When learning a new skill or subject, it’s pretty customary to start in the classroom. Finding out the history of a discipline is a typical introduction to your area of study so that you can get a grand idea of the evolution of your focus. From there, however, as you advance in your studies, it’s also customary to branch out into the real world to better understand real-world implementation and integration.

This is easily applicable for learning a new or foreign language. When you’re in the beginning stages of learning the basics, classroom application is the best avenue for logistics and application. As you advance in your studies, you’ll want to practice your real-world application for a better idea of where your strengths lie and how you can improve in other areas. This means it’s a great idea to immerse yourself in the real world to put your skills to use and interact with other people.

If you’re considering a career in TESOL to not only enhance and perfect your English-speaking skills but also elevate your teaching abilities, there’s truly no better place than New York City to get your training. The New York English Academy is located in the heart of the Big Apple, meaning you can be exposed to expert native English speakers but be immersed in one of the largest cultural hubs in the world.

Value of the TESOL Program

If you plan on pursuing the academic track of gaining your TESOL certification, the New York English Academy organizes the program so that courses are instructed by English-speaking teachers, guaranteeing that you’ll get an organic learning experience. Plus, the program is set up so that there are different learning methods incorporated so that you can practice your skills in a variety of sets, from group work to role playing to even scavenger hunts. Everyone learns differently, so the TESOL program is designed to cater to all of those varying learning methods.

New York City is a culturally diverse place to be, with individuals from all over the world coming to experience the greatest city in the world. This means that there are hundreds of languages being poured into the neighborhood on a regular basis. When you’re out and about in the city, no matter how strong your English language skills are, it’s the perfect opportunity to put your learnings to use. You’ll likely run into others that speak a language other than English, which will also help you understand how you can communicate with your body language – which is helpful no matter where you are or what language you speak!

New York City: The World’s Melting Pot

Even if you’re still trying to perfect and polish your English skills as a member of the TESOL program, you’ll have the opportunity for PLENTY of real-world experience and application right here in New York City. Because the city itself is a huge cultural melting pot, you’ll be exposed to so many different people with endless backgrounds. Given your ability to speak at least two languages, you might be able to help others that have no English experience at all, putting your own personal English skills to use. In the process, you’ll learn about other cultures, which will help you bring those learned experiences back to your classroom both as a student and as a future educator yourself.

New York City is always different and is constantly changing. You’ll experience things that you love and things that aren’t necessarily your favorite. This aligns with the TESOL program at the New York English Academy. Because everyone learns differently and absorbs information in various ways, the program is designed to cater to all these different teaching and learning methods so that not one student is in the dark. Aligning with these experiences in New York City means that you will easily approach your eventual teaching abilities with the same flexibility and patience, allowing your students to find their own best personal method.

Why New York English Academy

American English is now the standard English dialect, moving away from UK English. With that said, learning this dialect in the heart of not only American culture but international culture means that you can take your learned skills and apply them to the biggest cultural melting pot in the world: New York City. Not only will you love your experience in the Big Apple, but your learned skills will be best put to use and you’ll thrive!

Living in New York City means you have access to some of the best food in the world – from global bites at your fingertips to late night guilt-trips to the food trucks, it’s pretty difficult to find food that doesn’t satisfy your tastes. With all these delightful cuisines everywhere you turn, you might be surprised at quickly your body responds to all these new foods. I know when I first got to the Big Apple, I was eating out all the time, desperate to try as many restaurants and cuisines as possible. Not only did this hurt my wallet, but I found that my body wasn’t used to all these different ingredients. Additionally, even though I was walking everywhere and climbing many flights of stairs per day, I also started to notice a change in my body shape (and not for the better).

If you’re practicing your English in New York City right now and you’re experiencing similar circumstances, I’ve come up with a few ways that you can stay in shape even while you’re still testing out all the great food this amazing city has to offer. It’s easier than you think, and all of these options are easy on your wallet. You don’t need to shell out hundreds of dollars on a gym membership – all of these strategies will get you moving with little cost. So pull out your sneakers, because if you’re ready to ditch those extra cuisine pounds, you’ll be putting them to good use.

1. Sign up for a local race

One of the benefits of living in this great city is that are always tons of races to participate in. If you’re a runner (or even if you’re not), this is a great opportunity to get a few miles under your belt. I always find that when I’m running a 5k, it never really feels like 3.2 miles because I’m running alongside so many other people and taking in all the sights around me. Most of these are reasonably priced (depending on how big it is or if you choose to donate to a fund), so do some research, grab some friends, and get some fresh air. Plus, so many of these races are socially-backed, so you’re bound to meet tons of new people and practice your English social skills.

2. Rethink your commute

Believe me, I know I’ve checked out every possible route for walking the least for my daily commute, especially when the weather is unbearable, like the deep cold or the extreme heat. On those days, I want to spend as much time in the heat or AC as possible. But if you’re looking for some free (and frankly, SUPER easy) exercise to burn off those street tacos that are too hard to resist, I highly recommend walking a few extra blocks to take a different subway line to get those extra steps in. Another easy trick I do on a daily basis is skip the escalator coming in and out of my subway stop. Instead, I’ll climb the stairs myself. While this may not make a huge difference overall, I know I’m making a better long-term choice for myself. Plus, if you devote to taking a different route, you might come across new shops or find your favorite new health store – this is a great way to keep your English reading and comprehensive skills intact.

3. Your apartment = your new gym

You might notice that these days, technology has made life way easier in many aspects. For me, I’ve learned that if you do some research on health and wellness apps, you can find your new favorite exercise regimen. If your living space has the room, set up a nice workout spot so you can start with the basics, like practicing your plank or learning some new yoga moves. For me, this was a great way to build my motivation and confidence before I worked my way up to a gym membership. Once I felt more comfortable in my healthy body, I was able to step into the gym and use their professional machines. If you’re dedicated towards your English learning, many of these apps are instructed, so this is a great way to improve your English language listening and comprehension.

Of course, I love living in this great city and trying out all the amazing foods, but I also quickly learned the effect that this lifestyle had on my body. So be sure to try these great tactics out so you can still indulge and feel healthy – all while practicing your En

Can you think of all the movies and televisions shows that you’ve watched that take place in New York City? In order to film these movies and shows in New York City, many celebrities have chosen to make the city their home. For the most part, these famous people do their best to blend in with the crowd since it’s a bit tricky to travel in a limo in the city and not draw attention to themselves; but every once in a while, you might find someone that looks an awful lot like someone you’ve seen in a movie, and then you find out it was actually that very person! Most people get stage fright around these people, but if you feel inclined to share your fanhood with these people, make sure your phrases are strong—think, “I’m such a big fan!” or “Your show is my favorite one to watch!” Just make sure you’re nice, and in most situations, they’ll be just as kind back.

1. Jerry Seinfeld, Brooklyn

You might remember when I talked about the show Seinfeld and how it was all about life in New York City; so how fitting is it that the lead comedian in this show still lives in the city with his family? He might be hard to spot since he and his family tend to keep to themselves, but they have to leave sometimes, right?

2. Sarah Jessica Parker, West Village

Sex and the City was (and still is!) one of my favorite shows—it’s all about dating in New York City, and some say the main character in the show is in fact the city itself! But it’s also no surprise that the lead HUMAN actor, Sarah Jessica Parker lives in the city with her family. She’s always been outspoken about being a city girl, so of course she’s here, too!

3. Kevin Bacon, Upper West Side

This actor has been gracing our screens for decades now, so he should be pretty familiar to you as well. He and his wife own a unit in this neighborhood and has been spotted by his neighbors, so if you find yourself in the Upper West Side for any reason, keep your eyes peeled!

4. Robert De Niro, Greenwich Village

As a native New Yorker, De Niro has always been very vocal about his love for the city and was especially helpful in the revitalization of the city after the 9/11 attacks. Plus, his New York accent always comes through thick in all of his movies, which only makes that much more since that he’s still here in NYC!

5. Tina Fey, West End Avenue

Tina Fey’s shows Saturday Night Live, 30 Rock, and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt all take place and film in New York City, so it’s only natural that she’s stayed in Manhattan as well. You can find Tina Fey and her husband in the West End Avenue area of Manhattan—surely the convenience of travel and getting out of the city was a huge appeal for such a megastar as herself!

6. Taylor Swift, TriBeCa

It’s probably a pretty accurate assumption that Taylor doesn’t spend much time at her place in TriBeCa just because of her intense tour schedule and PR events, but she’s such a huge star that she’s pretty hard to miss, so next time you’re in this neighborhood, keep your eyes peeled—you never know!

7. Madonna, Upper East Side

This one was surprising for me to learn, as I hardly imagine Madonna has enough time to relax in her Upper East Side unit given her busy global schedule! At the same time, who can blame her? It’s New York City, right? Plus, if you ever run into her, she’ll be happy to hear that she has fans from all over the world since she spends so much of her time in other countries!

Not all superstars have to live in California or in private planes—some celebrities enjoy the excitement and buzz of New York City. They might be easy to miss since they’re pretty good at blending in with the crowds, but you never know when you might see your favorite star in the subway or taking a stroll through Central Park—after all, our musical and on-screen favorites get to take break for themselves, too!

New York City, if you haven’t learned so by now, has one of the highest rates of homelessness in the country. Small and family-owned businesses struggle on a daily basis to get by while in competition with more powerful big-box retailers. Talented performers, like singers, actors, and musicians, often barely scrape by while trying to pursue their dreams in this great yet competitive city. The winters in New York City are often the most difficult time of the year for these individuals, for the harsh temperatures create higher electric bills, slowed transportation, and unlivable conditions. If you have spare time, money, or goods that might help these struggling people, here are a few ways you can volunteer and give back. Plus, these organizations will help you with your English skills, as human interaction is at the very core of these causes. Not only will you get your language practice, but you’ll be helping to make someone else’s day as well.

1. DEED app

If you’re not sure where to start, consider downloading this app to help you brainstorm. To start, all you need to do is add in your location (your zip code or borough), and all the local charities and volunteer opportunities will pop up in your feed, allowing you to choose what stands out to you the most. You can organize your options by location, date, or kind of service. This is the best way to get started and to get you motivated; once you volunteer the first time, you’ll want to keep doing it, guaranteed. Plus, once you’re out there with one group, you can share your information with others, which will not only exercise your English social skills, but you’ll hear about other volunteer and non-profit groups for future community outreach days.

2. NYC Service

This is another digital option to have customized volunteer options curated for you. Whether it’s helping the environment with planting trees in the park or helping young children with reading, writing, or arithmetic, you’ll have plenty of choices when it comes to helping others. Plus, think about this: if you’re brushing up on your English, consider helping others with their English. By practicing and learning together, you both could help each other strengthen your skills. Pretty cool, right??

3. Ellen’s Stardust Diner, Times Square

Nope, you’re not mistaken—I meant to include this! When I first moved to New York City, this restaurant was one of my first must-see places. With its location so close to Broadway’s biggest theatres, this diner employs performance art hopefuls. Every couple of minutes, a server that has hopes of making it to Broadway will grab a microphone and start singing and dancing to classic and popular showtunes for everyone’s entertainment. Try singing along to practice your English—you might be surprised how easy it is to remember English words when they’re set to music! While performing, the manager will pass around a bucket that is meant to collect cash tips and donations, designed to help these hopefuls with their singing, acting, and dancing lessons. By visiting this destination, not only will you be fed and entertained, but you can walk away with the enormous feeling of helping each hopeful performer get one step closer to their dreams.

4. Donate to thrift shops

There are endless destinations in New York City that accept donations. Places like the Salvation Army, Goodwill, and general thrift stores are always looking for and happy to accept used clothing, furniture, toys, home goods, or even books that you may not use or need anymore. As I mentioned before, there are thousands of people and families in New York City that can barely get by, so these individuals rely on the donations and goodwill of others to aid them in their daily lives. If you’re looking to give back but may be short on time or services, consider sifting through your closets or cabinets, and gather all the items that are just taking up space. By donating them to these centers, not only will you free space in your living area, but even better, you’ll know your things will help someone else’s life. Get used to hearing the English phrase, “Thank you” quite a bit as you’re giving back—it’ll make you feel wonderful.

I didn’t realize how fun a speakeasy could be until I actually experienced my first one. When you think about it, nowadays, a speakeasy is just basically a hidden bar. That’s it. During the Prohibition era when drinking wasn’t legal, these were the places that people could get in to drink and stay a bit further away from the law. But as I said, since drinking IS legal now, there kind of really isn’t a point to these spots other than they’re just a ton of fun. Perhaps part of the fun comes with the idea that you feel you’re in a secret club or like you’re even tucked away from the rest of the world, which can be a comforting feeling during the coldest days of the year.

When I went to my first speakeasy, we walked into a fast food restaurant and told someone at the front color a password. They then led us through the back into a secret door, and lo and behold, a full bar! It was SO cool! For the rest of the night, we just kept talking about the place with other bar-goers just like us, discussing our drinks, how long it took us to figure out how to get in, and how exclusive we felt. If you feel like checking some out, I’ve come up with a list for you to try out so you can also chat about the experience with everyone else, exercising your English skills AND meeting new people all at the same time!

1. Attaboy, 134 Eldridge Street, Lower East Side

Though I haven’t been to this location just yet, I included this spot at the top of my list because I’m DYING to try this one out! Part of reason I want to give it a whirl is because they don’t even have drink menus—all you do is tell the bartender what your favorite liquor or mixer is, and they concoct something specifically unique just for you! I’ve also been told that you have to pay very close attention to the location, as if you’re not careful, you’ll miss it completely—look for a giant neon “A” in the window—there’s your entrance! Be sure to practice words like, “gin,” “sour mix,” and “That’s delicious!” so you can communicate well with the bartenders.

2. The Back Room, 102 Norfolk Street, Lower East Side

I chose to include this one because it’s actually one of the original speakeasies during the Prohibition, so this location is going to give you as an authentic experience as you can get in New York City—they even use the same entrance as they did over 80 years ago! They even serve you your drinks in teacups and bottles in paper bags—talk about staying true! When you get there, look for a sign that says, “Lower Easy Side Toy Company,” which will then lead down a flight of stairs to the secret entrance. Trust me, you’ll get your English skills tested here when looking for directions and all these secret signs!

3. Auction House, 300 East 89^th Street, Upper East Side

I’m including this one because not only is it in my neighborhood, but what I like about it is that it’s great for a more intimate setting. I came here once with someone that I was dating, and we realized we liked it so much because it was specifically set up for couples. We didn’t have to worry about excessive partiers, either, since they only let in people over the age of 25. It was a nice and relaxing atmosphere, and given the tucked away nature of the bar, we enjoyed our privacy and time alone. This is the perfect time to practice your English sweet-nothings with your special loved one.

4. Middle Branch, 154 East 33^rd Street, Murray Hill

I’m including this location for selfish reasons—my office is located in this neighborhood, so it’s a reminder (for myself!) to check this place out one day after work! Pay attention to the location, as the location is an unmarked townhouse—once there, head down the stairs where you can find the bouncer. When you get inside, you’ll see how surprisingly large it is, as it’s two stories! The music is reminiscent of the Prohibition era, as they have live jazz, taking you back in time and giving you a breath of fresh air from current heart-pounding music of our time. It’s intimate despite its space, so you’ll be able to practice your English socializing skills easily, so bring your friends for a fun and different Happy Hour!

Ready to get into the Christmas spirit? Luckily for you, you’re in the one of the greatest cities in the world to get a taste of the most festive time of the year. Here are just a few options for you to explore while you’re getting to know the city AND the English language!

Even if you’re unfamiliar with New York City or the English language, chances are you’re pretty well-versed on the Christmas holiday. What you MAY not know, however, is that New York City takes the Christmas very seriously, as the whole island tends to turn into one giant illumination spectacle. With festive lights and creative decoration displays at every corner, Christmas is impossible to miss in New York City. If you’re new to the Big Apple, here are a few of the most timeless Christmas traditions that New York City is known for. And if English is not your dominant language, there are a few adjustment tips within the piece to help you get adjusted to the time of the year, the language, AND the bright lights of the most amazing city in the world!

1. The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree; Rockefeller Center, 49^th Street between 5^th & 6^th

If you know anything about New York City, this is probably one of the most well-known displays throughout the whole year. This year, thousands of New Yorkers (and tourists!) came to this exciting square to watch the Lighting Ceremony on November 29^th. At 78-feet tall and weighing in at over 10 tons, the spruce tree is covered with over 45,000 lights, absolutely covering the area with festive and exciting light. The tree will stay up until January 7^th, so you’ll have plenty of time to see it if you miss the first lighting. Beware that this is one of the most highly trafficked destinations in the city, so be mindful about when you go (maybe Saturday afternoon isn’t the BEST time to check it out). While you’re there, this is a great time to practice your social English since there won’t be anything to read or write. React to the beauty of the scenery with other viewers—try, “How beautiful, right?!” or “This reminds me that I should really start my Christmas shopping!” Others will laugh along and most likely agree with you!

2. The Bryant Park Winter Village; Bryant Park, 40^th Street between 5^th & 6^th

This is another one of those must-sees if you find yourself in New York City during the Christmas season. Their greatest claim to fame is their 17,000-square-foot ice skating rink, so don’t forget your skates (or you can rent a pair for $20)! The other great part about this location is that the square sets up seasonally relevant shops and kiosks so you can eat and drink your way through the park while you start your Christmas shopping—or just shop for yourself! Again, this is another hugely popular spot, so think carefully about when you visit. (I’d avoid the weekends if you can.) Since you’ll be interacting with shop and rink employees as you make your way through the park, this is a great way to practice your questions, your “please” and “thank you”s, and you might also notice that people are just generally a bit more friendly this time of year, so be sure to return the smiles!

3. The Dyker Heights Christmas Lights; Dyker Heights, Brooklyn, 11^th to 13^th Avenues from 83^rd to 86^th Streets

If you feel like getting out of Manhattan, think about heading over to Brooklyn to check out this unique show of festive lights. In this neighborhood, houses for blocks go all out with their lights and Christmas decorations—some are even set to music! While this spot is also super popular with residents and tourists alike, be mindful about when you go if you want to avoid overcrowding. Again, this is a great opportunity to practice your social English since you’ll be travelling in a giant pack of other spectators. Everyone will be willing to participate in your mutual awe!

4. SantaCon; Manhattan, Saturday, December 9^th, 2017

Santa Suit 5K; Prospect Park, Brooklyn, Sunday, December 10^th, 2017

These two occasions are incredibly popular for New Yorkers. For SantaCon, it’s an excuse to dress up as Santa Claus and day-drink—participating bars throughout Manhattan will offer bar specials for anyone part of the group, so if you’re looking for more of a social gathering this season, this is it for you! Again, this is a perfect time to practice your social English. If you’re looking to get use out of your Santa outfit but not interested in the day-drinking part, they have a 5K throughout Prospect Park in Brooklyn. Or maybe you want to do both—nothing better than curing a hangover than with a solid 3.2 mile run!

As I mentioned in my previous post when I was sharing information about New York City’s two professional hockey teams as well as some basic terms for your reference, here we’ll discuss the city’s two biggest basketball teams as part of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Since this is another winter sport, you’ll notice a lot of coverage of this sport and these teams in the coming months. As is with all the other major league sports in the United States, fans take their teams very seriously, so it should be helpful to keep that in mind when you’re practicing your English social skills with these fans!

1. New York Knicks, Madison Square Garden, Manhattan

This team (whose full name is actually the New York Knickerbockers) was founded in 1946, so they’ve definitely been around for quite some time. Their fans will stand out to you since their colors are blue, orange, silver, black, and white—very similar to baseball’s New York Mets and hockey’s New York Islanders—are you noticing a theme yet?? The team has performed only mildly in the recent years, yet despite their less than decent performance, you’ll again notice that their fans simply don’t give up on them. The Knicks also share this venue with hockey’s New York Rangers, so you might notice some game and sport crossover during the winter months in this neighborhood. It’s pretty cool to see the mixture of different fans crossover during this season. (Plus, if you remember, football season is also going strong during the beginning winter months, so you’ll probably see some New York Giants and New York Jets fans mixed in with the crowds!).

2. Brooklyn Nets, Barclays Center, Brooklyn

This is a new name for the team, who until 2012 used to be called the New Jersey Nets and before that the New York Nets. This is also a fairly newer team overall, as they weren’t founded until 1967. Their home arena is the Barclays Center, so again, you might see some overlap in the Nets fanbase with hockey’s New York Islanders fanbase if you spend some significant time in Brooklyn. Simply, the Nets’ colors are black and white, so they offer a distinct color difference from the Knicks’ colors. The Brooklyn Nets haven’t seen that much success either in the most recent years, though approximately ten years ago they showed some amount of consecutive success with a few divisional and conference titles.

As I mentioned in my previous posts about practicing your English with these fellow fans, the same can be said with the basketball fans. For the most part, they’re pretty friendly and willing to chat about the game or certain players, so just keep the conversation light by asking them why they’re Knicks or Nets fans, who their favorite player is, or even about the importance of their legacy. Trust me, they’ll be more than happy to chat about it!

To help either guide these conversations or to simply help you understand the game and the terms you’ll hear if you attend a game, I’ve included a brief glossary of common terms and phrases that you can keep in your back pocket to make understanding it all that much easier. This is also a great time to use your translator apps, as these games move quickly, and you may not have the chance to look everything up!

• Airball: a missed shot that doesn’t hit the rim or the net
• Brick: another missed shot that actually does hit the rim but still doesn’t go in
• Dribble: this is the move the players make when they’re bouncing the ball with their hands and also running down the court
• Dunk: this is a scoring shot when a player puts the ball through the basket with their hand hanging from the rim
• Travel: this is a penalty call if a player is moving his legs without dribbling the ball; this happens quite often, so you’ll probably get familiar with it quite quickly
• Swoosh: this is more of a sound made by the fan if a ball goes directly through the net without hitting the rim—making the sound is a version of light celebration

If you’ve been following my blog up until this point, you’ll notice that I’ve included major league sports and when their season starts. If you haven’t noticed by now, New Yorkers take their professional sports very seriously, so I felt obligated to include an overview of these season openers so you’re fully prepared!

The next sport I’ll be touching on is hockey (basketball will be covered in the next article). This sport is notoriously known as a winter sport since it’s played on ice, so it’s only fitting that the teams play during the cold months. Every once in a while a game will be played outdoors (in a geographically cold area, of course), but for the most part, these games are played indoors inside large arenas. Even though it’ll be indoors, the venue itself will stay quite chilly, so if you find yourself ever attending one of these games, be sure to dress appropriately!

New York City has two professional hockey teams, and you might notice depending on where you are in the city that the island itself is pretty divided when it comes to their fanbase! A great way to practice your English in this instance is to start up a friendly conversation with someone who is clearly a fan of one of the teams and pick their brain about an upcoming game, their favorite player, or why they love hockey so much. For the most part, you’ll probably find that New Yorkers are pretty easy to chat with as long as you stay friendly, so make sure you smile and approach gently! Here’s a quick rundown of the two famous New York City teams as well as some helpful lingo so you’re confident with the basics before heading out to catch one of the games!

1. New York Islanders, Barclays Center, Brooklyn

This team has been in action since 1972, so while they haven’t been around as long as other teams in the country, they’ve still made quite a name for themselves over the years. With their colors at royal blue, orange, and white (similar to the New York Mets baseball team if you remember!), they’re hard to miss on the ice, especially since they have 4 Stanley Cups under their belts (which is the ultimate championship win, like the World Series for baseball or the Super Bowl for football). While the team has struggled over the past 30 years or so, their spirit is still alive, as you will very easily see in their fans! Be sure to make your way down to Brooklyn this winter to check out a game for yourself and interact with the passionate fans!

2. New York Rangers, Madison Square Garden, Manhattan

It could be argued that this team is slightly more popular in fandom than the New York Islanders—but never say that to an Islanders fan of course! Founded in 1926, the New York Rangers are one of the oldest teams in the league, existing as part of the Original Six teams along with the Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, and Toronto Maple Leafs. Since the team considers their home venue Madison Square Venue, you’ll find it quite easy to run into Rangers fans if you’re anywhere close to Times Square or Penn Station. With their colors as blue, red, and white (like football’s New York Giants), the Rangers match the number of Stanley Cup wins as the Islanders at 4, but they’ve also seen more recent success over the years, which tends to show a spike in the team’s popularity when they’re playing well. Since the team is more locally based in the city, it might be easier for you to track down a game to attend. Again, don’t hesitate to initiate some English practice by striking up conversation with some Rangers fans, and ask them about their favorite players or even what their favorite snack is at the concession stands.

Terms to know:

• Biscuit: this is simply another word for the puck
• Fighting: you’ll notice this is very common and actually encouraged during a game, so worry not if it happens
• Goal: if the puck enters the net, this will be shouted from the stands in celebration

Another one of my absolute FAVORITE things about fall is football season. Since I was little, I was obsessed with the sport and would beg my parents to take me to games. It was odd to them since most girls typically didn’t love football as much as I did, but it just stuck! As I grew up, I found that I somehow fell in love with it even more and realized that my passion for the sport helped make me a lot of friends (and enemies depending on which team the other person liked!), and to this day, the start of football season is the most exciting time of the year to me.

If you’re new to the United States, you may not be too familiar with the sport. In other countries, football is a different sport—they call it football, and we call it soccer, so keep that in mind while you’re doing research on it! Since you’re new to New York City, it might help to know that New York has two major football teams: the New York Giants and the New York Jets. If you remember my post from the spring about baseball and New York’s teams, I discussed how seriously New Yorkers take their fandom, and the same can be said for these two football teams.

For the most part, the majority of the games are played on Sundays from September until the Super Bowl, typically held in the first week of February. Games are sometimes played on Thursdays, Mondays, and even Saturdays on occasion depending on the holiday schedule. You might notice that Sundays in New York City just get a bit louder with everyone wearing their team’s jerseys, chanting their team’s songs, and the combination of cheering and/or booing depending on the game’s outcome. Football is very cherished for New York City, so you’ll notice they take it very seriously. If you need to get up early on Monday mornings, I recommend wearing ear plugs on Sunday nights just in case the fandom carries on into the late evenings!

Because New Yorkers are so vocal about their fandom, this is a great chance for you to pick up on their phrases, how they interact with one another, and their cries of either celebration or defeat following the end of a game. What a great way to practice your English, right? Consider asking your fellow game-watchers about their favorite players, or if you feel comfortable enough with your company, ask them questions about the logistics of the game so you can understand better. Just feel it out—you don’t want to disturb them if they happen to be watching intently!

For your benefit, before you head out there blindly on a Sunday afternoon, here’s a brief rundown of New York City’s two main teams.

New York Giants (colors are blue, red, and white; their logo is a giant G)

Even though the team’s name says New York, their field is actually in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Some of their nicknames are Big Blue, G-Men, and the Jints. Most recently, the team won the Super Bowl in 2011, so some of the hardcore fans are still generally pretty excited about the win. This year, the Giants are prospected to have a decent year. They’re not at their strongest in recent years, but they should have a pretty fulfilling season ahead of them!

New York Jets (colors are green and white; their logo is simply JETS)

Here’s an interesting fact: the Jets and the Giants actually share the same field in East Rutherford, New Jersey. It creates some scheduling conflicts from time to time, but hey, the comradery couldn’t hurt, right? You might over hear people spelling out their name often, like, “J-E-T-S!” since their only nickname is Gang Green. Unfortunately, the Jets haven’t seen the same amount of success as the Giants have, as they have never won a Super Bowl, while the Giants have won 4. The Jets aren’t predicted to have a successful year, as they’ve fallen on some pretty bad luck over the years

Before you think you’re not linguistically skilled enough to head out into public on Football Sundays, just relax and remember that the game itself doesn’t rely on words—it simply relies on the actual movement of the ball between the players. But before you know it, you’ll pick up on it, and soon enough, you’ll be cheering with the rest of them!

In this day and age, practically everything is consumed digitally now. We’re on the constant go with our smartphones, we can sync our televisions, computers, and tablets, and waiting on anything seems like it’s a thing of the past. When we’re talking about books, more specifically, we now also have the ability to download full books onto our devices so we can read while we’re commuting, travelling, or even just taking a bath. But for those that are still devoted to the idea of holding a tangible thing while reading, this digital era can be a little sad and for me, a bit heartbreaking. I studied English literature in college and graduate school, so I feel a very close connection to physical books, and the books that I own are like children to me. So when I moved to New York City, I made it a point to find all the independent bookstores that I could to ensure I continue to support the print publishing industry!

It goes without saying that reading books in English is a stellar way to strengthen your grasp on the language. Depending on your genre of choice, you can learn a lot through these pieces of work, and you’ll be able to pull a lot of English colloquiums from these publications. It’s a great way to put your skills to use—and be entertained at the same time!

Here’s a round-up of some of my favorite spots in New York City to get great books (that aren’t Barnes & Noble—they have enough income—our small businesses need our help!):

1. Strand; 828 Broadway

I have to admit that the first time I came here was even before I formally moved to the city—that’s how eager I was to visit this iconic bookstore! From the outside, it looks like a typical corner vendor, but once you’re inside, you’ll discover 3 floors, books organized by genre, and other fabulous book-loving creatures like myself. I felt like a kid in a candy store in that place. What makes Strand unique is that it houses rare books, out-of-print titles (beat that, eBay!), and even glassed maps and art pieces. The store claims to have 18 miles of books within their walls—once you’re inside, you might start to think that there’s got to be even more than that! If you’re a book lover like me, be sure to make Strand at the top of your list for must-see destinations.

2. 192 Books; 192 10^th Avenue

This location is another tribute to classic literature, but it also has a healthy integration of art inspiration as the owners have an art background themselves. The location often hosts events and special readings by featured authors to generate traffic and excitement for the continuing art of the written word. The bookstore is a bit quieter than Strand, allowing for it to feel more like a private library, so get ready to unplug your phone and fall into a good book.

3. McNally Jackson; 52 Prince Street

This location is fabulous with incredible space, intelligent lighting, and a wide variety of literature, treasured and time-sensitive pieces, and even archived magazine issues. Part of the reason McNally Jackson is so popular is because of its built-in café, providing refreshment and additional energy so you can tackle the other half of the store. Skip the other major booksellers for a more intimate experience that McNally Jackson can offer.

4. Books Are Magic; 225 Smith Street (Brooklyn)

The owners of this establishment decided to use this space after another bookstore prior to its inception closed down. They didn’t want to see the space go to another coffee shop, so they took over and created this chic corner destination for book-lovers to come together and visit their favorite go-tos or discover a new favorite. Newly opened, Books Are Magic is already a neighborhood favorite, and the owners organize weekly events and invite authors to share readings for those looking to reap the benefits of having a bookstore in their neighborhood.

If you’re anything like me, reading is an integral part of your life, and having a tangible reminder in our hands of how we communicate with one another is a crucial part of the experience. Whether you’re new to New York City or have been here for a few years like myself, you’re sure to find dozens of other tucked-away literary gems that still treasure the value of the written word.