NYLC Students win New York State TESOL Writing Contest for Third Year In a Row!

New York Language Center is pleased to say that for the third year in a row, two NYLC students under the guidance of their instructors have submitted winning essays for the New York State TESOL writing contest: http://www.nystesol.org/studentprojects.html

Under the leadership of Ania Neckakov, Director of Studies, we are thrilled to announce that we have a winner and an honorable mention this year again for the New York State TESOL conference!

First place winner of the 2017–2018 NYS TESOL essay contest for the University and Adult Education category is Brendan Gahan's student, Chiara Bisignani (NYLC, Midtown). Congratulations to both of them! Honorable mention of the 2017–2018 NYS TESOL essay contest for University and Adult Education category has been awarded to Tami Savir's student Alioune Sylla (Jackson Heights).

Both essays will be also published in the conference program book, which students will receive copies of. All winners will be invited to attend the student luncheon during the NYS TESOL annual conference on November 2, 2018 at the Marriott in Albany, New York. At the luncheon, they will be recognized and presented with certificates and an award of $100.00 for the winner. The instructors are invited as well.

NYLC thanks those organizers of the contest and is so proud of our faculty and students.

Scroll down to read the the award winning essay!

A CULTURAL EXPERIENCE THAT INFLUENCED MY LIFE (CHIARA BISIGNANI – NYLC) 

Every human being’s personality, heart, brain, history and past are built by memories. There is a shape, a particular shape, which distinguishes each of us. That is the reason we are different, unique and special; we are the result of the experiences we have, how we grew up, how our parents raised us, how much we have suffered and how much pain has touched our hearts. I think there is no time to grow up and change ourselves into a new person. We never stop learning, never. Every single moment we gain life from outside without even knowing it. That is the power of life. We learn something new that influences who we are. Every day we have an experience, no matter how small, that helps us to grow. After all, is the life itself a big, amazing experience? Sometimes we think that each day is always the same boring day, the identical routine that almost kills our happiness. However, this is not true! The truth is that every day is diverse because something different happens and shapes us. It is like the sunset, we think that it is always the same sunset, the usual color of the sky, but actually every sunset is special. Just try to look beyond and you will discover many shades of color. 

Now, let’s talk about huge experiences, like a trip. No matter the place, traveling changes you for better or worse, but I am sure that mostly it changes you for better. I want to share my personal experience here in New York City.

NYLC Students Win 2016 NYS TESOL Contest!

We are proud to announce that two submissions from our NYLC students have won the New York State TESOL Student Project competition!

The 11th Annual NYS TESOL contest invited English learners in schools and universities all across New York State to write an essay or create a video on the topic of "Collaboration." One of the winning entries is an essay written by Ekaterina Puzankova from NYLC Jackson Heights.

The other winning entry is the following video put together by a group of students at NYLC Midtown.

Congratulations to the winners and thank you to everyone who participated! We are proud of you all!

Ekaterina's WINNING ESSAY for the NYS TESOL Contest

This year, New York Language Center schools participated in the 11th Annual New York State TESOL Student Project Competition. The theme this year was "Collaboration." We are proud to announce that NYLC students won in both the Essay Writing and Digital Essay categories! 

Below is the winning essay written by NYLC Jackson Heights student, Ekaterina Puzankova. To watch the winning digital submission by Advanced students at NYLC Midtown, visit this post.

 

New York Language Center – Jackson Heights
Ekaterina Puzankova

Teacher: AJ Gonzales

Advantages of working in a group

         Some people prefer to work alone, while others are in favor of a group work. Both approaches have their upsides and drawbacks. However, as far as I am concerned, working in groups is more beneficial for people, because it helps to achieve more far-reaching result, broaden their knowledge, learn how to cooperate and save an ample of time.
 

         To begin with, group of students can reach a better result, because a wider range of knowledge. Several people can contribute more to a project than one individual due to diversity of ideas and skills. A team has the opportunity to look at the picture from different perspectives, while by working alone you are able to make decisions based only on your own opinion and your possibilities are limited. Hence, the group has higher potential than one person and can achieve greater result.

Who is NYLC?

Every year, thousands of students from over a hundred different countries come to NYLC to learn English as a Second Language. With their diverse ethnic backgrounds, our students hold a wide array of professions and purposes for learning English.

For the student who is coming from overseas, the decision to travel to a foreign country to learn a language is a little more complicated. One of the most frequently asked questions for our NYLC Advisors is "Who are NYLC students?" In our video series "Meet our Students," we try to answer this question (as well as others) by giving a glimpse of the student life at our school, as well as our great city of New York.

Among the long list of impressive members in our student body is the lovely Olesia Stefanko. Olesia came to New York so that she could fulfill two long-held dreams: studying art and English in the "capital of the world!”

Two outstanding students with two excellent essays

 

Aisse Sow and Jesus De Luna were two of our top students in the TOEFL Preparation Course recently at New York Language Center. Both have accomplished their goals in class; they've learned how to take the test and are ready to move on to the next step in the college application process.

For Aisse, who is from the Netherlands and who is spending her gap year traveling, college may be back in Amsterdam, where she will then finish her undergraduate studies before applying to graduate school in the U.S., or she may decide to apply to an undergraduate program in the States, in which case she will seriously consider applying to Harvard or Stanford. Being challenged is important to Aisse, who is considering a double major in psychology and social work.

NYLC Students Participate in a Statewide Essay Contest

New York Language Center recently held an essay contest at our Midtown, Upper West Side, and Jackson Heights branches. Students in the  High Intermediate, Advanced, and Post-Advanced classes were invited and encouraged to participate. The topic was on technology and essays were supposed to comment on the following quote:

"Technology gives us power, but it does not and cannot tell us how to use that power. Thanks to technology, we can instantly communicate across the world, but it still doesn't help us know what to say." Jonathan Sacks (1984-present)


On May 15th, 2015, the winners were announced and awarded with certificates and gift cards. The remaining contestants, who gathered together with their classmates to cheer on the winners, did not expect to be rewarded, as well, for their creative efforts. In the end, each and every student who submitted an essay received a gift card. Moreover, each essay will compete in an essay contest for all ESL students across New York State this coming summer! We wish our students the best of luck!!!

Scroll down for a list of the winners. 

Thanksgiving party 2014

Ryan and Ben just shooting the breeze ... and holding up a sign.

We hope you had a nice Thanksgiving last week. If you weren't able to make it to the NYLC Thanksgiving party this year, here are some photos of what went down. The food wasn't bad; everyone enjoyed shooting the breeze over turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, and pie, then we had a blast playing charades at the end.

• MAKE it to an event - go to an event
• GO DOWN - happen (This phrase is used informally. #slang)
• SHOOT THE BREEZE - chat (This is also #slang.)
• A BLAST - a lot of fun (also #slang)

Sculpting the urban environment

Andree Kim, who is now back in Korea, was one of our student artists at New York Language Center. He also took classes at The Art Students League of New York, which is about twenty blocks north of NYLC Midtown, in the mornings while taking our pre-TOEFL class in the afternoons.

This sculpture, which he created while in New York, was part of an exhibit at the end of his session at the art school. It's made of soft acrylic and held together by instant glue. It represents the movement of the city--buildings go up and traffic moves around in circles.

Making your New Year's resolutions work!

Mauluda, Olga, Oybek, Ivilina, & Asliya, all from Uzbekistan, are exploring NYC
& studying at NYLC for two weeks. Check out their New Year's resolutions below. 

Well, it's the first full week of 2014. We hope you all enjoyed your New Year's celebrations and are ready to get back into your regular routines. This is actually a good time to think of the resolutions that you've made for the new year and think of ways to implement them (use; put them into practice).

Experts say you have to turn resolutions into specific activities and add them to your schedules in order to make them work and cause the changes that you want to take effect. For example, if you want to improve your English, you might add one hour every day after your classes at NYLC to read one short news article, underline new vocabulary, add them to your notebook, and write sentences. Similarly, you might resolve (decide) to read one grammar exercise every night before going to bed. Doing these or something similar everyday will make your resolution a habit and put you on the road to making positive changes in your life.

Dilek's big dreams in NYC

Dilek Kazak has advanced from the intermediate to academic levels & closer to her goals.

Dilek Kazak came to New York City from Istanbul almost a year ago with huge ambitions for her career. After receiving her law degree in Turkey, acquiring her Turkish law license and finishing an internship at a law firm in her home city, she was determined to study U.S. law, sit for the New York State bar exam, and get her American lawyer's license. When she reaches her goal, she will return home better equipped to advance in the direction she wants to go professionally. 

"I want to be the best lawyer in Turkey," she explains. 

Being the best means having the wherewithal to work internationally. She envisions herself traveling to the U.S. to work with clients. As a corporate lawyer, she may have to help multinational companies defend and carry out their business interests abroad, so some expertise in foreign law is crucial. First though, she has to improve her English proficiency, and we're glad she chose NYLC to get that ball rolling. 

NYLC Group Activity: MLB The New York Yankees!

New York Yankees

vs. Tampa Bay Rays

Friday, July 26^th     

6:00 PM (Game at 7)

Only $25!  We only have 18 tickets. Your ticket can also get you a FREE YANKEES HAT (while supplies last). Buy your tickets with Cassandra or the Front Desk starting today.   

We’ll leave from Midtown NYLC (11^th floor, 226 West 37^th Street) at exactly 6pm (get there early or we’ll leave without you!) and go together to the Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. 

NYLC Group Activity: The Bronx Zoo!

Bronx Zoo

Wednesday, July 10^th

Come see the world’s largest urban zoo, with over 600 species! Meet at Midtown NYLC (226 West 37^th Street, 11^th floor, between 7^th and 8^th Avenues) at 1:00pm. From there, we’ll take the uptown 2 train to the Bronx Zoo. This event is “pay what you wish,” with a suggested donation of $16. We’ll arrive at the zoo around 2:00pm. The zoo closes at 5:00pm.