Phrasal verbs and expressions to ride the NYC subway

By: Isabel Solano.

The NYC subway can be a bit of a mystery so here’s some vocabulary to help you get around* in the city!

Useful phrasal verbs:

Get on (the train): enter the train.

Get off (the train): exit the train.

Transfer at (a station): change trains.

When asking for directions:

You can say…

Excuse me, how can I get to ________?

Excuse me, I’m trying to get to ______________. 

Which way is uptown/downtown?

Excuse me, does this train go to/stop at _______? 

If you get to your station but the train is too crowded and people won’t move:
         
You can say…

Excuse me, this is my stop.
Sorry I need to get by.
Sorry, could I squeeze by?
Can I get by?

Finally, some phrases you will need to understand (some) subway announcements:

- Trains are (not) running: Train is out of service or has a different schedule.
- To be held at a station: The train cannot leave the station until allowed to do so.
- To be delayed: later than expected.
- A stalled train: train is being held at a station/cannot move.
- Running express: The train will no longer stop at each station.
- Train car: Individual subway wagon.
- Stand clear (of the closing doors): To move a short distance away from something so that you are safe. To move away, to unblock (the doors).


*get around: go from place to place.

Part II: Tips for TOEFL, the Speaking Section

by  Mia Della Pietra (native New Yorker)

Mia teaches TOEFL Preparation and other courses at NYLC's Upper West Side location. She was born and raised in NYC and lived in Thailand for two years training Muay Thai (Thai boxing) and teaching English.  Now she enjoys meeting students from a wide variety of cultures and backgrounds and loves finding the humor in the challenges of learning English. In her free time, she watches mixed martial arts, hangs out with her two cats, and eats as much boxed macaroni and cheese as she can.   

The speaking section of the TOEFL is comprised of 6 different tasks.  Each one of them will test you on a slightly different skill.  The six tasks always follow the same order, so you can anticipate what kind of question is coming, although you cannot anticipate the topic.  Here is a breakdown of the six tasks, and how to deal with each one!

Tasks 1 and 2: Independent Speaking

The Independent Speaking questions will ask you to respond to a question about a familiar topic.  Task 1 will ask for a response to an open ended question eg: If you could travel to any city in the world, where would you go?  

Task 2 will give you two options, and you will have to choose one and defend why you have chosen it eg: Do you think it is better for men and women to study together, or do you think they should be educated separately?

Tip for tasks 1 and 2: Do not make a list! You only have time to make 1 point, and develop it.  So don’t go through all the different reasons why you want to visit Bangkok, the food, the people, the culture, the history etc.  Instead focus on one thing, and then talk about why that would be important for you.  Be as specific as possible with your examples.  The more narrow the focus, the more likely you will have enough time to discuss it fully.  

TIPS for the TOEFL Independent Essay

The second essay on the TOEFL is the Independent Essay.  This essay will ask you to respond to a familiar topic or question.  You will have 30 minutes to write the essay and typically a good response is 300 words at the minimum and no longer than 400 words.  (To give you an idea this article is about 600 words.)   

There are a variety of ways to approach this essay, and it is much less formulaic than the Integrated Essay.  Your writing can be conversational, or formal, the style should be whatever you feel most comfortable with.  Here are a few universal tips to keep in mind as you are writing. 


by Mia Della Pietra


Take a side!

One of the most common questions I get from my students is “But what if I can see both sides of the question?  Can’t I just support both sides?!”  The short answer is No.  The long answer is, while of course you can try to support both sides of an argument with enough evidence and development in 30 minutes, after taking three and a half hours of the TOEFL test, that sounds like a lot of work.  Make it easy on yourself!  Just choose one side to support and develop fully.  Don’t create extra work for yourself trying to see the topic from all different angles.

...and choose the easiest side!

When you read the question for the first time, think about which side is the easiest to support, not which side you agree with.  Usually you can think of more examples and evidence that match your personal opinion on the question, but not always!  Don’t be afraid to take a stance that you don’t believe in if you think that it will help you write a stronger essay. 

• STANCE - opinion; position on a topic

TOEFL Preparation Dos & Don'ts

by Mia Della Pietra

Congratulations!  You have decided to take the TOEFL.  More importantly, you have decided to study for it!  The TOEFL (Test Of English as a Foreign Language) can be quite intimidating.  The test preparation books are huge, and the test score is incredibly important for your academic career.  But don’t worry! Here are some tips to get you through studying for the TOEFL with as little stress as possible!


DO research.
The maximum score on the TOEFL is 120.  However, the TOEFL does not have a “passing” or “failing” score. There is only the score that you need to get in order to apply to the academic program at the college or university of your choice.  The first step is to find out what the required score is.  Some students need a 60, some students need 100, and there is a huge difference between those two scores.  Find out what score you need, and tell your teacher!  Only then can they give you a more accurate assessment of how much studying you will need to do.

DO practice realistically.
The TOEFL is done on a computer, so the essays are typed.  The speaking section involves students recording themselves for a short, specific amount of time.  Therefore, while handwriting an essay for 2 weeks or speaking for hours to your friends might improve your overall English ability, it might not help your TOEFL score.  When you practice writing your essays, actually write the essay in the amount of time given on the test (20 or 30 minutes), and don’t use any programs that have autocorrect or spell check!  You won’t have those tools on the real test.  For the speaking section, record yourself with your phone speaking for 45 seconds or 1 minute.  Then play it to a friend and see if they can understand you.  Practice like you are really taking the test.

NYLC English Episode 9- Pet Peeves

 Watch Ryan's fun video lesson on some of his personal pet peeves. What are your pet peeves?#ilovenylc