Surprising Places You Can Learn English in New York City January 5, 2017

One of my favorite parts of living in New York City is the constant bustle and conversation. It just makes the city feel alive and somewhat magical—it’s the reason it’s called the “City that Never Sleeps.”

There’s no better place to learn English than New York City for this reason—you’re always surrounded by people conversing with one another, either professionally or personally. Additionally, there’s always something going on in the city where you can surround yourself with English natives to learn the language outside of the classroom. You can be perfect at English by the textbook, but hearing and experiencing the language beyond the class walls is just as crucial.

I’ve come up with a quick list of places you can check out that would be a great resource for English exposure. Start up your Google Maps and Yelp apps, and start making your list of places to see and hear in New York City!

1.Satisfy your curiosity at the Museum

New York City is a cultural hub full of rich history and remarkable memorials to different moments in time. People come from all over the world to visit New York City museums; with almost 100 to check out, you have the ultimate opportunity right in your backyard! Find one that interests you and grab a group of your friends. Practice reading the brochures and the placards, ask the tour guide questions, and listen in on other conversations around you. This way, you’re not only learning about a subculture or moment in time in New York City, but you’re expanding your English skills at the same time!

2.Mall Madness!

Shopping malls offer a wide variety of products, services, and great foods. New York City is one of the world’s fashion capitals, and to maintain that title, The Big Apple has some of the coolest malls and shopping centers you’ve ever seen. Find one close to your neighborhood, put on your comfortable walking shoes, and prepare to learn! I suggest finding a table in the eatery and start by just listening in on some of the conversations taking place around you. This is also a great opportunity to learn about different types of food in the comfort of being under one giant roof! From there, as you pass by store windows, get a feel for some catch-phrases, like: “Today Only: 40% Off Everything!” or “Black Friday Sale: Doors Open at 5 am!” This is the perfect chance to get to know some of the cultural approaches to consumption.

3.Parks and Recreation

One of my other favorite things about the city is the number of public parks. They’re spaced out enough so that you don’t have to travel very far to find one near you, and New York City does a stellar job at keeping them clean and safe. Bring your study group to a park of your choice and practice your English with one another. Or maybe just go solo with a novel in English (and your English translation dictionary) and lay in the sun, enjoying the solitude and peacefulness. Plus, depending on the park you choose, there’s always a chance that you’ll be close to someone else’s conversation—listen in to get a feel for how they communicate with each other, jot down phrases you’re not familiar with, and congratulate yourself when it makes sense to you!

4.Turn up the Volume and Jam Out

There are some days when you won’t want to hear all those other conversations going on around you. Trust me—it can get overwhelming at times, and you’ll crave the space in your own head. That’s when I recommend always having a set of earbuds with you. Regardless of how you aggregate your music on your device, it’s always helpful to have your own private music library. There are endless genres you can listen to in English, so the choice is yours, but this is another great tool to get an idea of the English language and how it’s applied in the real world—and outside of the classroom. Keep in mind that each genre is different, so their slang or dialect will vary depending on your choice and taste. If you come across a song that you enjoy but have a hard time grasping the lyrics, look them up and practice reading them as you listen to the song—this way, you’ll hear the intonation of the language, AND you’ll get to learn the lyrics to your new favorite song!