Your Best Tool for Abroad & Learning English

April is one of my favorite months in New York City. I’ve put my winter coats and scarves into storage, I open my windows for fresh spring air, and I tend to take more walks outside to enjoy the warmer temperatures and longer days. It just generally heightens my mood. With that said, I also tend to be more socially active once these spring days roll around, meaning I’m exploring the city more and enjoying life outside my apartment more often.

If you’re new to the English language and looking to gain some real-world NYC experience with it, these activities will provide you the opportunities to practice with your friends and other New Yorkers. After all, the Big Apple is a giant cultural melting pot, meaning there are thousands in this city that speak other languages themselves, looking to enhance their own English skills. Here are a few things to do this month in New York City that will keep you entertained while you fine-tune your English.

1. Pillow Fight, Washington Square Park, April 6^th

This is a bit of a different one, and this is the first I’m hearing of this event myself, so I’m interested in finding out more about it, as I think I’ll be attending this year! Whether you choose to participate or simply watch the comedy show in front of you, it’ll surely give you plenty of entertainment for the day. Bring your own pillow or stuffed animal for some innocent fun, and you never know who you may meet while reliving your childhood, so come prepared with your best getting-to-know-you English phrases, and get ready to have some fun. What’s really cool is that this is actually an international event as well, so cities from all over the world will be participating in this on the same day, meaning you can be a part of this on an international level, too! Be sure to follow whatever hashtag they create for social media to follow all the other global events!

2. Earth Day, April 22^nd

Every year on this day, the nation comes together to pay attention to how we’re treating our environment and give back a bit to Mother Earth. Since the weather on this day is typically pleasant and warm enough to enjoy the outdoors, this is a great opportunity for you to spend some time in the many amazing parks that New York City has to offer. If you wanted to take it one step further, you can look into ways that you can volunteer to make the city a greener place by planting blooms or cleaning up your neighborhood. Many people also choose to completely turn off their devices, lowering their carbon footprint for the day. For some English practice, turn off your phone and have a picnic in the park and have some good old-fashioned conversation. You’d be surprised at how cleansing it can feel!

3. Tribeca Film Festival, April 24th – May 5th

Every year, this festival takes place to spotlight and honor local film projects. The neighborhood during this weeklong event completely transforms to cater to those coming to the area to participate in this festival. From screenings of the movies and films to specials in area restaurants and bars, you and your friends can get a taste of current media culture right here in Tribeca. Talking about your favorites can help you practice your speaking skills, and watching the actual films can help you with your listening translation strengths. If April is a bit too rainy for your taste, another way you can honor this event is look at past film participants from prior years and hold a viewing party at your apartment.

No matter how long you’ve been in New York City or how long you’ve been practicing your English, there are endless ways to put your learnings to use. Since April is still kind of a transition month with uncertain weather patterns, it can be a bit tricky when it comes to making plans, but no matter what, you’re still in the greatest city with neverending things to do. And again, you’re surrounded with people from all over the world, so you’ll never be alone when it comes to learning English and adjusting to this great city. That’s what makes New York City one of the best places to learn and live in the world!

Living in New York City means you have access to some of the best food in the world – from global bites at your fingertips to late night guilt-trips to the food trucks, it’s pretty difficult to find food that doesn’t satisfy your tastes. With all these delightful cuisines everywhere you turn, you might be surprised at quickly your body responds to all these new foods. I know when I first got to the Big Apple, I was eating out all the time, desperate to try as many restaurants and cuisines as possible. Not only did this hurt my wallet, but I found that my body wasn’t used to all these different ingredients. Additionally, even though I was walking everywhere and climbing many flights of stairs per day, I also started to notice a change in my body shape (and not for the better).

If you’re practicing your English in New York City right now and you’re experiencing similar circumstances, I’ve come up with a few ways that you can stay in shape even while you’re still testing out all the great food this amazing city has to offer. It’s easier than you think, and all of these options are easy on your wallet. You don’t need to shell out hundreds of dollars on a gym membership – all of these strategies will get you moving with little cost. So pull out your sneakers, because if you’re ready to ditch those extra cuisine pounds, you’ll be putting them to good use.

1. Sign up for a local race

One of the benefits of living in this great city is that are always tons of races to participate in. If you’re a runner (or even if you’re not), this is a great opportunity to get a few miles under your belt. I always find that when I’m running a 5k, it never really feels like 3.2 miles because I’m running alongside so many other people and taking in all the sights around me. Most of these are reasonably priced (depending on how big it is or if you choose to donate to a fund), so do some research, grab some friends, and get some fresh air. Plus, so many of these races are socially-backed, so you’re bound to meet tons of new people and practice your English social skills.

2. Rethink your commute

Believe me, I know I’ve checked out every possible route for walking the least for my daily commute, especially when the weather is unbearable, like the deep cold or the extreme heat. On those days, I want to spend as much time in the heat or AC as possible. But if you’re looking for some free (and frankly, SUPER easy) exercise to burn off those street tacos that are too hard to resist, I highly recommend walking a few extra blocks to take a different subway line to get those extra steps in. Another easy trick I do on a daily basis is skip the escalator coming in and out of my subway stop. Instead, I’ll climb the stairs myself. While this may not make a huge difference overall, I know I’m making a better long-term choice for myself. Plus, if you devote to taking a different route, you might come across new shops or find your favorite new health store – this is a great way to keep your English reading and comprehensive skills intact.

3. Your apartment = your new gym

You might notice that these days, technology has made life way easier in many aspects. For me, I’ve learned that if you do some research on health and wellness apps, you can find your new favorite exercise regimen. If your living space has the room, set up a nice workout spot so you can start with the basics, like practicing your plank or learning some new yoga moves. For me, this was a great way to build my motivation and confidence before I worked my way up to a gym membership. Once I felt more comfortable in my healthy body, I was able to step into the gym and use their professional machines. If you’re dedicated towards your English learning, many of these apps are instructed, so this is a great way to improve your English language listening and comprehension.

Of course, I love living in this great city and trying out all the amazing foods, but I also quickly learned the effect that this lifestyle had on my body. So be sure to try these great tactics out so you can still indulge and feel healthy – all while practicing your En