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Start Strong: Seven Study Habits for English Language Learners

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Simple ways to study, remember new words, and feel ready for the school year.

The beginning of the school year is a fresh start. New classmates, new books, and new routines mean that school can feel exciting and hard at the same time.

The good news is this: you do not need to study for many hours all at once. It is better to use small, strong habits every day. Testing yourself, reviewing over time, and taking breaks can help you remember more than only rereading or highlighting. These habits can help you build confidence, learn vocabulary, and understand class lessons better.

1. Space Out Your Studying

Do not wait until the night before a test. Study a little bit frequently. For example, review new vocabulary on Monday, practice again on Wednesday, and quiz yourself on Friday. This helps your brain remember words and ideas for a longer time. Short study times are also less tiring.

2. Practice Active Recall

Reading your notes again can help, but it is not enough. Active recall means you close your book and try to remember. You can use flashcards, answer practice questions, or write what you remember on a blank page This is a great way to practice vocabulary, sentence patterns, and important class ideas.

3. Use the Pomodoro Technique

The Pomodoro Technique is simple. Study for 25 minutes. Then take a 5-minute break. During study time, choose one job, such as “learn 8 new words”. During the break, stand up, stretch, or drink water. This helps your brain stay fresh.

4. Teach the Material

One good way to check your understanding is to teach the lesson to someone else. You can explain it to a classmate, a family member, or even to yourself. Use simple English. If you cannot explain an idea, you will know what to study again.

5. Establish a Dedicated Study Routine

Try to study at the same time each day. A routine helps your brain know, “This is study time.” Choose a small goal before you begin. Instead of saying, “I will study English,” say, “I will practice 10 vocabulary words,” or “I will write five sentences using the past tense.” Small goals are easier to achieve.

6. Eliminate Distractions

It is hard to learn when your phone, games, or noise keep pulling your attention away. Put your phone in another room or turn on “Do Not Disturb.” Keep your study space clean. Put only the things you need on your desk: your book, notebook, pencil, and dictionary or translation tool if needed.

7. Prioritize Your Physical Health

Your body helps your brain learn. Try to sleep 7 to 9 hours each night. Sleep helps your brain save what you learned. It can also help to review new words or notes for a few minutes before bed. Eat healthy food, drink water, and move your body. A rested brain can focus better.

A Simple Plan for the First Month

Start small. Choose two habits this week, such as using flashcards and studying for 25 minutes. Next week, add one more habit. You do not have to be perfect. The goal is to practice often. Little by little, these habits will help you learn English, understand your classes, and feel ready for the school year.

Don’t forget, classes start _________!

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Stack of vintage hardcover books arranged on a wooden table indoors

Summer Reading

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For many of us, summer is the time when we have more time for ourselves. No classes, no rushed schedule of school, kids and work. Things move at a slower pace, maybe it’s the heat of a NYC summer, but maybe it’s just all of us taking the time to slow down a little, a change from the busy-ness of the rest of the year. What’s better to do with this found time than read a book? Or read several books?

First things first! Get a library card! 

If you’re 13 or older, and live, work, attend, or pay property taxes in NY State, you are eligible for a card. Your card can be physical or digital.

https://www.nypl.org/help/library-card

If you prefer to complete the application for a physical library card in person, please visit an NYPL location with proof of ID and address. Find a location near you.

The New York Public Library even has a special card for this year!

With thanks to the New York Times, University Settlement has prepared a reading challenge list:

📖 ☐ Read a really short book.
📘 ☐ Read a really long book.
🕵️ ☐ Read a mystery book.
🎬 ☐ Read a book that’s been adapted for a movie.
☀️ ☐ Read a book that takes place in the summer.
🎧 ☐ Listen to an audiobook.  

READ A BOOK RECOMMENDED BY A LIBRARIAN!

Audiobook suggestion: Wahala, Nikki May

Happy Reading!  Enjoy your book choices!

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The Secret Gardens of Manhattan

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VOCABULARY:

Pavement, n. – the sidewalk

Oasis, n. – some place that provides refreshing relief

Tranquility, n. – peacefulness, calm

Maintain, v. – to take care of

Stumble, v. – to trip or to find something unexpectedly

Distinctive, adj. – something which stands out from its surroundings

Flora, n. – plant life

Contemplation, n. – deep thought or meditation

Drown out the noise, expression – to cover up noise

New York City has plenty of pavement, but did you know there are also little pockets of green space? Nature turns up in unexpected places and we’re providing a list of secret gardens that will be fun to explore this summer.

First up, the Creative Little Garden, “an oasis of tranquility in New York’s East Village.”

Located at 530 East Sixth Street, between Avenues A & B, the Creative Little Garden has been a “community backyard,” maintained by volunteers from the neighborhood since 1978. You can sit and relax, have your lunch, or just enjoy the landscaping.

Check the website for visiting hours: https://www.creativelittlegarden.com

Heading north and west, we stumble into the Jefferson Market Garden, now celebrating 50 years in Greenwich Village. This garden welcomes everyone, and drinks are permitted, but not food. They have a “blooming guide” on their website, https://www.jeffersonmarketgarden.org/bloom-guide so you can plan to visit your favorite flowers. Open from April to October, this garden is located on Greenwich Avenue, between 6th Avenue & West 10th Street.

Check https://www.jeffersonmarketgarden.org/ for visiting hours.

The gardens at St. Luke-in-the-Fields are special and extensive. You are welcome to visit “some of the most distinctive and admired gardens in New York City, comprising more than two-thirds of an acre of walks, lawns, and a fine collection of garden standards…and native American flora.” These gardens are open for quiet contemplation; cell phone use, smoking, and pets are not allowed.

https://stlukeinthefields.org/about/gardens

Another lovely urban green space can be found on the east side of Manhattan, at Tudor City (between First and Second Avenues, just south of 42nd street). Tudor City Greens is open to the public daily between 7 am and 10 pm. They also host events, from Halloween parades to Afternoon Teas.

https://www.tudorcitygreens.org

Finally, we recommend a visit to Greenacre Park, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. With plenty of seating to enjoy the sound of the waterfall (and drown out the noise of the city!) this beautifully landscaped pocket park is at 217 East 51st Street, between Second and Third Avenues.

https://greenacrepark.org

Enjoy the secret gardens of Manhattan and have a lovely summer!

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Biological Clock Day

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VOCABULARY:

circadian rhythm – n., our internal clock that keeps time by tracking light and darkness

biological – adj., relating to life or living things

rhythm – n., a regular pattern of movement or sound

protein – n., the building blocks of body tissue

hormones – n., chemical substances that act like messengers in the body

regulate – v., to control something

cluster – n., a group of things that are close together

hypothalamus – n., part of the brain that controls many bodily functions

genes – n., the basic units of heredity that carry your traits

organism – n., a living thing

sensitive – adj., showing a strong response to chemicals or other things in the environment.

blue light – n., the light that comes from sunlight and digital devices

miraculous – adj., something that is very surprising or lucky, like a miracle

Biological Clock Day is celebrated on April 28th. It’s a day to recognize the body’s natural ability to keep track of time, also known as the biological clock or circadian rhythm.

The biological clock is related to more than just aging.

For a start, both men and women have a biological clock, and all of this is celebrated by Biological Clock Day!

The biological clock acts as a sort of inner schedule by which a person lives that can often affect their behavior as well as their mood.  Also known more formally as the ‘circadian rhythm’, this internal clock controls a sleep-wake pattern that fits in with the light and dark of a day according to the rhythms of the planet.

Proteins and hormones regulate the biological clock. Scientists are just now discovering exactly what makes us sleepy or wide-awake.

This internal clock is located in a tiny cluster of cells known as the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). The SCN is in a part of your brain called the hypothalamus. Throughout the day, internal clock genes in the SCN send signals to control the activity throughout your body. The SCN is sensitive to light.

source: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/circadian-rhythm

What is a biological clock?

  • A biological clock is the body’s internal system that regulates sleep-wake cycles and other rhythms.
  • It’s made up of proteins that are turned on and off by thousands of genes. 
  • A master clock coordinates all the biological clocks in the body. 
  • The biological clock keeps working even when an organism is not exposed to natural light. 

How can you support your biological clock? 

  • Try to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day.
  • Avoid naps that make it hard to fall asleep at night.
  • Stop eating and exercising a few hours before bed.
  • Avoid caffeine and nicotine before bed.
  • Wear glasses that block blue light.

    Biological Clock Day was established to celebrate the natural rhythms of the body and show appreciation for the miraculous way the human body is formed. The day is meant to raise awareness for the need that people have to pay more attention to what their bodies and brains are telling them.

    source: https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/biological-clock-day/

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    It’s a piece of cake! Understanding American food idioms.

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    Americans talk about food, think about food, and eat food – a lot. It’s not surprising that so many expressions in American English are centered on food. Here are a few you will hear frequently:

    Let’s start with our title – “It’s a piece of cake” means that something is easy to do. You might also hear the similar, “it’s easy as pie.”


    Desserts are always good – eating them is a piece of cake!

    “Spill the beans.”


    Shhhh – don’t tell anyone you’re learning these idioms! “Spill the beans” is another way to say you’re telling a secret or giving away a surprise.


    We didn’t want Luis to spill the beans about the surprise party for Dmitri.

    “Cool as a cucumber.”


    This means that someone is very relaxed and confident in a situation.

    Maria went into the interview as cool as a cucumber.

    “Bring home the bacon.”


    This means you’re going to work and earning money, or you’re competing and win a prize.


    Xiting worked hard all week to bring home the bacon for her family.

    “Go bananas”

    We use this idiom when we want to describe someone getting very excited about something – even acting a little crazy.

    The crowd went bananas when Beyonce stepped onto the stage.

    And let’s finish with another ‘sweet’ expression: “the icing on the cake.”


    We say, “that’s the icing on the cake” when something good becomes even better when added to.


    Ekaterina was happy to ice skate at the Olympics; winning the gold medal was the icing on the cake!

    If you can use all these idioms, you’ll be the Big Cheese in your English class!

    (“Big Cheese” means the most important person in a group.)

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    President’s Day: Discovering Lincoln and Washington Through Biography

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    President’s Day is a national holiday in the United States, celebrated on the third Monday of February. It honors two of the most respected leaders in American history: George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Both were born in February and are remembered for their strong leadership and lasting impact on the country.

    George Washington was the first president of the United States. He led the American army to victory in the Revolutionary War and helped create the new government. Abraham Lincoln was the 16th president. He led the country during the Civil War and worked to end slavery. His famous speech, the Gettysburg Address, is still studied today.

    George Washington 1732-1799
    Abraham Lincoln 1809-1865

    Reading biographies is a great way to learn about these presidents. For English learners, books like Who Was George Washington? (ISBN-139780448448923) and Who Was Abraham Lincoln? (ISBN-139780606040068) are excellent choices. These books use simple language and include helpful illustrations and timelines. They show how each man grew up, faced challenges, and became a leader.

    Biographies help us understand history and the values of honesty, courage, and service. They also improve reading skills and vocabulary. On President’s Day, take time to explore the lives of Washington and Lincoln. Their stories can inspire us to be better citizens and lifelong learners.

    📚 Tip: Try reading with a friend or writing a short summary after each chapter. It’s a fun way to practice English and learn about American history!

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    It’s holiday time!

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    Winter Holidays Around the World

    Winter is a special season. The days are shorter, the nights are longer, and in many places, it is cold and snowy. Around the world, people celebrate different winter holidays with family, friends, food, and traditions. Let’s look at some of the most popular winter holidays.

    Christmas

    Christmas is celebrated on December 25th in many countries. People decorate a Christmas tree, hang lights, and give gifts. Families often eat a big meal together. In some traditions, children wait for Santa Claus to bring presents. Popular Christmas colors are red, green, and gold.

    Hanukkah

    Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday that usually happens in December. It lasts for eight nights. Families light a special candleholder called a menorah. They eat foods fried in oil, like latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts). Children often play with a small toy called a dreidel.

    Kwanzaa

    Kwanzaa is celebrated in the United States from December 26th to January 1st. It honors African traditions and culture. Families light candles in a holder called a kinara. Each day represents a different value, such as unity, creativity, or faith. Music, dancing, and storytelling are also part of Kwanzaa.

    New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day

    All around the world, people celebrate the New Year on December 31st and January 1st. Many people stay up until midnight to welcome the new year. Fireworks, parties, and special foods are common. People also make resolutions—promises to themselves about things they want to do in the new year.

    Vocabulary to Remember

    • Tradition – something people do again and again over many years
    • Celebrate – to enjoy a holiday or special event
    • Candle – a stick of wax with fire at the top for light
    • Meal – food eaten together at one time
    • Resolution – a plan or promise for the future

    ✨ Winter holidays bring light, joy, and warmth during the cold season. Even though traditions are different, the message is often the same: spending time with loved ones and sharing happiness.

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