declared the LSI Idol of 2012!

After LSI Idol, we were treated to a special guest performance from an OC dancer. She was awesome- Lots of energy and totally cute! One of the biggest surprises of the night were the Samba Dancers from Brazil! Their costumes were colorful and bright and their dance moves were spell binding!

Throughout the night, some lucky students won iPod Nanos and one REALLY lucky student took home an iPod Touch. Once all the performances were over, it was party time! The DJ played awesome music and many people stayed and danced the night away. 

We all had such a great time celebrating LSI's 25th anniversary!

5th Annual Soccer Tournament at LSI

On May 11^th, Whittier Narrows Regional Park played host to the 5^th Annual LSI Gold Cup Tournament.  LSI Torrance, LSI Orange County, LSI LA, and LSI Alhambra packed their cleats, shorts, and soccer balls and headed to the fields to do battle and compete for the Gold Cup. 

The opening round of the tournament pitted LA against last year’s champions, Torrance.  LA showed a slight edge in the beginning and jumped out to a 1-0 lead before the end of the first half.  Though Torrance fought hard in the second half, LA’s defense dominated, allowing LA to glide to victory.

In other first-round action, Orange County faced a formidable Alhambra team.  Unprepared for the explosive attack of the Alhambra forwards, Torrance watched their hopes to reach the finals get buried in an avalanche of goals.  The Alhambra sharp-shooters netted 4 unanswered.

As throngs of fans from LSI and Alhambra waited in anticipation for the Gold Cup game, veteran players and long-time fans exchanged stories of a past final game in which the two soccer powers met.  The 2010 Gold Cup game ended in a regulation tie which led to a tense shoot-out and an LA victory.  Would the Gold Cup land in familiar hands in 2012?  Or would Alhambra heal an old wound with victory?  These questions buzzed throughout the crowd as the two rivals lined up for the final game.

A strong defensive effort for LA kept the rush of the Alhambra offense in check for much of the first half.  Yet, Alhambra’s forwards were not to be turned away. Before the whistle to end the first half blew, Alhambra capitalized on a momentary defensive faux pas, which gave them a 1-0 lead going into the second half. 

Adjustments were made to the LA defense and midfield to compensate for their lack of attack, and though this provided LA with increased shots on net, Alhambra players retained their composure and repelled the offensive push.  The game ended with a score of 1-0.

But the real victors were the students who attended the event.  Players were treated to 2 great games; Fans were treated to top-notch play on the pitch; and everyone was treated to lunch, drinks and great fun in the California sun.  A big thank you goes to Karla, our Marketing Supervisor, Michelle, our Academic Director, and all the Program Coordinators and staff from the 4 campuses for making this day possible.  We’re all looking forward to the next one.

For more information about events and activities at LSI go to www.languagesystems.com