Boston: A Student’s City

Boston’s Old State House: Location of the Boston Massacre

With over 50 of colleges and universities it’s no wonder that students from around the world flock to the city of Boston.  Whether you take the Green, Red, or Blue line, I guarantee you’ll be shoulder to shoulder with a diverse population of students, chatting in a variety of languages about classes, tests and which fraternity throws the best parties.  The Boston area is home to some of America’s most prestigious schools and has a very collegiate atmosphere, making this city a great place for visitors to America to learn English.  If you are hoping to learn English, or perhaps perfect your English skills, then I suggest taking one of the English courses in Boston and here’s why!

1.)  Cultural Diversity

Boston is an epicenter for research, so it’s only natural that it attracts scholars from all over the world.  In fact, during most of my evenings out in Boston I was the only American citizen in the group!  To give you an example, I visited Harvard’s Museum of Natural History with two Germans, a Russian, a girl from Spain and a girl from France!  All spoke English as their second language and found it helpful to learn English by testing their skills with one another.

Because of its culturally diverse background, a non-American citizen is almost guaranteed to find a group of people from their home country.  On top of that, there are many non-Americans living in Boston who are also learning English.  So there’s a large community of non-Americans living in Boston who are perfecting their English language skills and willing to help newcomers!

John Adams

2.)  American History

When learning another language, it’s not all about memorizing the words.  Learning a new language requires some type of immersion and involvement in the culture of its native speakers.  A great way to immerse yourself in the American, as well as Bostonian culture, is to learn about the history and the impact the city of Boston has had on this country.

Not only is Boston and the surrounding area home to important events during the Revolutionary War, it is also home to many important historical figures including John Adams as well as the Kennedy family.  Take a stroll down the Freedom Trail and you will be guided past important locations throughout Boston.  Signs as well as tour guides and pamphlets can be found at certain locations to explain each place’s significance.

3.)  Delicious Eats!

Boston, Quincy Market

Another way to immerse yourself into a new culture and new language is eating what the locals eat!  Boston has tons of delicious foods to try and they are especially talented at preparing delicious seafood dishes.  A great spot for a real Bostonian meal is at the Quincy Market.  Not only is it a market of local Bostonian goods, but it is a great place to grab New England Clam Chowder in a bread bowl or even a Lobster Roll.

4.)  Campus Lifestyle

Because of the amount of colleges throughout the city, it’s almost as if all of Boston was just one giant college campus.  Lush parks, like the Boston Commons in Downtown Boston, are usually filled with college “Bros” playing Frisbee while cafes throughout the entire city are jam-packed with students cramming for tests.  If you’re a student learning English, then the campus lifestyle that Boston offers will not only expose you to conversational English, but it is also a very social atmosphere!

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