Resources: Notes on Life and Language in the United States

Are you an expat in NYC or Boston, wondering about that strange and confusing American custom called tipping? When it comes to tipping at restaurants, in taxis and at the hair stylist, it's pretty straightforward, right? However, what about that friendly man who opens the door for you everyday at your apartment building? Maybe he even knows your name. Sometimes he offers to carry your groceries and he usually hails you a cab on a rainy day. If you are like some of our students, you may be wondering how much and when you should tip your doorman. There are no rules written in your lease and it might be an awkward question to ask your neighbor, so you are stuck! In this post, you will learn how much and when you should tip your doorman in New York or Boston.

So you are in New York or Boston and you need to improve your English. You aren't sure if one-to-one English lessons or group English classes are the best choice for you. The correct choice is different for everyone. It all comes down to your priorities. Do you have a lot of time in your schedule or very little time available? Are you more concerned about paying a low price or getting a good value? In this post, I will show you 5 key differences between group classes at the large language schools and one-to-one English lessons with a private tutoring company.

What are the 6 stages of culture shock and how do they affect you, as an international professional or student in Boston or in another part of the United States?

Moving to the United States, starting a new life and finding a community in a city like Boston or New York can be a challenging task! You are probably eager to learn the English language and culture and to meet new people outside of your own cultural group. But in the big cities, it can be hard to connect with new people to make friends and practice your English so a lot of international students and professionals only socialize within their own cultural groups. In today's post, I would like to share a way for you to get out and meet new people in your city and start speaking more English with local people. If you are young, eager to learn English and ready for the adventure of exploring New York or Boston with a local person, keep reading for some great ideas!

Where in New York can you practice your English with native English speakers, get free drinks and snacks and view amazing works of art by some of the world's newest and most up-and-coming artists? I'm not talking about the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) or the Metropolitan Museum of Art (the Met). I am talking about the Chelsea art openings. A lot of our English students say that it is difficult to meet native English speakers and hard to get an opportunity to practice speaking English in New York. Indeed, it can be more of a challenge in New York than in other cities, but if you follow your interests, you will be more likely to connect with people who are interested in the same thing. So if you are interested in art and want to practice your English, keep reading for more details!

Moving to a new country is an exciting and scary experience! If you have recently moved to New York or Boston and you want to connect with the international community in your city, we have some great expatriate resources for you today! Meeting other newcomers and international professionals who are also getting used to life in the United States will help you to adjust to the culture and will give you a chance to practice your English and expand your social or professional network. A lot of my students in New York and Boston tell me that they can't find any opportunities to practice their English outside of class and meet new people. In this post, you have 5 ways to connect with the people around you. Success is about connections! So get out there, practice your English and enjoy your new city!!

Practice your English listening while you learn from two New Yorkers about the 7 best places to dine in New York! New York is a city of variety! You can find pretty much any kind of food from anywhere in the world. The only problem is, sometimes that food can be very expensive. So what should you do? Should you just eat fast food and sandwiches to save money? Of course not! Listen to today's recording and get our secrets about some great places to dine and learn about how to take advantage of Restaurant Week this summer! Take notes and start enjoying all of the culinary adventures that are available to you in New York. Please listen carefully to the conversation and then answer the questions to check your understanding.

Are cultural transitions challenging for you?

Today's blog topic is NYC English! What do you know about the New York City subway? If you are thinking about coming to NYC to learn English, this post is a great way for you to get an idea of what it's like to ride the subway in New York. If you are already in New York and you ride the subway every day, you can learn new vocabulary expressions and idioms that New Yorkers use every day! Do you know what it means to be "in the red" or to "get the hang of it" ? If not, listen to the conversation about the subway in New York. Don't forget to take the quiz at the end to test your listening comprehension!

One of the most important tasks where you will need your English in New York is finding an apartment. In the last New York English lesson you learned which neighborhoods are up-and-coming. Now that you have some neighborhoods in mind that you want to check out, you will learn some vocabulary words and expressions that you can use to communicate with the landlord, the broker or your potential roommates. Try the quiz below to test your vocabulary for apartment hunting. Choose the correct words to fill in the blanks in this typical telephone conversation between a landlord and an apartment hunter.