Your Best Tool for Abroad & Learning English

New York City, if you haven’t learned so by now, has one of the highest rates of homelessness in the country. Small and family-owned businesses struggle on a daily basis to get by while in competition with more powerful big-box retailers. Talented performers, like singers, actors, and musicians, often barely scrape by while trying to pursue their dreams in this great yet competitive city. The winters in New York City are often the most difficult time of the year for these individuals, for the harsh temperatures create higher electric bills, slowed transportation, and unlivable conditions. If you have spare time, money, or goods that might help these struggling people, here are a few ways you can volunteer and give back. Plus, these organizations will help you with your English skills, as human interaction is at the very core of these causes. Not only will you get your language practice, but you’ll be helping to make someone else’s day as well.

1. DEED app

If you’re not sure where to start, consider downloading this app to help you brainstorm. To start, all you need to do is add in your location (your zip code or borough), and all the local charities and volunteer opportunities will pop up in your feed, allowing you to choose what stands out to you the most. You can organize your options by location, date, or kind of service. This is the best way to get started and to get you motivated; once you volunteer the first time, you’ll want to keep doing it, guaranteed. Plus, once you’re out there with one group, you can share your information with others, which will not only exercise your English social skills, but you’ll hear about other volunteer and non-profit groups for future community outreach days.

2. NYC Service

This is another digital option to have customized volunteer options curated for you. Whether it’s helping the environment with planting trees in the park or helping young children with reading, writing, or arithmetic, you’ll have plenty of choices when it comes to helping others. Plus, think about this: if you’re brushing up on your English, consider helping others with their English. By practicing and learning together, you both could help each other strengthen your skills. Pretty cool, right??

3. Ellen’s Stardust Diner, Times Square

Nope, you’re not mistaken—I meant to include this! When I first moved to New York City, this restaurant was one of my first must-see places. With its location so close to Broadway’s biggest theatres, this diner employs performance art hopefuls. Every couple of minutes, a server that has hopes of making it to Broadway will grab a microphone and start singing and dancing to classic and popular showtunes for everyone’s entertainment. Try singing along to practice your English—you might be surprised how easy it is to remember English words when they’re set to music! While performing, the manager will pass around a bucket that is meant to collect cash tips and donations, designed to help these hopefuls with their singing, acting, and dancing lessons. By visiting this destination, not only will you be fed and entertained, but you can walk away with the enormous feeling of helping each hopeful performer get one step closer to their dreams.

4. Donate to thrift shops

There are endless destinations in New York City that accept donations. Places like the Salvation Army, Goodwill, and general thrift stores are always looking for and happy to accept used clothing, furniture, toys, home goods, or even books that you may not use or need anymore. As I mentioned before, there are thousands of people and families in New York City that can barely get by, so these individuals rely on the donations and goodwill of others to aid them in their daily lives. If you’re looking to give back but may be short on time or services, consider sifting through your closets or cabinets, and gather all the items that are just taking up space. By donating them to these centers, not only will you free space in your living area, but even better, you’ll know your things will help someone else’s life. Get used to hearing the English phrase, “Thank you” quite a bit as you’re giving back—it’ll make you feel wonderful.

If you guys know anything about me by now, it’s that I’m always talking about NOT hibernating and staying indoors. We live in the greatest city in the world (in my opinion!), so why stay inside and miss all the spectacular things this city has to offer? But I’ll be honest with you. This time of year, it really is very easy (and tempting) to stay inside and snuggle up with cozy blankets and slippers and just relax with hot cocoa and Netflix rather than facing the brutal elements outside. Between the snow and cold temperatures and wind, sometimes all I need to do is look out the window to convince me to stay inside. So, I say, go ahead, and give into this desire every once in a while! I’ve come up with some creative ideas on what to do indoors if you’re planning some hibernation time this January. And of course, each idea has some creative ways you can keep your English practice fresh and in-use.

1. Netflix – OF COURSE!

I honestly have no idea how I got through life without Netflix—without commercials, I can catch up on my shows, rewatch some of my favorites, or even start ones that I never would have considered before—it’s just too easy! With my friends and family always telling me, “You would LOVE this show,” I find that I’m always adding more to my queue—not a bad problem to have! If you remember in my movie post from a few months ago, watching movies and television shows in English is a really fun (and somewhat mindless) way to “practice” your English. Because your full attention isn’t on “learning” or “practicing” the language, you might find that it’s a lot easier to pick up on sayings, slang, or even common inside jokes. For example, I never watched “Friends” when it was still on television. But now that it’s over and they put the whole series up on Netflix, I easily binged all ten seasons, and then I finally understood all the jokes that people would make about the show when before they all went over my head!

2. Baking and cooking

This is something that I wish I would do more often to be honest with you. I’ve never been too skilled in the kitchen—I’m not very patient, and I never really had any interest in learning how to do anything besides making pasta and toast. (Hey, I’ve made it this far in my adulthood—I’ll be fine!) But when the weather is miserable and you want to learn to make a new dish, January is the time to do it. Consider a dish using ingredients that you already have—there are websites where you put in what you have, and they’ll spit out a variety of options that you can make with those items. Talk about a fun challenge! Or maybe do the opposite: find a recipe that looks and sounds delectable, gather the ingredients at your local market or grocery store, then challenge yourself to make it! Not only will you appreciate the time indoors, but you’ll be able to say you pulled off a brand new dish! And of course, this is great practice for your English reading. Between the measurements, instructions, and recipe shopping, you’ll be a pro any time you need to make another meal! Plus, your friends/roommates will love reaping the benefits of your new hobby!

3. Host a game night

If you have roommates or friends in the neighborhood (so they don’t have to travel far to get to you), consider organizing a game night at your place. Have everyone either make or bring a dish for everyone to enjoy (like chips and dip, hot cocoa mix, or even wine if you’re looking for more of an “adult” game night), then pull out all of the best board or card games you have. Games like Pictionary and Charades are great for large parties, and it’ll be so much fun watching your friends trying to act out or draw their favorite movies or television shows. When I was in college, my roommates and I would host a game night and play Rummy until the sun came up. It was a great way to bring everyone together for laughs—and it was convenient since we saved money and avoided the harsh weather. For your English practice, these nights are great for your social speaking skills, and honestly, your vocabulary! If you’re playing Pictionary, it’s almost like using flashcards! Perfect!