In one of PC TECH’s ESL classes, students have been writing about the world’s indigenous cultures.  Rocio, a travel agent and guide from Peru, has composed a response to this question:  “What would the world be like if most indigenous cultures disappear?”

The answer is very simple.  If most indigenous cultures disappear, the world will lose cultural identity.  This means that our world [and] our lives will lose valuable knowledge about traditional medicine, religions, world vision, natural nutrition, animal life, plant life…secrets of the simple life in this amazing world.

Now, governmental and non-governmental organizations, religious groups, oil and lumber companies, and others are rapidly [threatening] a lot of the indigenous cultures of the world.

Who can stop it?  Anybody?

I think we will [quickly] become more “artificial” people.  I can’t believe that technology and lust for power will dominate our beautiful world.  I hope for a miracle.

Our future is in the children’s hands:  “Education with Conscience”

PC TECH students create an essay every week.  Their teachers make corrections to spelling, grammar, punctuation, and suggest improvements to writing style.  This is often a class activity, where everyone has copies of each completed composition.  All the students can then add their comments and suggestions.

PC TECH: English Language School in New York City

Did you become interested in learning more English by watching American and British TV programs and attending movies (cinema)?  Here in New York City during the summer months, you will find many opportunities to see FREE movies, usually outdoors, often in a park.

For example, Bryant Park will screen a number of classic movies on Monday evenings.  This beautiful midtown green space is located only two short blocks from PC TECH, directly behind the New York Public Library (itself an enjoyable place to visit on a rainy day).

South Street Seaport, not far from the Manhattan side of the Brooklyn Bridge, will present movies every Wednesday and Saturday until Labor Day weekend.  (Labor Day is observed on the first Monday in September, and is considered by many Americans the unofficial end of summer.)

In Brooklyn, just across the East River from the Seaport, is Brooklyn Bridge Park, one of New York’s newest parks.  Movies will be shown Thursday evenings in July and August, beginning at 6:00.

Later in the summer, every day from August 18 to 22, beginning at 8:00 PM, you can watch movies with a New York City origin.  These are presented in the section of Central Park known as the Sheep Meadow.  (Don’t worry, the sheep have not been there for over a hundred years!)

These are just a few of the activities that can be enjoyed for free in the Big Apple over the summer.  Students at PC TECH can learn about many other opportunities like these.

PC TECH: English Language School in New York City

English uses many phrasal verbs to express various activities and feelings.  You can find many more in previous blog posts, and we will be publishing even more.  We invite you to PC TECH to learn these and many more:

“It’s raining and I don’t have an umbrella, so I guess I will have to go without one.”  [Not possess]

“She had a close friend in college, but they grew apart because they had not seen each other for a long time.”  [Stopped their friendship]

“His hair grew back very quickly after his surgery.”  [Returned to normal]

“The child said, ‘When I grow up, I want to be President.’”  [Mature]

“Teenagers can grow out of their clothes very fast.”  [Become too big for]

“I know your coat is a little large, but you will grow into it within a year.” [Become bigger]

“Parents who like to cook often hand down their recipes to their children. ”  [Give to the younger generation]

“Please make sure that your name is on your homework when you hand it in.”  [Submit it]

“Would you please hand out these papers to the other students?”  [Distribute]

“At the airport, you must hand over your passport for the officials to check.” [Give]

“Yes, English grammar can be difficult, but hang in there and you will soon learn it. [Be patient] 

PC TECH: English Language School in New York City

As a student, moving to New York City is definitely an adventure you will always remember. It can be life changing, not to mention incredibly fun. So, you may want to write down some of your adventures, day-to-day routines, and general impressions of the city to share with friends and family, as well as to have a record of your time spent in the world’s greatest city.

Your New York City adventure is of course intertwined with your English learning journey so why not bring the two together? A blog can be a great medium to do both. It offers any easy-to-use platform for expressing your most meaningful experiences while reinforcing and building upon your English writing skills, such as spelling, punctuation, grammar, and local sayings.

Life in New York

Living in such a culturally rich and vibrant city will make for some amazing stories. Writing about your favorite locales, restaurants, parks, and clubs are all great topics for your English blog. You may also consider writing about concerts you’ve attended, sporting events, or what makes New York City so unique.

How about your day-to-day experiences such as taking the subway? Because there are so many people like you that are drawn to this city, writing about these experiences can help them, too. Tips on finding a decent apartment, exploring different neighborhoods, getting a bite to eat, and shopping for bargains are all great topics to write about.

Learning English through Writing

Writing a blog is a great way to practice the English you’ve learned. Apart from the benefits already mentioned, it will give you a chance to improve your vocabulary, as with each post you will need to look up more and more words in the dictionary.

Furthermore, you can easily track how your English is improving and learn what weaknesses you should focus on. This will save you time and give you a clear understanding of your abilities. And, if willing, you can ask your PC TECH teachers, fluent speaking friends, or other native speakers to give feedback and corrections on your posts.

It should also be mentioned that a successful blog can earn you some money on the side through advertisements and sponsors. At the very least, it may come in handy for showing your English writing strengths when interviewing for a job.

Maximizing Your City Experience

Lastly, your blog can even improve your experiences in New York City as people who read it will understand your interests and may offer their own experiences, tips, and suggestions in return.

An English blog about your life in New York City offers so many possibilities. It will not only help you to learn about the city, but about yourself as well, and you may even meet some new friends along the way.