The Best Way to Get Your New York News While You’re Learning English April 29, 2017

Ready to customize your news source just to New York City? Want to make sure your information doesn’t go over your head if you’re learning English? I’ve got you covered!

Sometimes it may seem like living in New York City is lifestyle that some people just won’t get unless they give it a shot themselves. Our city is so unique in its own way that it can often feel as though we’re in our own little world. The great thing about this time that we live in is that there are so many ways to get our news now that it makes it impossible to be misinformed. And with all of our technological advances, we really are quite the privileged generation.

You might visit CNN, ABC, or other news networks to stay up-to-date with the happenings in the world, but sometimes maybe you just want to know what’s been going on in your area. Similar to any kind of local news area, New York City has plenty of news and journalistic outlets for you to engage with to stay current. Being in touch with these outlets is also a way to continue your ongoing exercise in practicing your English skills—you can be hear how other people refer to traffic patterns, listen to how the local sports team performed, and stay up-to-date with local events. I’ve listed out a handful of resources that will provide you with not only great specific information on New York City but will also provide you mental English practicing skills and exercise.

1. Time Out New York

You can pick one of these free magazines up in the subway to look through during your commute, or you could also download the app to read it digitally. This resource is geared more towards the social scene, focusing more on new restaurants, upcoming events, or trending habits from your fellow New Yorkers. I follow the magazine on my social media, so it’s super easy to stay up-to-date with the latest in my neighborhood. They also post a lot of cool round-ups and lists about the best places to get brunch, the hottest spots for karaoke, or the most up-and-coming neighborhoods for rents. Again, if you’re still adjusting to English, don’t worry about the language barrier—the writers for this publication are also very approachable, and you more than likely won’t feel intimidated.

2. New York Daily News

This resource is much more similar to a newspaper style kind of news delivery, but it focuses solely on life in New York City. You can search stories based on your borough or you can just scan the main page for the top stories. Be sure to also pay attention to their social media outlets, as the editors tend to circulate the most breaking news on these platforms, so you’ll be as up-to-date and informed as possible. Even though it’s primarily NYC-focuses, it also highlights breaking news outside of the city limits, so you won’t be missing out on outside news if you utilize this resource for your information.

3. New York One (NY1)

If television is more up your alley, check out this this newschannel. Easy to remember, this station loops 24-hour news on everything New York City related. During the morning and evening hours, the channel runs your basic news, covering traffic, weather, sports, and general news updates, while during the day, the channel will cover more specific genres during longer periods, like a half hour program covering the New York City theater scene and another that covers political updates. I noticed that whenever I’m at the doctor or the dentist, they’ll always have this channel on while I’m waiting for my appointment—it makes it easy to stay informed! If you’re new to English, the great part of this network is the reminder that the channel as a whole is for New York City, and it’s important to remember, as I’ve said consistently in all my blog posts, that almost everyone in NYC is from somewhere else. While you’re watching the weather report, someone from Ghana is in Queens watching the same thing. While you’re brushing your teeth and watching the evening news, someone from Taiwan is doing the same thing. With this, the channel communicates its information in an approachable and universal way. And just as I always say, when in doubt, download the app!