Listen, I know I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it every year. Summer is NOT my favorite season. I like the emotional feeling of summer – feeling free, having the longer days, taking vacations, and all that good stuff. But weather wise? NOT my favorite time of the year. I’m fair-skinned, and I’ll admit, I do in fact have a low tolerance for extreme heat. So with that, I tend to get sick of the summer season pretty quickly and start looking forward to fall by the middle of July. But even then, August is the epitome of the dog days of summer. The hottest days of the season tend to fall in this month, so my biggest recommendation for you this month is to enjoy the outdoors, but also prepare for activities that will be indoors to take advantage of the air conditioning and relief from the sun.

Because of this heat, many people tend to take their summer vacations during this month and flock to areas with beach access. The city tends to quiet down because of this, which means it’s a great opportunity for you to explore and grab your friends for ways you can practice your English skills. This month, I’m including things to do that are indoors, so if you’re anything like me, you can get through this last round of summer without feeling like you’re going to pass out.

1. The Rolling Stones, August 1, 2019, MetLife Stadium

No matter where you call home or what language is your first, you know that The Rolling Stones are one of the most iconic musical acts of our time. Around since the 1960s, this group has evolved throughout the decades to be one of the most legendary faces of rock and roll. As these group members age through time, it might be a great idea to see them now, as we’ll never really know when their next tour will be their last. Catch them while you still can! If you can’t make the show, you can do the next best thing and listen to their full portfolio – it’s a great way to get familiar with their music AND give your English skills a true through song!

2. New York Cocktail Expo, August 18, 2019, Long Island City, NY

As I mentioned above, there’s a spirit about summer that just means taking a load off and enjoying your time away, either from school or work. And truly, what better way to enjoy the summer than attend an event that’s all about mixed drinks?? Gather your friends for the day and arrange a ride home beforehand so you won’t have to worry about after a day of tasting and sampling new spirits and cocktails. As the most attended cocktail event in New York, you can interact with hundreds of other people from all over the city to find out what their favorite drinks are, what they learned, and their advice for making the most of your day. Be sure to hydrate and drink plenty of water this day!

3. Color Factory, SoHo

Originally created and celebrated in San Francisco, this collaborative experience has now migrated to New York City. It’s a huge celebration of color, which will make you feel alive and excited with all of the visions. If you’re serious about your Instagram, this is a great destination for you, as you’ll have plenty of opportunities to show your followers what you’re up to in New York City. A great way to not only meet more people is to include English language hashtags in your posts so you can interact with others that experienced the exhibit and learn how they appreciated the event.

New York City is the city that never sleeps or calms down. It’s also a heat box in August, so I of course recommend always having a plan for staying indoors to escape the heat. Just as there are endless things to do outside, there are also plenty of opportunities to stay cool indoors. From museums and restaurants to expos and pop-up events, you really won’t have to worry about running out of things to do. Worst case scenario, you can also just save your money and stay indoors and catch up on your Netflix queue – what better way to get your English listening skills in! Get your friends together, and come up with a plan for the hottest month in New York City – and be sure to hydrate this month!

Learning a language that’s not native to you can be a tedious process and can often take a considerable amount of time. Depending on your skill level and the difficulty of your second (or third or fourth or fifth!) new language, it can take weeks, months, or even years to feel comfortable with the new language. If English is your new language, there are many options for you when it comes to learning and adapting to the language, and when you’re ready, there are also many ways for you to advance your career in the discipline of foreign language learning.

The New York English Academy provides a tremendous support system and an accredited certification process should you decide to go into the world of teaching English to speakers of other languages. The TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) program offered at this institution will set you up with all of the required abilities you’ll need to help others learn English in the most efficient and effective ways. The certification is required in order for you to teach the language to others, and the New York English Academy has considered all of the factors that help make the process easy for you, the instructors, and of course, your future students.

Here are the reasons why the New York English Academy is the best choice for you if you’re considering a TESOL career:

• The global standard is shifting from British English to US English

This form of the English language at one point used to be the standard of formalities, but as American English continues to spread in popularity and usage, it has now become the basis for teaching English across the world. With the influence of American movies, music, and television, the shift has changed. New York English Academy is nestled in downtown New York City, so you’re sure to get plenty of exposure to this form of the English language.

• The program is student-centered around communication

So much of what we learn in the classroom can be considered theory and methods, but in a teaching setting, there also needs to be a heavy emphasis on practice and application. Since you’ll be spending most of your time trying to communicate with your students, New York English Academy has set up the program so that you’ll learn these strategies with the mindset of effective and practical communication in both Japanese and American English.

• In-class activities help retention rates

So much of learning is considering how we learn. Again, textbook lessons are great but only to a certain extent. Realistic exercises as it relates to teaching a foreign language are even better strategies to get your students involved in an experiential way beyond the books. Since the classes are structured to cater to this teaching style, you’ll learn the best strategies and activities that can help your students put their skills to use in the real world.

• Learning lesson plans and syllabi will help you in the long-run

Despite all the creative methods out there, you’ll still need to learn how to develop lesson plans so that your teaching strategies are effective and follow the curriculum set before you. This requires organization and attention to detail, and New York English Academy will help you fine-tune these skills so your students will be able to stay on track while still learning American English.

• Allow for dry-runs before being certified

The New York English Academy also establishes classes taught by instructors using your lesson plans so you can see just how effective your strategies are, and by being able to sit on these classes, you’ll get a first-hand glimpse into how the classes are run and conducted.

• Thorough review processes will help you refine your skills as an instructor

With the help of your instructor, you’ll be able to review the skills that you’ve learned and discover your strengths and areas that need improvement so that you can better understand how your future classes will look and how you will instruct American English. This personalized program will help you develop the skills necessary to pursue your career in TESOL.

The New York English Academy wants you to be confident when pursuing a career in TESOL. By setting you up for success with a thorough and comprehensive program, you can be assured that your future in TESOL will be successful and effective both for you and your students right here in New York City!