Brooklyn School of Languages

General Information

Brooklyn School of Languages

THE VILLAGE IN THE CITY

Learn English in Brooklyn, NYC. Small and Intensive English classes at our ESL school in New York. Standard, Semi-intensive, Intensive (for F1 students), Individual, Combined, and Business English programs. We offer year-round English courses and short English courses in New York.

Situated in picturesque Brooklyn Heights on the 34th floor of a landmarked historic skyscraper overlooking the entirety of the city, our New York language center is the ideal location for an ESL school in New York.

Just over the Brooklyn Bridge, one subway stop from Manhattan
5 subway lines on the steps of the school
All the joys of New York without the stress
A true neighbourhood feel
A small ESL school in New York with a warm welcome and a friendly atmosphere
Standard English, Intensive English, Business English courses and individual English tuition
Carefully selected great host families, a BSL shared student house, and several coliving options all located in Brooklyn with an easy commute to school
Learn ESL in New York and be part of a real NYC Community!

YEAR-ROUND ADULT SCHOOL:

Our ESL school in New York has modern classrooms and facilities with stunning views of Manhattan, fresh coffee every day, and WIFI. We offer small, intensive English courses in New York (12 students max for general English, 8 max for Business English). Students can start on any Monday throughout the year.

JUNIOR ENGLISH SUMMER CAMP:

Our Junior ESL school in New York offers a full program of afternoon activities and weekend excursions to discover the city. Our summer junior English camp in New York is for 13 to 17-year-olds, Students can choose to stay with either a local host family in Brooklyn or in our student residence, located just a 10-minute walk from the school. Course + Activities with no accommodation and Course-only options are also available.

Programs

Standard English Course

(17 hours per week) The Standard English Class for adults in New York is for all levels focuses on learning through real-life communication inside and outside of the classroom through everyday situations, interesting contexts, and a variety of material. This course is ideal for students who would like to improve all four skills (speaking, listening, reading, and writing) and grammar while engaging with their peers in a classroom setting. This course also includes 2-afternoon classes per week (1 hour each) focusing on New York City-themed topics. The primary focus of the afternoon class is to improve fluency, pronunciation, and overall conversation skills while expanding students’ vocabulary and knowledge on New York City related topics. Key Facts

This course can be taken with an ESTA/Tourist VISA.
First day placement test to ensure a class at your level
All 7 levels offered [Beginner-Elementary-Pre-Intermediate-Intermediate-Upper-Intermediate-Advanced-Proficient]
Weekly quiz & 2 week progress report
Multi-national English classes for adults in New York
First course book & materials and included in fees
FREE first day walking tour of Brooklyn Heights, Dumbo & the Brooklyn Bridge

Class Times Placement test Monday 8.15 – 9.45am Monday 10am – 1:15pm Tuesday to Friday 9am – 12.15pm + Tuesday & Thursday 1-2pm

Intensive English Course

(22.5 hours per week) The Intensive English class for adults in New York is specifically designed for students on an F1 visa who wish to progress at a quicker pace through a more full-time course than the Standard English Course. This is a perfect course for students wishing to take the general program in the morning, supplemented by 10 additional lessons each week in the form of academic electives focused on a specific subject. BSL offers 4 different levels for the afternoon electives that are available for students taking the Intensive English Course: beginner, low, mid, and high. The beginner level electives are designed for beginner level students. The low-level electives are designed for elementary level students. The mid-level electives are designed for pre-intermediate and intermediate level students. The high-level electives are designed for upper-intermediate and advanced level students. The electives are designed to supplement the content and skills being learned in the primary, morning (Standard English Course) classes. For example, the lower level electives are more skills-based classes that are designed to improve speaking, listening, reading, writing, grammar, and vocabulary skills that are needed to succeed in academic contexts. The mid-level electives are a combination of skills-based and content-based electives because, as these mid-level students continue to improve their English, they still need to focus on specific skills, but are ready for some content-based classes as well. The high-level electives are designed to introduce students to high, academic-level materials as well as fine-tune their English skills in order to prepare students to use English skills in a professional or university setting. All in all, the academic electives are sequenced to coincide with primary, morning classes (Standard English Course). In other words, as students move up in level in their morning (Standard) classes, they will consequently move up a level in their afternoon elective classes. Key Facts

You need an F1 / Student visa to take this course.
First-day placement test to ensure a class at your level
All 7 levels offered [Beginner-Elementary-Pre-Intermediate-Intermediate-Upper-Intermediate-Advanced-Proficient]
Weekly quiz & 2-week progress report
Multi-national English classes for adults in New York
First-course book & materials and included in fees
The FREE first-day walking tour of Brooklyn Heights, Dumbo & the Brooklyn Bridge

Class Times Placement test Monday 8.15 – 9.45 am Monday 10am – 1:15pm Tuesday-Thursday 9 am – 4:00 pm Friday 9 am – 12.15 pm

Business English Course

(17 hours per week) The Business English Course is suited for all upper-intermediate and advanced level professionals from recent college graduates to seasoned executives looking to improve workplace performance through English. This multi-skill course provides authentic practice for students who need to develop their English speaking and communication skills in a professional context. Two extra 1-hour enrichment classes per week give Business students the opportunity to work on specific business skills such as managing meetings, giving presentations, writing emails, and expanding their business English vocabulary. With both a morning and afternoon component, teachers use a content-based approach supplemented with hands-on practice with business-related areas and tasks to give students who work in or are planning a career in business the English language tools required to succeed. The program runs on an 8-week cycle and is organized in weekly modules. Key Facts

This course can be taken with an ESTA/Tourist VISA.
First-day placement test to ensure a class at your level
Levels offered [Upper-Intermediate-Advanced-Proficient]
Weekly quiz & 2-week progress report
Multi-national English classes for adults in New York
First course book & materials and included in fees
FREE first day walking tour of Brooklyn Heights, Dumbo & the Brooklyn Bridge

Class Times Placement test Monday 8.15 – 9.45 am Monday 10am – 1:15pm Tuesday to Friday 9 am – 12.15 pm + Tuesday & Thursday 1-2 pm

Combined English Course

(17.25 hours per week) If you are looking for a general morning English class as well as individual, specialized attention from an instructor in the afternoon, this is the course for you. The Combined English Course for adults in New York consists of the morning Standard English Course, in addition to individual lessons, which focus on the student’s areas of weakness as well as their areas of interest. The individual training is a tailor-made program and is adapted to fit the needs of each student, and may include a focus on general, academic, and/or professional English complete with both delayed and on-the-spot error correction to improve fluency and accuracy respectively. Key Facts

This course can be taken with an ESTA/Tourist VISA.
First day placement test to ensure a class at your level
All 7 levels offered [Beginner-Elementary-Pre-Intermediate-Intermediate-Upper-Intermediate-Advanced-Proficient]
Weekly quiz & 2 week progress report
Multi-national English classes for adults in New York
First course book & materials and included in fees
FREE first day walking tour of Brooklyn Heights, Dumbo & the Brooklyn Bridge

Class Times Placement test Monday 8.15 – 9.45am Monday 10am – 1:15pm* Tuesday-Friday 9am – 12.15pm* + Individual classes at flexible times in the afternoon * In high season beginners classes may take place in the afternoon

Individual 1:1 Training

We offer Individual English language lessons for personal and/or professional objectives. As each student has their own requirements and goals, we will discuss these with the student and tailor an English language program to suit their personal needs. This will take into account the time they have, their proficiency level, and their learning style. Individual lessons can be booked to prepare for an exam or entry into a university, to prepare for a business trip or event (conferences, workshops…), or to gain more fluency in the everyday use of the language for work or pleasure. If you are looking for a tailored program to meet your specific English speaking language needs, individual lessons focus on specific English goals outside of the traditional, group classroom setting. With complete teacher attention, students who take individual courses rapidly improve in whatever content or skill area they choose. Key Facts

All 6 levels offers [Beginner-Elementary-Pre-Intermediate-Intermediate-Upper-Intermediate-Advanced]
Weekly quiz & 2 week progress report
First course book & materials and included in fees
FREE first day walking tour of Brooklyn Heights, Dumbo & the Brooklyn Bridge

Class Times Flexible, subject to teacher availability.

5 Week Evening Group Course

This course format is ideal for busy students looking to study English in Brooklyn as it can be easily integrated into your workday. The course focuses on learning through real-life communication (speaking, listening, reading, writing) inside and outside of the classroom. Intensive English language training in small class groups at our language school in Brooklyn allows our expert teachers to provide individual feedback and advice on how to improve and further develop language skills. Class Times Monday & Wednesday 6pm-8pm

Online English Classes In New York

Due to the current crisis, we have an array of other English classes available at our school, including Standard English, part-time courses, conversational classes, and individual classes. Our class sizes have a maximum of 12 students, and an average of 3-5 students, so you can rest assured that your teachers will give you their undivided attention. The information and advice in the following links will provide you with the course information needed to make an informed decision whatever your language learning goals.

English classes for adults in New York
12 students maximum per class. Average 5 students.
Course materials included

Lesson length: 45 minutes

Junior Online Summer Course

(10 hours per week) The Junior Online Summer Course is designed for students aged 12 to 18 years old. It is not a replacement for our regular junior course in New York, as we know nothing can replace an immersion experience abroad. We are offering this online course as an alternative for our students so that they can learn English and stay social through our online activities even if they cannot travel this summer. This 3-week program will take place from July 6th – 24th and gives students the chance to take 30 hours of English lessons with our trained teachers and attend fun activities with other young students from other countries, all from the comfort of their home. This is a great opportunity for students to stay connected with their peers, and for parents to keep their teens occupied for a few hours a day! How It Works We use the platform Zoom to conduct all of our online classes. We have already been using Zoom for several weeks in order to deliver our adult English classes, so our teachers are already experienced with this online platform. Not only is Zoom extremely user-friendly, but it offers our teachers the tools they need to foster a truly communicative classroom environment including live annotation, break-off rooms, chat groups, class polls, and more. Zoom also allows for students to see and interact with each other in real-time, giving our students real classroom experience. English Lessons Lessons will take place Monday-Friday for 2 hours each day. Our qualified teachers use a communicative teaching approach to encourage students to interact and use the language as much as possible. Students will be tested before the start of the program and grouped together according to their English level. Once they are placed in a level, they will receive a Zoom link in order to join the session online. It’s that easy! Social Activities Activities will take place after a short break following the English lessons. We have compiled an exciting program of online activities designed to help students come out of their shells and practice their English while having a great time. Students will participate in a wide variety of activities and games including Who’s Who, talent shows, Pictionary, scavenger hunts, film reviews, and more. Program Schedule July 6 – July 24, 2020 Monday to Friday English Lessons: 9-11am EST Social Activities: 11:15am-12:15pm EST

Summer Junior English Camp In New York

Our Summer Junior English camp in New York is designed for students aged 13 to 17 years old. Students can either choose in our student residence or in a local Brooklyn homestay. The camp includes general English lessons, full board accommodation in twin rooms in the student residence, or a host family, as well as a full program of supervised activities and excursions. The camp takes place at St. Francis College, located in the heart of Brooklyn Heights, New York, 2 minutes’ walk from our year-round English Language school. St Francis, founded more than 150 years ago, is a small private co-educational college. Facilities at the college include bright and spacious classrooms and a cafeteria where students can have lunch on weekdays before heading out to their afternoon activities. There are 3 subway stations and 8 subway lines accessible within a 3-minute walk: 2, 3, 4, 5, A, C, F, and R. Our Summer Junior English camp in New York includes 20 lessons (= 15 hours) of general English per week taking place Monday to Friday between 9:30am and 12.45pm. Our teachers are qualified, experienced, and use an action-based, communicative method to encourage students to interact and use the language as much as possible, both in and out of class. There is a maximum of 15 students per class, grouped together according to level. Course materials are included (teachers use textbooks as well as authentic materials such as magazines, newspaper articles…) Our host families At BSL, we know that accommodation is an important factor to a successful trip abroad, so we spend a lot of time selecting the right families for our Summer Junior English camp in New York. They are all based in Brooklyn and the average journey time to the school on public transport is 30 minutes (can be longer for some homestays). A host family can be a couple with children, a retired couple, a single parent, or even a single person. Ethnic diversity is an important factor of New York’s cultural identity, so some hosts may be of Asian or Latin descent, but English is always spoken in the home. Regardless of their background and circumstances, all our host families have in common the wish to make every student’s stay as comfortable and relaxing as possible.

Accommodation

WE OFFER A VARIETY OF HOUSING OPTIONS IN BROOKLYN.

You can choose to stay with one of our carefully selected host families in Brooklyn and immerse yourself in the language and culture of the country. Alternatively, you might prefer a Room Only option for more independence, our BSL shared student house or one of the coliving houses.

The great advantage of studying with BSL in Brooklyn is that the large majority of the accommodation options we offer are within a relatively short subway ride from the school.

HOST FAMILIES

At Brooklyn School of Languages, we recruit and visit all our host families ourselves, we do not use a third party placement agency. We choose our host families in Brooklyn carefully so we know them well (their house, their neighbourhood, the family members…), which allows us to make quality placements according to our students’ profiles and needs. We want your stay in New York to be a memorable experience, so we have spent time selecting the right host families in Brooklyn, based on their levels of pastoral care.

Our host families in Brooklyn can be a couple with children, a retired couple, a single parent, or even a single person. Ethnic diversity is an important aspect of New York’s cultural identity, so some hosts may be of Asian, African, Hispanic, or Middle Eastern descent, but English is always spoken in the home. Regardless of their background and circumstances, all our host families are committed to making every student’s stay as comfortable as possible.

Our host families in Brooklyn are located on average 30 minutes by subway from school.

BED & BREAKFAST AND HALF-BOARD OPTIONS

When choosing one of these options you will be able to share the host family’s lifestyle. You will be welcomed in the home like a member of the family and will experience life in New York as part of an American family.

With the Bed & Breakfast option breakfast will be included for you every morning. You will share it with the family members or, if they have a busy schedule and leave the house early, they will leave it ready for you every day. Other meals are not included, and you will not be able to cook your own meals in the home (storing food in the fridge and heating prepared meals is accepted), so it is likely you will have most of your meals out with friends or in restaurants. This option is best suited for short stays.

With the Half-Board option, you will get breakfast and dinner at home every day. You will be expected to respect the family’s mealtimes and let them know if you are not able to make it one day. Lunches are not included but there are many places to eat near the school in Brooklyn Heights. This option is recommended for those who want to make faster progress in English as there will be more conversation and linguistic immersion.

ROOM ONLY OPTION

You can also book one of our host families in Brooklyn on a Room Only basis. The Room Only option allows you to use the host’s kitchen facilities to cook your own meals. This gives you more independence and allows you to live life in New York like in a shared house with locals, and sometimes other students from school too. You will not be expected to share meal times and will have more freedom with your schedule, but as always you will need to respect the host’s house rules (quiet times, non-smoking, etc…)

Please note that some hosts may welcome students on a Room Only and a Bed & Breakfast/Half-Board basis at the same time.

CO LIVING

Coliving allows the occupants to build communities around shared spaces while renting a private or shared bedroom. It is an easy way to find a safe and comfortable place to stay in the city: the houses are new, in easily accessible areas, fully furnished and decorated, and you don’t have to worry about cleaning as the houses are cleaned once every week.

Each of the houses includes one or more kitchens, several bathrooms, common areas, and co-working spaces allowing you plenty of room to cook, work and relax all while getting to know people from all around the world. People choosing coliving can be international students from English language schools or even New-Yorkers working locally.

We offer several coliving houses in 3 different areas in Brooklyn:

Bushwick: an up-and-coming neighborhood in the northern part of Brooklyn between the trendy neighborhoods of Williamsburg and Bedford-Stuyvesant. This area is known for its colorful street art.
Williamsburg: one of the most popular Brooklyn neighbourhoods, known for its trendy restaurants and clubs, indie music performances, art galleries, vintage shops, flea markets, and street food vendors.
Downtown Brooklyn: a lively area close to school with a creative population, proximity to all transportation, easy access to Manhattan, and abundant cultural offerings and restaurants.

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