Adventures in NYC with NYLC!

Pay As You Wish at The Guggenheim Museum This Weekend!

2012-02-24T14:53:00.000-05:00

No plans this weekend? Check out the iconic Guggenheim Museum, this Saturday afternoon (from 5:45pm- 7:45pm) for "Pay as You wish" admission. Read below for more information from PulseD.com.

From PulseD.com:
Enjoy a day at The Guggenheim Museum every Saturday afternoon. Discover the splendors of one of NYC's best museums and pay only as much as your heart desires; there is no standard admission during this time. Pay what you can afford, even if it is a couple of bucks, but try your best to be generous and help this great institution!
- Get The Gift of Guggenheim
Get your friends out and into some art culture. Free Guggenheim entry every Saturday from 5:45pm-7:45pm

NYLC Group Activity: Fat Cat

2012-02-15T13:47:00.002-05:00

Fat Cat

Thursday, February 16th

Games and Live Jazz

Meet Stephen at 5:00pm at Midtown NYLC (10th floor, 226 West 37th Street between 7th and 8th Avenues in Manhattan). We will take the 1 train to the Christopher/Sheridan Square stop in the West Village (Manhattan). Fat Cat is at 75 Christopher Street at 7th Ave. If we get there before 6pm, admission is free ($3 if after 6pm). This event is all ages and open to everyone.

pool, ping pong & shuffleboard: $5.50/per player/hour

chess, checkers, scrabble: $1 per person, unlimited time

foosball: $1 per game

beer and wine (21+ only, with ID): $5-7

More information/sign-up: Speak with Cassandra at Midtown NYLC (212-268-6500) or email activities@nylanguagecenter.com.

Photos of NYLC Students at the Nets vs. Chicago Bulls Game!

2012-02-09T13:29:00.003-05:00

Earlier this week, Ryan and some of the NYLC students organized their own trip to a NBA basketball game! That evening, they watched the New Jersey Nets take on the Chicago Bulls!

Carlos took some great photos and is sharing the memories from that evening. For more pictures, be sure to Like Us on Facebook !

Enjoy!

NYLC Group Activity: College Basketball Game

2012-02-03T15:05:00.003-05:00

College Basketball Game

Columbia University vs. Brown University

Friday, February 10^th
$6 (pay NYLC by Wednesday 2/8)

Meet Skyler at 6:00pm at Midtown NYLC (11^th floor, 226 West 37^th Street) or you can meet us at Columbia University (at Broadway and 116th Street, Manhattan) at 6:40pm. The game starts at 7pm.

Email activities@nylanguagecenter.com or speak with Cassandra at Midtown NYLC (1-212-268-6500) or Adriane at Jackson Heights NYLC (1-718-476-7600) to sign up.

Everyone is welcome to join!

NYLC Group Activity: Madame Tussauds, The Wax Museum

2012-01-30T10:46:00.003-05:00

Madame Tussauds Wax Museum

Friday, February 3^rd

$28 (usually $39!)

Deadline to pay NYLC is Tuesday, January 31^st

Madame Tussauds has over 200 wax figures of celebrities from film, TV, history, politics, music, and sports. Don’t forget your camera!

Meet at 2:00pm at Midtown NYLC (226 West 37th St, between 7th and 8th Aves, on the 11^th floor) and then we’ll walk to Madame Tussauds at 234 West 42^nd Street (between 7^th and 8^th Avenues). It will take about 2 hours to see the whole museum.

Email activities@nylanguagecenter.com or speak with Cassandra at Midtown NYLC (1-212-268-6500) for more details and to sign up for this activity.

NYLC Group Activity: The Lunar New Year Parade!

2012-01-24T14:40:00.000-05:00

Chinese New Year Parade

Sunday, January 29th

Meet Kelsey at 11:00am on the street in front of Midtown NYLC (226 West 37th St, between 7th and 8th Aves) and then we’ll take the N/R train to Canal Street, or meet the group at 11:30 am at Canal and Broadway in Manhattan. The parade usually winds throughout Chinatown along Mott, Canal, and Bayard streets, and along East Broadway.

Email activities@nylanguagecenter.com or speak with Cassandra at Midtown NYLC (1-212-268-6500) for more details and to sign up for this activity.

All About Jeff- by Kenza!

2012-01-20T12:02:00.000-05:00

Introduction:

A few weeks ago, the students had the opportunity to see 3 of their teachers on stage for the first time. Therefore, at Piano’s we could listen to Stephen’s funny lyrics, watch Ryan’s energetic play, and Jeff’s smooth rhythm. Jeff’s performance was a real surprise to students who had known him only as an English teacher. Even if he left the school to go back at the University and study music, we wanted to give him this tribute for the 4 marvelous years he spent teaching at the New York Language Center.

Article:

Jeff is very discrete about his playing. His first instrument was the saxophone. He started playing it when he was 12, and never thought about changing to any other instrument. In his opinion, the saxophone’s tone is the most similar to the human voice, and it’s also very flexible. He can play a lot of different styles.

In his childhood, Jeff was into sports and music, a rare combination for a high school student. Normally, sports guys don’t play music, and vice versa. However, Jeff was different; he didn’t want to be stuck in one stereotypical box without having the opportunity to enjoy different options. He was indeed good at both of them, he could perform on stage with his Jazz’s band, and run after the ball in the Baseball field. However, after he injured his shoulder, he focused 100% on music.

Jeff started to evolve thanks to his private lessons when he was a teenager, and then he continued learning in college. Therefore, he studied a double degree in Music and English. He decided to take a major in Jazz Performance in the University of Michigan. During his studies, he had the opportunity to do a semester abroad in Italy where he improved his Italian, and discovered a new passion for “La Comedia Del Arte”. Jeff fell in love with the Italian style, and considered teaching in Europe. Nevertheless, to reach this new aim, he had to get his CELTA, Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adult. Thus; he came to NYC in order to study in Cambridge. He took intensive courses, and he got his certificate. By coming to NYC, his motivation changed a little bit. The Big Apple is a seducer you fall for easily. He started enjoying the City that never sleeps, he has a lot of friends here, and his sister is also living in NYC, and most importantly he really loved his teaching job.

Jeff started teaching at NYLC in 2007, and enjoyed meeting so many people from everywhere around the world sharing the same ambition of learning his native language. Italy became a faraway thought when he begun to enjoy living in NYC. He was thirsty of teaching, but started to wonder about his interest in music. He stopped playing since he went to Italy, and back in America, he couldn’t stop thinking about how to head back to his instrument. Art was always part of his life either through music or theatre. He was focused mainly on his teaching until he had an incident in 2010 with his left ear. After an accident with an airhorn, he started to feel a difference between his two ears. Music had never been such a necessity for him. But suddenly, it became vital. He realized the importance of the saxophone in his life. He figured out the responsibility he had to bring music into his life. First, he started by playing for himself and for his friends, then he met musicians who were interested in forming a band. Despite the big challenge of playing Jazz in New York City, he decided to form a band in June 2011. The Jeff Walton Quartet is composed of four musicians (what else!), Sebastien Ammann on piano, Spencer Zahn on bass, Ian Chong on drums, and last but not least Jeff Walton on saxophone. They have all been committed to music for a long time, and most of them are working exclusively in the field. Jeff started in the spring 2011 to teach music. He had a full schedule where he had to deal with teaching English and Music, and performing. That’s why he decided to leave the school to focus on music. Based on his last successful performance, he certainly had to give it a shot. He definitely knew how to keep the attention of the standing audience. The audience was able to hear every single note, and watch the intense movement of Jeff’s body with his instrument. They formed one whole shape, where we could deeply feel the music…

Good luck Jeff, and see you around!

Languatica's Around the World Party!

2012-01-18T17:14:00.002-05:00

From Event Brite:

Location: Green Spaces - 394 Broadway (5th Floor - just ring the buzzer)

Date: Friday 01/20
Time: 6:30pm - 9:00pm
Cost: Free, but feel free to bring more booze

"They say that speaking a foreign language comes easy with a little Dutch courage. On Friday 01/20 at 6:30pm we will be testing that theory...

Join Languatica and friends for an "Around The World Party" where you get the chance to try different drinks from around the globe. You can even speak to the bartenders in French and Spanish in case you want to brush up on your language skills.

This will be a great opportunity to check out our office, meet people, enjoy some exotic drinks and food, have fun and say "bon voyage" to our founder, Georgi, who is relocating to London.

Beverages will be provided by the French originated FAIR. Quinoa Vodka. The founder of Palo drinks will be also be there to meet and greet those who want to try his Mamajuana infused rum drink from the Dominican Republic.

Drinks representing Mexico, France, Scotland and many more will be there to taste, in addition to a beer keg and champagne.

Guests are welcome to bring friends, we only ask that everyone RSVP. "

Get To Know Our Students- Meet Tatiana!

2012-01-17T10:24:00.000-05:00

Meet NYLC Student, Tatiana from Brazil. Tatiana studied in an Intensive Language Program in NYLC-Midtown.

NYLC Group Activity: Bodies- The Exhibition

2012-01-10T15:09:00.001-05:00

Bodies- The Exhibition

Wednesday, January 18^th

Only $18! (Usually $29)

Pay NYLC by Friday, January 13^th

Meet at 2:00pm at Midtown NYLC (10th floor, 226 West 37th Street between 7th and 8th Avenues in Manhattan). We will take the downtown 2/3 train to the Fulton Street station near the South Street Seaport (Manhattan). The Bodies exhibit is at 11 Fulton Street.

Email activities@nylanguagecenter.com or speak with Cassandra at Midtown NYLC (1-212-268-6500) or Adriane at Jackson Heights NYLC (1-718-476-7600) to sign up.

Everyone is welcome to join!

Chelsea Brewing Company: FREE Tour

2012-01-04T16:20:00.001-05:00

Not only is this tour free--you also get to enjoy a complimentary beer at the end. Explore Chelsea and educate yourself on one of your favorite beverages.

From TimeOut NY:

Chelsea Piers, Pier 59, 18th St (at West Side Hwy) Chelsea

(212) 336-6440 chelseabrewingco.com

Subway: A, C, E to 14th St; L to Eighth AveGet directions

Daily noon–midnight

Average drink: $6. AmEx, MC, V

Not only can you participate in just about every sport imaginable at Chelsea Piers, you can rehydrate afterward at the city’s largest microbrewery. The cavernous Chelsea Brewing Company provides an insider’s view of the beer-making process (glass windows show the brewers at work) and a ringside seat on the Hudson River. Malty Sunset Red Ale is always on offer, or sample a seasonal brew like the refreshing, bubbly April Showers Spring Wheat.

Get To Know Our Students- Meet Carlos!

2011-12-28T14:04:00.000-05:00

Carlos is a NYLC- Midtown student from Spain. Get to know him in an uncut interview.

Christmas light in Dyker Heights

2011-12-22T13:06:00.002-05:00

Dyker Heights is known for its over-the-top holiday decorations, and light displays get more and more elaborate each year. That’s how the event had been described to the students. One thing is for sure, the description fits the reality.

The whole neighborhood was reflected the Christmas spirit. When we arrived in front of the first illuminated house on the corner, we completely forgot the long way it took us to reach the place, the cold or even the rain. It was simply unique and amazing… Every single house, or most of them, had a personalized decoration. They were pompously competing with each other to let visitors figure out which one is the most extravagant. The owners used a lot of imagination to keep our attention. We had plenty of choice between all of them... Most of the properties have Santa Claus, reindeers, cartoon figures, statuette, and lights of course, thousands of lights in different colors and shapes. You could take pictures with a fake but still moving Santa, watch the reindeers eating peacefully in the garden, sit in a king’s throne, etc. The decorations were very extravagant, and gave us the opportunity to face hilarious tacky ornamentation.

The students enjoyed sharing this experience by taking memorable pictures, and discovering the architecture of the suburbs. A whole new environment for most of us…

In the streets we met a lot of children with their families who also came to appreciate the show. Through the years his activity became a tradition to attend in order to be completely soaked in the Christmas mood.

One thing came to my mind; do you think if I ring in one of the doorbells, will they let me in for Christmas dinner? Who wants to get a shot?

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY! Hope Santa will hear your requests… HO HO HOOOO

Wednesday, December 21st at Pianos!

2011-12-20T16:18:00.001-05:00

Join New York Language Center as we celebrate the holidays with not just one, but THREE performances from our talented teachers at Pianos in the Lower East Side. Must be 21+ to join. We hope to see you there!

NYLC Group Activity: Christmas Lights in Dyker Heights!

2011-12-19T10:42:00.003-05:00

Christmas Lights

in Dyker Heights

Tuesday, December 20th

Dyker Heights is known for its over-the-top holiday decorations, and the light displays get more and more elaborate each year.

Meet Kelsey at NYLC Midtown (226 West 37^th Street, between 7^th and 8^th Aves, Manhattan) at 4:00pm. From there, we’ll take the downtown/Brooklyn N train to 59^th Street in Brooklyn, then transfer to the Bay Ridge R train, and get off at 86^th Street in Brooklyn (approximately 40 minutes). From the subway, we’ll walk to Dyker Heights, near 83^rd Street and 11^th Avenue (15-20-minute walk).

This event is free and outdoors. Please wear warm, comfortable clothing and good shoes for walking.

Email activities@nylanguagecenter.com or speak with Cassandra at Midtown NYLC (1-212-268-6500) for more information and to sign up for this activity.

Everyone is welcome to come!

Ryan’s concert , The Show Must Go On!: by Kenza

2011-12-15T16:24:00.002-05:00

Let’s start with a survey: Who doesn’t know Ryan? Even if you haven't attended one of his classes, you must have heard about him or even seen the tall guy with curly hair. Last week was a significant week for him since he had the opportunity to plan his first concert with his new band, Manwell Goodspeed.

Composed of three musicians, with Brendan Woodard on drums, Madhava Hansen on bass and Ryan D. Lee, himself, on guitar, the members of Manwell Goodspeed started their big adventure in September. Since they agreed on playing music together, they have been working on their new project nonstop. First, they had to get familiar with each other's skills and style, and then mix all their strengths to cover their personal weaknesses, before finally exchanging opinions on the different songs they want to interpret.

These steps are mostly the same for every new band. Then, after a long period of “private practice”, they needed to introduce themselves to the public, and let the audience judge them. I hate using the term “judge”, but unfortunately this is, in fact, the case. When you go on stage, you offer a performance, and the people in front of you decide whether they want more or not. Ryan summed up this step quite wisely: “People can listen to a famous song all day; however, it’s almost impossible to ask them to have the same behavior for new songs performed by unknown bands. That’s why 45 minutes is more than enough to give it a shot.” In fact, from my experience, I found it’s also a good way to make people interested in your performance. You give them a sample of who you are, and they may want to know more about you and hopefully, come to your next concert. That’s what I did. After Monday’s performance at the Sullivan Hall, I decided to attend their second concert at the Lone Wolf.

Spending a few days surrounded by performers helped me figure out something new about them. They are all grown children who dream of becoming famous. I had this naïve image I had seen on TV through movies or Reality TV shows where they all become successful. The reality is different. You have to fight and be strong. They come to New York to make it here and to reach for the sky because they feel like it’s possible! However, it will depend more on their mental strength rather than their talent.

Ryan is not different from the others on this point; he also came with a dream, his childhood dream. At the age of 9, when he got his first guitar, he wanted to be like his idol “Kurt Cobain”. At the age of 12, he was a member of a band called “Mr Osborne”. He smiled when he remembered this period of time with his two best friends in his parents’ basement, playing the whole day. He said with nostalgia, “We spent a lot of time working on our songs while being fed by my parents. We spoke for hours on how we were going to be famous stars, supported by a crazy crowd. We were kids …”

Unlike his friends, he kept on believing in this dream, which is why he came two years ago to tame NYC. It’s a very big challenge where you need to be patient, brave and, above all, passionate. As soon as you come to the Big Apple, you understand you are not the only one who shares the dream. There is a ton of artists ready for anything to become known. Fortunately, when you are mature enough, you start to enjoy the little pleasures the city can offer to you such as a scheduled concert, a responsive audience, a song downloaded on your website, a compliment,… You never know what the future will bring, so you keep working hard and enjoying yourself. Again, Ryan has an interesting point of view on this account: “There are so many factors when you decide to exist in this area. First, you have to know how to survive. Most of the time when you're just starting out, you have to deal with equations of the unknown; it’s a long process where every performance is different. We work on our concert, and deeply hope to give pleasure. However, sometimes, it doesn't work out exactly like expected. In fact the word “exactly” has no place in this field. Your performance depends on how you are playing that day, but also on the venue, the equipment, the audience, and so on.”

After these two performances, I could understand what he meant. Being under the spotlight is a very hard exercise where you have to be strong (while you are obviously vulnerable) to face whatever can happen before, during and after your performance. You also have to keep believing. Performing in public also requires you to be flexible, and you should have no expectations beyond the motivation to give pleasure. It’s a wonderful job when you think about it this way!

When you get to know Ryan, the first word that comes to mind is his incredible kindness. He cares about everybody and is always ready to help. This quality fits his desire to be a teacher. It makes him happy because he learns from his students as much as they learn from him. He also uses his precious strength in his performances too. He wants to make his audience spend a good moment while they are listening to his music. Thanks to him, I learned a big lesson about humanity and perseverance. So, as his idol, I will say “Here we are now, entertain us!” (…)

NYLC Group Activity: Holiday Train Show, at the Botanical Gardens

2011-12-14T11:51:00.001-05:00

Holiday Train Show

At the New York Botanical Garden

RESCHEDULED:

Thursday, December 15^th

The Holiday Train Show is a self-guided exhibition of garden-scale trains that travel around replicas of New York landmarks constructed entirely of natural materials. You’ll find everything from buildings to bridges made with twigs, bark, and berries—even the “glass” panes are made from tree sap!

Meet Andrew at NYLC Midtown (226 West 37^th Street, between 7^th and 8^th Aves, Manhattan) at 2:00pm. From there, we’ll take the uptown 2 train to the Bronx (40-minute trip) and walk to the New York Botanical Garden (15-minute walk). We’ll arrive around 3:00pm. The garden closes at 6:00pm.

Tickets are still available for $20. Admission includes the train show, all exhibits in the garden, garden tours, and tram tours.

Email activities@nylanguagecenter.com or speak with Cassandra at Midtown NYLC (1-212-268-6500) for more information and to sign up for this activity.

Everyone is welcome to come!

Ice Skating in Bryant Park -by Kenza

2011-12-12T15:29:00.005-05:00

Bryant Park symbolizes for me a peaceful green square where you can enjoy free Wi-Fi in the heart of the city. There are also a lot of events organized in the park like the traditional outdoor Film Festival in the summer or the Christmas Market with the skating rink in the winter. The school organized an ice skating afternoon giving students the opportunity to either discover this sport or enjoy practicing it.

The students had the choice to either ice skate or watch the others while practicing their English. I am Moroccan, so I am not used to this sport. I decided to be courageous and to try skating. It was my first time and like all first times, I will never forget it!

First, you feel excited. Am I really doing it? Is it rational? Then, while you are wearing your ice skates you start understanding what you are ready to do. It’s a mix of excitement, fear, and joy. Fortunately, Skyler and Cassandra, our two chaperones, were there to support us. Surprisingly, they weren’t the only ones. In fact, I had the feeling of knowing everybody in the park. First, an agent working there came to me, and told me I had to tighten my skates to make my legs more stable. He was right! Then, we had an amazing photo shoot to help us get familiar with the whole environment.

While I was watching the rink, I started feeling confident. It didn’t seem too terrible. I had a flash back of the different sequences I'd seen either in the professional competition on TV or in movies where the characters had such grace on the ice. I thought I would be like them. I would glide elegantly on the ice, and be able to slide smoothly, and even be capable of spinning in circles in the middle while everybody would be applauding and breathless… Then, reality came back, but in a funny way. People were assuredly clapping and attentive to my moves, but not for the same reason. One by one in our group we started entering the rink. When my turn arrived, I asked for some help because I didn't want to find myself alone.

Despite, all the help and the advice people gave me, my first step on the ice ended with my rear-end on the floor… My first contact with the ice was complete. I felt it with my whole body. Miraculously, I stood up hoping it was the first and last time. I grabbed the rails with both hands and decided they would be my best friends for the next hour. Skyler, who was showing off on the ice, stayed next to me and tried to explain the process. All that my brain heard was “bla bla bla bla bla”, I can repeat exactly all that he said, but at that time my brain was completely separated from my body. I just wanted to reach the other side.

A key point you have to know is that you have to do the whole circle in order to come back to your departure point (a detail people forget to tell you…). Of course, the courageous have just to come by the middle, but I wasn’t part of them. Then I thought, it would be the longest day of my life, I realized it was not bad at all. I started to be attentive to the people around me. They became all part of my life. Both people either inside the rink or outside, on the park had something to say. They gave me instructions, said nice words to encourage me, took my hands to help me move…

Isabelle, a student from France and a real expert on ice skating came next to me, and gave me all her attention. With her soft voice, she gave me confidence, and kept encouraging me “don’t worry, keep going, move one foot after the other, right and left, believe in me, just breath, just smile, stay balanced with your weight in front so you will not hurt your back if you fall, keep your knees bent…” At the same time, I heard a group of people sitting in the chairs starting to clap their hands and saying supporting words. I couldn’t see who they were (too focused on not falling) but I was sincerely thankful to them, and sorry they had to attend such a horrible performance, lol. Thanks to Isabelle I slipped a bit, it didn’t last a while, but I least I know the feeling now...

One thing is sure; I didn’t expect this kind of attention from everybody. A real sense of companionship was present all over the place and by everybody, from children to elder people, professionals or amateurs, skating or not! At the end of my “journey”, I heard someone saying “In order to learn ice skating, you have first to learn how to fall”. Thankfully, I heard it at the end, otherwise I don’t think I would have been able to do it. I fell, but I was confident enough to give it a try. I will maybe go back with less fear, and more confidence. Yes, I can!

To see more photos from NYLC group activities, visit our facebook page at:

www.facebook.com/ilovenylc

Meet NYLC Teacher, Stephen! -by Kenza

2011-12-06T12:02:00.000-05:00

Do you really know who your teachers are? Who is behind the instructor? It’s quite an interesting question. We are used to seeing them five days a week without really knowing so much about them. The first time I met Stephen it was on the elevator, the first time he came to the school… After that, I was his student in the one-hour collocation class.

Originally from the Philadelphia area, he freshly arrived in the city that never sleeps in September to teach English. He surely has an interesting teaching background, but he also has a passion: music. He loves playing his guitar, finding new rhythms and writing new songs. At the beginning, he didn’t think he could have the opportunity to perform on stage in NYC. Because of his determination and hard work, he scheduled two concerts in the same week, and I am sure it’s just the start....

The students were warmly invited to see him playing either on Thursday in Bushwick or Sunday in The East Village for his new act named “The Good Ship S.S. Perry”. The second location meant a lot for him since some of his favorite musicians, such as Jeffrey Lewis, play there frequently. Don’t misunderstand me; he doesn’t dream about becoming famous, in the spotlight, signing autographs. He is very lucid about his art, and the music industry. He loves music, and hopes he will never have to stop playing. That’s his main goal: playing his songs in front of an intimate audience, and giving the public a good time. Guess what, he completely succeeded at that!

For the first time in my life, I laughed during a concert. I didn’t know music could be funny. Therefore, I was surprised to hear my laugh while Stephen was playing. However, I wasn’t the only one laughing; the audience was also in the same mood. Everybody was reacting to the funny lyrics Stephen was singing. He caught our attention from the beginning with his first song, a one-minute performance called “A song for me” which set the tone of his performance and musical influences. It was funny, entertaining and delightful, like the whole show. “The Good Ship S.S. Perry” is incredible.

How can I describe his music? It’s a tough question. Like all the artists he doesn’t want to be labeled in one definitive box. He plays an original kind of music which has several influences from antifolk, to emo to indie rock. This enumeration may not sound clear for you that’s why you definitely have to attend his next concert to figure out the genre. During his performance you will also recognize the teacher he is. It’s amazing to hear his perfect pronunciation of the words, which are completely understandable. This point is very important because the lyrics are significant in his songs which make it more personal. Each word he pronounced has a deep meaning for him, and can be linked to his own individual experience. His repertoire is quite ambivalent like his personality. He can perform the silliest songs, as “Pizza sunrise” followed by a more serious one, such as “I like watching you”. Depending on his audience, he chooses the songs. To satisfy the public, he has to be attentive to them and adapts his performance to their needs. Being an artist is definitely a very complicated task…

Music has been a constant for him since high school, he was a member of a garage band, and then he toured from New Mexico to Pennsylvania, and finally he is here in NYC performing on different stages.

“Don’t make it bigger than it is” – a wise statement that underlines his maturity and more important his generosity. His only purpose is to entertain the people present, and make his friends appreciate his music art craft.

Empire at Night, by Belen

2011-12-05T15:07:00.001-05:00

Belen, a NYLC student from Spain joined us to the Empire State Building in October. She was also kind enough to share some of her beautiful photos displaying the city lights at night, seen from the 86th floor of the Empire State building. Enjoy!

Thank you Belen! Wishing you the very best! -Cassandra.

The Black Friday Special- by Kenza

2011-12-02T11:21:00.002-05:00

“A security guard was killed last year because of a big discount on a DVD player”. That’s how Black Friday was described to me the first time. So, I started to wonder about how much a human life is worth? It was weird to even think about it. I didn’t expect to write about Black Friday or even attend the event, until I heard this very interesting story. Therefore, I decided to experience this famous shopping attraction.- Kenza

To have more information, I started looking on the Internet, and I wasn’t disappointed at all with all the information I found. I couldn’t believe all the excitement and enthusiasm from both the retailers and the customers.

An interesting point was the number of websites just about Black Friday. They were so many that when I googled it I was surprised to not find Wikipedia referencing it on the 1^st page. Obviously, I was the only one who was looking for a definition.

Literally, Black Friday means the day when the retailers go from red to black and get the benefits of the increase in spending; it’s also known as the opening of the shopping season. Black Friday 2011 was special since for the first time, the shops opened on Thanksgiving Eve; for example Toys-R-Us opened at 9 pm while Macy’s opened at midnight. In addition, a lot of people started to speak about a new phenomenon called “Black Friday week” because from the beginning of the week, retailers started to have sales on their websites. I guess the Friday has expanded to a full eight days of sales.

I didn’t want to compromise my Thanksgiving dinner, so I didn't get to 34^th street and Fashion Avenue until 11:30 pm. I couldn’t believe the people already there. Most of them came around 9 pm to be first in line. The streets were so crowded that you would forget it was so late. People were everywhere--in front of Foot Locker, Victoria's Secret, Sephora, JC Penny’s, but the most amazing line was in front of Macy’s. In fact, there was not only one, they were at least two per door on each side. I wondered how they would organize the entrance, so I stopped in front of the door, and observed. A manager was standing outside, speaking with the people, trying to explain to them the basic security rules for 20 minutes straight. “You are first, guys, so you don’t have to run, just walk slowly and carefully through the door”.

In front of him, two lines of determined people starving for sales. Young, old, tourists, locals, women, men, and even kids, everybody was present. A countdown was started before the opening of the doors. I noticed people starting to behave very strangely. They became primitive, brainless and instinctive. To face this strange species, an employee was standing at the top of an escalator telling people “Good morning (hearing this at midnight made me crazy) Ladies and Gentlemen keep going from the escalator, keep moving, watch people” again and again. It looked like a whole group of kindergarten kids managed by their teacher.

On my way home, I witnessed the long line for BestBuy, and it was unbelievable to see people leaving the store with big TV’s and yelling for a cab. They for sure got a good deal, but was it worth it? I think nothing deserves sacrificing Thanksgiving dinner. The capitalist spirit should, for once, wait at least the whole night!

NYLC Group Activity: Ice Skating at Bryant Park!

2011-11-30T13:51:00.000-05:00

Ice Skating

At Bryant Park

Thursday, December 8th

Meet Skyler at NYLC Midtown (226 West 37^th Street, between 7^th and 8^th Aves, Manhattan) at 2:00pm. From there, we’ll walk to Bryant Park (between 40th and 42nd Streets & Fifth and Sixth Avenues).

Admission is free and skate rental is $14 (or bring your own!). No back packs or bags are allowed on the ice, so bring a lock for a locker or pay $7-10 for bag check (friends can share bag check).

Email activities@nylanguagecenter.com or speak with Cassandra at Midtown NYLC (1-212-268-6500) for more information and to sign up for this activity.

Everyone is welcome to come!

Pumpkin Pie Recipe!

2011-11-22T15:29:00.000-05:00

Prep Time:
15 Min

Cook Time:
55 Min

Ready In:
1 Hr 10 Min

Ingredients

1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin
1 (14 ounce) can EAGLE BRAND® Sweetened Condensed Milk
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 (9 inch) unbaked pie crust

Directions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Whisk pumpkin, sweetened condensed milk, eggs, spices and salt in medium bowl until smooth. Pour into crust. Bake 15 minutes.
Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F and continue baking 35 to 40 minutes or until knife inserted 1 inch from crust comes out clean. Cool. Garnish as desired. Store leftovers covered in refrigerator.

Minji Park at The Korean Society- by Kenza

2011-11-21T15:07:00.004-05:00

P’ungnyu string:

Minji Park, a 24 year old musician had her annual performance playing Komungo at the Korean Society for the second year in a row, a special event given to a large audience who, despite the cold, was present and concerned to see her play.

Before any start, you may have some questions about the instrument. What’s the Komungo? In fact, it’s a very hard question because even when you check online, there is no single relevant answer. The best way is to ask the instrumentalist. It was a pleasure to meet Minji Park and very easy to speak with her. She is always laughing, and happy to help with any question. She answered openly without any holding back I hope you will enjoy the article as much as I enjoyed spending time with her.

Komungo is a very old instrument brought by Wong San ak. He adapted the instrument to the national style, and while he was playing a black bird came to him and danced. Since then, he named the instrument Komungo. Literally “Komon” means black (reference to the bird) and “Go” can be translated by strings. With its six strings, it can be associated to the bass. The association is not really relevant because the Komungo has a unique sound, and an uncommon use. The player has to hit the strings using their fingers or a stick to send out a sound. Mainly recognized as a male instrument, and only a few decades ago were women allowed to play it.

Thus, the union between this young artist and this antique instrument wasn’t expected by anybody. She became attracted to it when she was 14 years old. She had played piano since she was 6 years old, but the day she heard the deep melancholic sound of Komungo, she knew it was the one, she knew it was “the perfect sound just for me”.

After performances in Washington DC, Atlanta, Costa Rica, Hawaii, and plenty of other destinations, she stopped by the Korean Society last Thursday. For this special evening she decided to invite us to a journey through time and space while she was performing four different songs. Minji’s concert was a ticket straight to Korea. The elevators doors on the eighth floor became the doors of the plane we took to her country.

The show started at 6 pm where Minji came with a sublime allure, her feet barely touched the floor, she was elegantly flying while hauling her instrument on stage. Despite the big size of the rough piece of wood, it looked like she was carrying a simple feather. She bowed as a sign of respect and recognition, and then she sat on the floor with majesty. Her traditional silk dress, called a Hanbok, was spread gracefully all around her.

The theme of her performance was a chronological presentation of Komungo dealing with the evolution of the instrument from its origins to now.

This was the delightful program:

Su-yun-jang-ji-gok: Like in the origins, she played Komungo on the floor. This first song was performed by the noble society a long time ago while the men were enjoying their drinks listening to the music. It was a whole philosophy called P’ungnyu. P’ungnyu refers to a state of leisure where people celebrate arts and companionship.

Sin-kwae-don-nryu: This song from the old repertoire too, is performed by the common people. The rhythm is slow at the beginning, and then picked up at the end. This alliance is the representation of the Han. All Koreans carry inside them a sadness caused by the big war. Therefore, the slow part is to remind the Han, but the quick sequence is linked to work, endurance and revenge on life. To accentuate the message, Minji chose to play with Hong Jin-wood, a drum professional. The combination of the two instruments gave more intensity and enchantment.

Mu-young-tap: Still accompanied with the drum, she decided to pursue with a modern song, a composition of Jung Dae-suk. The modern generation uses a stand to put the Komungo on. The technique is also different, but the topics are still dealing with sad feelings. This song is the story of a young man who fell in love then lost his beloved. He tried to find her, but in vain. Therefore, as it was customary, he started building a Top, a typical building with different floor. The Top was so high that people could see it from outside the temple. His love saw it, and jumped in a pond and drowned because she was not allowed to get inside the temple.

Inspiration: The last but not least was her own composition. She used her experience to write this song. In an intimate and deep sound, she tried to illustrate the change that has occurred in her life since she moved to NYC. The young Korean girl decided to continue her study in an American University. However before that she needs to improve her English. Therefore while she is getting ready, she has to deal with a personal dilemma. On one hand, she is happy. She is living in the greatest city of the world. She is learning a new language with people from different countries and cultures. On the other hand, a part of her is missing something. She missed her family, her own private room, and her mother’s food. She is however perfectly lucid about the big change that happened since she is in NYC. The city has been kind to her, giving her the opportunity to play her music, and to share it with both aficionados and curious people. Every day is a blessing as long as, thanks to her instrument, she’s carrying Korea with her.

The theme was perfectly respected through this beautiful illustration of the evolution of Komungo. Her clothing also represented the change from traditional to contemporary while she started first with the Hanbok, and then changed to a long strapless modern curved dress.

The movement of her hand was fascinating, sometimes energetic and sometimes soft but every time precise. The little caterpillar became a wonderful butterfly, flying with her own wings while she was performing her own song.

She is a generous complete artist who looks deep inside herself to interpret the different emotions. Because Komungo is a very raw instrument, her interpretation is essential to give tones to the sound.

She is aware of the big responsibility she’s carrying by being one of the few people who knows how to play the Komungo. Minji is doing a good job by performing on different stages, and trying to get people familiar with her instrument. She is generous, and ready to share her knowledge with everybody. Just ask her, and you will never stop her.

Come Support one of Our Students, Minji Park!

2011-11-15T13:58:00.002-05:00

Come watch NYLC- student, Minji Park perform traditional Korean music at The Korea Society, this Thursday at 6PM!

The NYC Marathon- By Kenza!

2011-11-10T10:51:00.000-05:00

Marathon Opening Ceremony on Friday 4^th November

The city of NY wanted to make this year unforgettable for all the runners and the public who came to watch, almost 2 million visitors according to Mary Wittenberg. Meanwhile the exhibition was still running for one more day, for the first time in the history of the New York City marathon, an opening ceremony was scheduled. There were two reasons for this gathering. First, it was an opportunity to present all the participant countries through a parade, and second to give a tribute to two key runners of the NYC Marathon.

Because it was the first attempt, the event needed more details to be fixed. However the whole initial idea was great and deserved to be finalized for the following year.

To put people in the good mood, the speakers were playing some famous club songs. Then at 6 pm, as announced, the show began with a warm introduction of the word welcome translated in several languages. The first animation was performed by the famous team AntiGravity. Composed by 8 members, they jumped, climbed, tumbled, danced and they even used some tools to make their performance more spectacular with hoops or springs. Then the “Parade of Nations” started staring more than 75 countries, Achilles International, and Team For Kids. The parade began with the Greek team. They were the first, and a question popped up in my mind: How was the order set? Was it a way to boost their morale because of the bad crisis they are going through? I am not sure I will ever have the answer, but it made me smile, it seems that there is always a good side in life! It was very solemn to see all the participants walking, group per group, on the finishing line (before even running the marathon) raising their flag close to the name of their country and supported by their community just behind them. We cannot also forget the public who despite of the low temperature was present and supported every country. Some of the countries like Brazil, Indonesia, Russia, and South Africa decided to bring a local band to play while they were introduced. The United States closed the parade to lead to the second major event, the induction of two running legends, Fred Lebow and Grete Waitz, in the Hall of Fame.

For each of them, a close person came to take the award and say few words in the attention of the beloved and unforgettable person. After this sequence full of memories, an incredible show was going to start. I strongly believe that there is nothing more amazing than fireworks. So when this ideal scene happened in the greatest place of the world on the heart of Central Park while the famous NY hymn of Sinatra was played, the moment became just perfect. We forgot the cold, our frozen feet didn’t bother us anymore, and all your personal hassles vanished for a moment.

All of us did not know where we would be next year… However, one thing was sure, we can say that we attended the first ceremony, and it was an honor to be part of it! NEW YOOOOOOOOOOOORK…

NYLC Group Activity: The Empire State Building!

2011-11-07T10:12:00.001-05:00

New York Language Center is proud to announce that we are now offering our students discounted tickets to visit the iconic Empire State Building! Make sure you reserve your tickets now, as they are sure to go fast!

The Empire State Building!

Thursday, November 10^th

Only $13!

The Empire State Building is a 102-story landmark skyscraper and American cultural icon in New York City. It has a roof height of 381 meters, and with its antenna spire included, it stands a total of 443.2 meters high. Its name is derived from the nickname for New York, the Empire State.

Meet at 2:00 pm at Midtown NYLC (10th floor, 226 West 37th Street, between 7th and 8th Avenues) and then we’ll walk to the Empire State Building, located 350 5^th Avenue between at 5^th Avenue. After going through the security checkpoint, we’ll bypass the ticket line and wait in line for the elevators that go straight to the 86^th floor observatory. Once there, you can stay however little or long you would like. The observatory closes at 1am.

Email activities@nylanguagecenter.com or speak with Cassandra at Midtown NYLC (1-212-268-6500) or Adriane at Jackson Heights NYLC (1-718-476-7600) for more details and to sign up for this activity.

You must reserve your ticket by paying NYLC

$13 by Tuesday, November 8^th!

NYLC Group Activity: The NYC Halloween Parade! (by Kenza)

2011-11-03T10:59:00.001-04:00

New York City is known for plenty of events, but one of the most important in October is the Halloween Parade, recognized as the Nation’s Most Wildly Creative Public Participatory Event. It started at 7 pm and ran on 6th avenue until 11 pm. This extraordinary event was not only telecasted live on two different channel, WPIX Channel 11 from 7:00 - 10:00pm and NY1 from 8:00 - 9:30pm, but it was also the time to dress up and be part of an amazing wave of people.

The school set the meeting at 6 pm in midtown to go to West 4th and enjoy the parade together. It took us half an hour to reach our destination, and the avenue was already invaded by people. We were lucky enough to find a very good spot with a clear view. The show began by an adaptation of this year’s theme which was “The i of the Beholder”. Therefore, a large group of people inaugurated the parade with different illustrations of the human eye. Some were holding balloons in the shape of an eye, while others preferred to be the eye by wearing a costume. From there, everything succeeded from surprise to surprise. The show was indescribably amazing. Every time you thought it was over, it started again and again. Either from the official competitor or from the general participants, we attended a great event where people where incredibly creative. Some of the costumes must have required a long time to plan and design them. From the official teams in competition, a large sample was presented. For example, you had the thriller band representing some of Michael Jackson video’s characters. Moving on the soundtrack of Thriller, you could see zombies, mummies, vampires, skeletons, corpses, and others all behind the look-alike of Michael. Other teams preferred to advertise their own culture like the Salsa band, the Chinese Dragon, the Mexican sombreros, ect.

From all the dressed up people, the most common costumes were The Black Swan, the Marvel superheroes (of course), and the French court of Luis XVI.

I would like to highlight a very surprising and meaningful fact. At the end of the parade the organizers gave a chance to the Wall Street protesters to express themselves. The idea was great and allowed them to spread their message and to let the public be aware about the current situation. It was also a smooth coming back to the reality. The police closed the end of the parade in a solemn way. Then, all the courageous people who stayed until the end (and they were a lot) tried to reach their next destination for more partying! And New Yorkers had the choice between bars, clubs, and even streets. Everywhere was welcoming them to have fun!

2011 CUNY Graduate Programs Fair

2011-10-24T14:28:00.000-04:00

When: Thursday, November 3rd, 3 PM-7 PM
Where: Baruch College- Auxliary Gym
55 Lexington Avenue, Manhattan (entrance 25th street)

From CUNY.edu

Graduate Fair

Pre-register for the 2011 CUNY Graduate Programs Fair scheduled for Thursday, November 3th from 3 PM - 7 PM and learn more about CUNY's 800+ Master's and Doctoral degree programs and over 200 Graduate Certificate programs in 150+ fields. You will also have the opportunity to speak with graduate admissions professionals from the following CUNY colleges and professional schools:

Baruch College
Brooklyn College
The City College of New York
College of Staten Island
CUNY School of Law
The Graduate School & University Center

The Graduate School of Journalism
Hunter College
John Jay College of Criminal Justice
Lehman College
Queens College
School of Professional Studies

Once pre-registered , explore our Graduate Studies site to learn more about CUNY’s many nationally renowned programs.

Directions to the Graduate Fair

A convenient trip from anywhere in the metropolitan area, by bus, subway and from Penn Station and Grand Central Station, Baruch College is located on 25th Street between Lexington and Third Avenues on the east side of Manhattan.
By Subway: Take the 1, 6, F, N or R to 23rd Street Station.
By Bus: Take the M1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 15, 18, 101, or 102 to 23rd Street.
If you have any questions regarding the fair, please call: (646) 660-6750.
We look forward to seeing you at the fair!
The CUNY Graduate Community

NYLC Group Activity: Nightmare Fairy Tales Group Photo

2011-10-21T14:13:00.001-04:00

NYLC Group Activity: Nightmare Fairy Tales

2011-10-18T11:34:00.002-04:00

Haunted House

Wednesday, October 19^th

“Spectacularly scary haunted house and Halloween extravaganza”

- Gotham Magazine

“Sick. Deliciously, awesomely sick.”

- Time Out New York

Meet Kyla on the 10^th Floor of Midtown New York Language Center (226 West 37^th St, between 7^th & 8^th Aves) at 6:00pm. From there, we’ll all go to the haunted house together by subway. The haunted house is located at 623 Broadway in NOHO, Manhattan. For photos and videos about the haunted house, go to www.hauntedhousenyc.com.

Email activities@nylanguagecenter.com or speak with Cassandra at Midtown NYLC (1-212-268-6500) for more information and to sign up for this activity.

The deadline to reserve your ticket is

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18^th before 2:00pm.

Watch Our Latest Video!

2011-10-13T13:47:00.002-04:00

A few weeks ago, former NYLC student, Kenza contributed with a blog post. Now, watch her video as she describes what she loves most about New York City and New York Language Center!

Enjoy!

&lt;p&gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;For&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;

For more student videos, visit our YouTube channel at:
www.youtube.com/user/nylanguagecenter

At the zoo with friends & NYLC

2011-10-13T09:59:00.003-04:00

We walked for three hours. The weather wasn't perfect, but at least the animals cooperated. The herd of antelope grazed really close to the edge; a tiger gave us a perfect pose on a huge rock not too far from us, behind the glass. The lions didn't do too bad, either. The male lion gave us a nice roar, then a weird one as if something had gotten stuck in its throat. Cameras clicked as if it had been a media event. When it was over, we were tired and hungry. Some were really tired and hungry, but I say we all enjoyed it. Thanks for coming, everyone! Hope you all got plenty of rest last night. Post your photos on NYLC's page on Facebook!

NYLC Group Activity: Great Adventure’s Fright Fest

2011-10-04T12:45:00.000-04:00

Great Adventure’s Fright Fest

Saturday, October 8th

Six Flags Great Adventure is a 2,200-acre amusement park filled with award-winning roller coasters. Every October, Fright Fest takes over the park at night, celebrating Halloween with zombies, monsters, and scary mazes. The cost is $62 (includes round-trip bus fare and Six Flags admission; food is available for separate purchase at the park).

Meet at Midtown NYLC (226 West 37^th Street between 7^th and 8^th Avenues) on the street at 8:30am sharp. From there, we’ll walk to Port Authority and buy our bus fare and amusement park tickets ($62 total). The bus ride to Six Flags leaves at 9:30am and is approximately 90 minutes long. The return bus ride to Manhattan leaves Six Flags around 9pm, arriving in Manhattan around 10:30pm.

Email activities@nylanguagecenter.com or speak with Cassandra at Midtown NYLC (1-212-268-6500) or Adriane at Jackson Heights (1-718-476-7600) for more information and to sign up for this activity. You MUST sign up by Friday, October 7^th.

Everyone is invited to join!

The Recap: French Culture Nights- Fashion Cruise

2011-09-30T15:00:00.004-04:00

Meet our special guest blogger for the week, Kenza! Kenza was born in Morocco, is a business student in Paris, and currently improving her English with New York Language Center. For Fashion week, Kenza attended a Cruise sponsored by French Culture Nights, and is now sharing her experience! Enjoy!

Fashion week is one of the most famous events in New York. The one in September undoubtedly remind us the end of the summer…

To celebrate this week, a lot of events are organized and one of them was the French Night Party association. They decided to invite people in a boat. The cruise was an opportunity to meet (of course) a lot of French, but more important the guests would have a full evening scheduled. This initial plan was to leave the harbor around 8 for 3 hours shipping. While you are enjoying the picturesque view of the city, you have the possibility to admire an amazing fashion show and attend an exhibition. Besides, the cruise would be animated by a DJ who will burn the dance floor!

Unfortunately, maybe the aims were too high, so almost everything collapsed. The boat cruise was saved but it left the marina very late. The DJ was in fact just a guy with a computer playing old French songs. Instead of a show, there were 3 models changing three times and walking on the boat among the guests. The French were all here waiting for something to change the trend of the party, and it comes at the very end when they opened the door in the Harbor. In conclusion, the lesson you must remember, there is no escape from a boat, so you have to be careful when you choose one!

Harper's Bazaar: A Decade of Style Exhibit

2011-09-29T14:14:00.000-04:00

From TimeOut New York: Harper’s Bazaar editor-in-chief Glenda Bailey gets a mini-retrospective with this show, which features 30 images taken for the magazine since her tenure began in 2001. The chosen shots illustrate how the publication merges fashion, pop culture and high design, such as a photo of a leather-clad Naomi Campbell sitting atop an alligator. Others, like a Warholesque portrait of the model Stephanie Seymour, reveal how fine art inspires the magazine’s spreads.
Francesca Granata says… “Photography is one field where fashion and art collide most obviously. It’s also interesting how some of the same characters, like Lady Gaga [and] Daphne Guinness, appear in this exhibition.”
See it now! International Center of Photography, 1133 Sixth Ave at 43rd St (212-857-0000, icp.org). Tue–Thu, Sat, Sun 10am–6pm; Fri 10am–8pm. $12, seniors and students $8, children under 12 and members free. Through Jan 8.

NYLC Group Activity: The City Island Walking Tour

2011-09-26T11:38:00.001-04:00

City Island Walking Tour

A small seaside town in the Bronx!

Wednesday, September 28th

Located in the Long Island Sound and technically part of the Bronx, City Island is a quiet seaside town of 4,500 people. About a mile and a half long by a mile wide, it has numerous antique and thrift shops, seafood restaurants with waterfront views, Victorian houses and sailboats. This event is free, but bring/buy an MTA Metrocard for the subway and bus rides.

Meet Kyla at Midtown NYLC (226 West 37^th Street) at 2:00pm. From there, we’ll take the 6 train to Pelham Bay Parkway, and then transfer to BX29 bus to City Island (approx 60 minutes total).

Email activities@nylanguagecenter.com or speak with Cassandra or Adriane at Midtown NYLC (1-212-268-6500) for more information and to sign up for this activity.

Explore NYC in Central Park

2011-09-25T12:17:00.000-04:00

The angel on top of the Bethesda fountain got a lot of negative reviews when it was
first unveiled to honor Union soldiers who died in the Civil War.
It's now a favorite NYC landmark. We love it, too.

It was a cloudy day. We had our umbrellas ready; rain was in the forecast. The humidity was 90 percent. We missed the Alice in Wonderland sculpture. Joe, the teacher, completely forgot! Can you believe that? We were pooped and hungry and sweating at the end of our walk. Nevertheless, it was nice, enjoyable, and dare we say, fun! We should be writing and posting our thoughts soon at NYLC's student writing blog. Stop by and check it out soon!

Happy National Punctuation Day!

2011-09-24T23:22:00.000-04:00

Did you know? Today is National Punctuation Day. How confident are you about your punctuation skills? Are you writing that essay for college or preparing for the TOEFL? If you need a quick review, visit NYLC's Student Writing blog for a few basic rules and see if you know them already. If you don't, you should.

The September 11th Memorial

2011-09-16T13:16:00.002-04:00

From 9/11 Memorial.org: The memorial exhibition will commemorate the lives of those who perished on September 11, 2001 and February 26, 1993 and will provide visitors with the opportunity to learn about the men, women, and children who died. The Museum plans call for visitors to enter the exhibition along a corridor in which portrait photographs of the nearly 3,000 victims form a "Wall of Faces," intended to communicate the scale of human loss.

Nearby, interactive tables will allow visitors to discover additional information about each person, including additional photographs, remembrances by family and friends, artifacts, and the location of individual names on the Memorial plaza. Rotating selections of personal artifacts will also be featured. An adjoining chamber will present profiles of individual victims in a dignified sequence through photographs, biographical information, and audio recordings.

Adventures in NYC with NYLC!

Pay As You Wish at The Guggenheim Museum This Weekend!

NYLC Group Activity: Fat Cat

Photos of NYLC Students at the Nets vs. Chicago Bulls Game!

NYLC Group Activity: College Basketball Game

NYLC Group Activity: Madame Tussauds, The Wax Museum

NYLC Group Activity: The Lunar New Year Parade!

All About Jeff- by Kenza!

Languatica's Around the World Party!

Get To Know Our Students- Meet Tatiana!

NYLC Group Activity: Bodies- The Exhibition

Chelsea Brewing Company: FREE Tour

Get To Know Our Students- Meet Carlos!

Christmas light in Dyker Heights

Wednesday, December 21st at Pianos!

NYLC Group Activity: Christmas Lights in Dyker Heights!

Ryan’s concert , The Show Must Go On!: by Kenza

NYLC Group Activity: Holiday Train Show, at the Botanical Gardens

Ice Skating in Bryant Park -by Kenza

Meet NYLC Teacher, Stephen! -by Kenza

Empire at Night, by Belen

The Black Friday Special- by Kenza

NYLC Group Activity: Ice Skating at Bryant Park!

Pumpkin Pie Recipe!

Prep Time: 15 Min

Cook Time: 55 Min

Ready In: 1 Hr 10 Min

Ingredients

Directions

Minji Park at The Korean Society- by Kenza

Come Support one of Our Students, Minji Park!

The NYC Marathon- By Kenza!

NYLC Group Activity: The Empire State Building!

NYLC Group Activity: The NYC Halloween Parade! (by Kenza)

2011 CUNY Graduate Programs Fair

Graduate Fair

Directions to the Graduate Fair

NYLC Group Activity: Nightmare Fairy Tales Group Photo

NYLC Group Activity: Nightmare Fairy Tales

Watch Our Latest Video!

At the zoo with friends & NYLC

NYLC Group Activity: Great Adventure’s Fright Fest

The Recap: French Culture Nights- Fashion Cruise

Harper's Bazaar: A Decade of Style Exhibit

NYLC Group Activity: The City Island Walking Tour

Explore NYC in Central Park

Happy National Punctuation Day!

The September 11th Memorial

Prep Time:
15 Min

Cook Time:
55 Min

Ready In:
1 Hr 10 Min