By the time November rolls around, I’m already quite used to the chilly days and even chillier nights. I love bundling up with the fresh fall air and appreciating the colorful sights of autumn. You might find, however, that this seasonal change may be harder on you than, say, people like me. November also translates to a lot of travel for many, as Thanksgiving at the end of the month beckons people to their loved ones from all over the country and maybe even all over the world. This month tends to kick off “cozy season,” as meals become heartier, your wardrobe grows additional layers, and many people choose to spend their extra time in the warmth of indoors.

New York City is a place with endless things to do. I’ve probably mentioned this over and over again each month, but no matter the time of year, you’ll never run out of activities. The added bonus is that if you’re trying to put your learned English skills to use in real life, New York City is the best place to do it since it’s just a giant cultural melting pot. There’s plenty of excitement in the air this month with all the pending holidays and winter being right around the corner, so be sure to brush up on your social skills, pull out your warmer clothes, and get ready for a month of fun in the Big Apple.

1. The New York City Marathon, Sunday, November 3

This is truly one of the most humbling experiences to watch as a resident of New York City. People from all over the country (and the world!) train for months leading up to this 26.2 mile race, and if you plan accordingly, you can likely watch the runners in person! The race starts in Staten Island and travels through Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, and the Bronx, finishing right in Central Park. Bring your friends and cheer on all the participants, and maybe you’ll even be inspired to start training for next year’s race! Practice your English cheers and you’ll easily be a part of one of New York City’s greatest events all year.

• Fall Foliage Cruises, all month

If you’re willing to spend a bit of money for this activity, these cruises are well worth every penny. With tons of options available, you’ll be able to pick which journey and route is best for you and your schedule and budget. Your location in the Northeast means that you have some of the best scenery available for checking out all the seasonal color changes. Plus, you’ll travel through tons of different areas on the Metro NYC area, so you can even experience a completely different location. Brush up on your English reactionary phrases (“How lovely!”) so you can truly appreciate the beauty of autumn.

• Ice skating rinks, all month

It wouldn’t be a true New York City experience without trying out your skills on the many ice skating rinks throughout the boroughs. While these locations get pretty busy right away in the day, you’ll have to be a bit strategic when it comes to choosing a day and location to test out your skating talents. These rinks will surely prepare you for the start of the holiday season, as many pop-up booths are located around these rinks, selling holiday crafts and gifts, so brace yourself for the beginning of Christmas season as well! To rent skates and any other essentials, you’ll definitely need your wallet (especially for that hot cocoa after being on the ice). Engage with other skaters, and here you can put your speaking English skills to use. Be sure to take some great pics so you can post them on social media and engage with popular hashtags.

New York City in the late fall and early winter is a beautiful sight. Some days are on the warmer side, while you’ll also likely experience some early signs of the winter ahead. It’s important to think ahead when it comes to dressing yourself (stay warm!), but it’s also important to enjoy the change of seasons! As I’m sure you remember from last winter, the dead season can be pretty brutal at times, so appreciate the mild temperatures while you still have them.

Always be practicing your English while exploring the city, as it’s a huge learning experience at every corner. So brush up on some new English phrases, dress warm, and hit the city!

Learning English requires diligent attention and plenty of practice – it’s often referred to as a complicated language, but luckily, the New York English Academy offers tremendous programs that will not only help you learn and adapt to the English language, but if you’re interested in teaching English, their Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) program is detailed, affordable, and practical to the real-world usage of the language.

Located in one of the busiest and culturally diverse areas in New York City, the New York English Academy addresses every aspect of the learning process for those looking to add English to their list of spoken languages. Many students decide to stay and adapt their program to include TESOL so that they can advance their own knowledge of the language but also enhance their skills as an instructor and teacher of English. Earning your certification will only advance your teaching career, and with plenty of real-world integration within the program, you’ll zip through the courses and have a better understanding of how you’ll want to conduct your classroom.

One of the best ways to learn throughout the program is through the implementation of assignments to your students. Teaching beyond textbooks is an easy way to not only put your own skills to practical use, but your students will be able to exercise their learned skills in practical ways, and your assignments will aid them in the understanding of these skills. Here are just a few ways you can achieve this with your future students:

1. Written assignments

Writing is just one aspect of practicing and learning the English language – you’ll write about something that’s unique about American English so that you’ll be able to not only practice your English writing skills, but you’ll be able to have a greater understanding of how American English is different from other dialects from other areas of the world. This will enhance your future teaching skills as well.

2. Differentiation of English usage

It takes various mindsets to fully understand the breadth of learning a new language. Speaking, reading, listening, and comprehending all require different levels of skill, and you’ll learn the proper methods and ways to engage your students in learning all of these different methods of communicating in American English. Once you have a thorough understanding of these differences, you’ll better be able to communicate these to your future students.

3. Analyze communicative teaching methodology

As a world that it’s in constant evolvement, you must be able to recognize that certain methods and ways of teaching may be out of date, out of touch, or simply no longer used. The TESOL program will help you understanding these differing methodologies so that you can think critically when engaging with your students.

4. Developing lesson plans

As a teacher at any level, you’ll be trained to create lesson plans for your classroom to not only keep yourself on track but to ensure that your students are following the planned curriculum and advancement tracks. Your instructors will provide thorough feedback and helpful criticism as you advance in the program.

5. Plenty of teaching practice

One of the best ways to gauge your own growth and learning skills is to hold practice runs in front of your instructors. Your TESOL program will organize practices so you can receive feedback from your professional teams and learn how your lesson plans are taking life. This practice will help you develop your public speaking skills and better mold you as an authority figure in the classroom.

6. New York English Academy methodologies report

Towards the end of your program, you’ll be tasked with writing a report in which you will reflect on what you observed in the class that you take away as a methodology that you’d like to use in your future classroom. These learnings will help you mold what you see as valuable, and it will also educate the school in how its students are learning and what they’re seeing as valuable as well.

7. Student Subject Report

Lastly, you will be tasked with profiling a student and based off that profile, you will construct an academic plan for that student to best cater to their learning behaviors, strengths, and weaknesses. This plan will also follow the timeline devised by the school, so maintaining both individual timelines will enhance your skills as a teacher.

These assignments are designed to help you develop your skills as an instructor in the TESOL program, but they’ll also enhance your confidence, organization, and relationship with other people.