Keeping Your English Skills Sharp This Winter in New York City During COVID-19 December 30, 2020

Each one of us has different circumstances regarding how we’re handling the pandemic. Parents have unique needs, while young professionals require various elements to keep them afloat. Some have been able to keep their jobs and work remotely, while others have to lean on their savings and unemployment benefits. One thing is certain: the pandemic changed everything.

If you’re a student at New York English Academy and are looking for ways to not only satisfy your needs as a human but for options that will allow you to practice your English skills, there are quite a few ways to stay active in your learning processes. With anything these days, all it takes is an open mind, a little bit of creativity, and an endless amount of resilience. If this year has taught us anything, it’s that we can handle anything. So here are a few ways you can keep your English skills sharp despite our circumstances.

1. Take advantage of your phone’s abilities

If you’re anything like me, you’ve been spending a lot more time with your screens these days thanks to all the extra time at home. One of the first things I did when I realized that COVID-19 was not going to be a temporary presence in our lives is I deleted all the games from my phone that required no skill – these are the games that I used to play on the subway during my commute to shut my brain off and disengage from work. Now, I play games that require thinking, like Scrabble, which is a great option if you’re trying to stay on top of your English vocabulary. Be sure to also keep up with you English learning apps, like Duolingo, while you’re still staying home. There are tons of options available now, so be sure to do some research on what’s out there and collaborate with your friends. Don’t forget to also use your social media apps so that you can stay connected with your friends but also use the English settings so you can adapt organically to how you engage with your friends and family

2. Reading and journaling

This is something that I’ve also forced myself to pick up again. I used to be an avid reader and writer, but between balancing a job, a social life, and exercise, these habits always got pushed to the bottom of my list. So to make sure that I was using my time effectively while at home, I started to read again. Some nights I don’t want to or feel too tired, but even if I read just a chapter, I feel better. I’ve also begun journaling again, which is another practice that’s a bit tricky to break into in the beginning, but just with any habit, it became easier and easier to adapt to each night. Reading keeps my mind sharp, and it’s nice to escape into a different world outside of my apartment, and journaling helps me process any stress or anxiety I may be feeling during this time. I highly recommend both of these practices, as they’ll help you find a distraction and a processing method, and they will exercise your English skills in real time, too.

3. Staying connected

This might feel like an obvious one, but it’s also just super important given the time that we’re in. I live alone, and my family is spread out all over the country, so there are times I feel the physical separation from my loved ones heavier on some days. So that’s when I’ll have video calls or just spend time on the phone catching up. Not only does this make me feel closer to my loved ones, but I also find a way to use my time wisely instead of just sitting in front of the TV. For those of you that are looking for ways to keep your conversational skills in English sharp, this is a good way of practicing those skills. Organize a group video chat and promise one another that you’ll only speak English – help each other out if you get stumped or use the incorrect word. There are also a lot of fun games available that you can play during the call so that you’ll have fun while learning and practicing simultaneously.

We’re in tough times right now, but don’t let yourself get defeated. There are so many ways to keep your English practices sharp so you don’t get rusty – when things settle, you’ll be ready, better than ever before!