New Women New Yorkers

How to learn English in NYC

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By Daria Kurdyukova-Pillot

Moving to another country is a real challenge. Sometimes you don’t even know how to speak the new language, or how to learn it faster. It has happened to me twice in my life. Firstly, I moved from Russia to France, and then to London a few years after that. Now I am living in NYC.

London is a beautiful city with a lot of green parks, different people, traditions, and culture. I liked the city, but I could not communicate well with British people. I barely understood them. I’d had English lessons during my school program in Russia, and of course I knew some grammar and simple words. Unfortunately, that was not enough for me to be able to understand what was being said, and it was even harder for me to speak English.

I remember those embarrassing moments — when you want to express yourself and you don’t have enough vocabulary, and you are losing your confidence because of the language barrier. Around that time, I decided to find a good book of English grammar (Murphy’s “English Grammar in Use”), listen to the BBC every day, and read more books and newspapers. It took me a few months to reinforce my vocabulary, and I began to feel much better when I could understand more.

This article is not about my experience; it’s about English classes in NYC. Below, I’ve shared some recommendations. I hope this article might help you to find the right place to learn or improve your English.

Learn English for free at the NYPL

At the beginning of my time here, I followed classes at the New York Public Library Mid-Manhattan branch. All of the classes are provided for free. I liked the classes about culture and civilization, which were preparing for the US Citizenship test. There are also Citizenship Test Preparation English Classes available. The teachers are very professional and creative. They propose different kinds of activities every week and you won’t get bored.

Libraries offer English instruction at different levels of difficulty; it helps students to feel comfortable and improve their skills at their own pace. You will have to take a placement test to find out your level of English, and then you can choose where to enroll in classes. Each public library has different classes and programs, so check your nearest branch for listings. There are four semesters (fall, winter, spring, and summer) and before each semester you can sign up. Find more information here.

I have a Russian friend who is following different classes around the city, and she has allowed me to share her experience with you, below. I hope it will be very useful and helpful for you.

Improve your English through watching and discussing films

One class that my friend tried at the NYPL is called “We Speak NYC.” This conversation class was created by the New York City Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, and is offered by the NYPL as well as various community organizations throughout the city; learn more about the program here. If you write and understand English well enough, but you want to improve your speaking skills, you should try these classes. The program teaches new vocabulary based on different films. As my friend explained to me, first you look at the new vocabulary, and then you watch a film and have a discussion. You need to know basic English to understand what’s going on during the class. In any case, you should try it and see if it works for you. You don’t need to prove your English level or home address; even if you are not from New York, you can follow this course.

Another option is Hartley House, which offers free English classes and has just one restriction: you must be at least 21 years old. My friend is in an advanced group, where they watch scenes from films and the news, and then have a discussion afterwards. The teacher usually stops the movie and explains the new vocabulary. They don’t learn grammar, but the teacher corrects mistakes during the discussion. If you want to try this class, you should fill out the application form and wait for a call inviting you for an interview.

Experience different teaching styles at Columbia University

My friend also recommends free classes offered through Columbia University. The program is taught by Columbia students who’ve earned a certificate to teach English to speakers of other languages. It’s like an internship for them, and three hours of English practice every day for you. During the course you will have five different teachers, and it’s very interesting for students because each teacher has their own style of teaching. They use a book (“Future English”) which covers grammar, new vocabulary, speaking, and listening. Classes are offered during three semesters (fall, winter, and summer) and you can register online. Find out more information here.

You can find more opportunities by following the links below.

The LEAD workforce development program is also a great way to improve your English alongside other immigrant women. We welcome participants from all levels of education and English proficiency. In additional to job readiness training and practice, LEAD participants also gain access to a free online platform, Global English One, to learn and improve their professional English. Find out more about the LEAD program here.

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