“Start spreading the news, I’m leaving today. I want to be a part of it…New York, New York!” While most of you may not be old enough to know this 1977 song made popular by the legendary Frank Sinatra, we are doing exactly what he says today.

Our weekly journey around the world to learn new words and phrases in English takes us to the United States of America, starting with The Big Apple – a concrete jungle of 8.6 million people where dreams are made of. We are going to New York, people! Are you excited? Are you ready to get another stamp on your language passport?

The City That Never Sleeps

New York is one of the most famous cities in the world. True to its nickname, this vibrant city never actually sleeps. Its subway system doesn’t close and the Staten Island Ferry operates 24 hours a day with plenty of eateries, clubs and bars opening till the wee hours of the night.

Times Square, lined with huge, brightly lit billboards and advertisements, is the place to be in New York in the evenings. This busy and perpetually crowded but dazzling place is the location of the city’s New Year’s Eve celebrations and famous “ball drop” at midnight. The ball drop, the actual notion of a ball dropping from the flagpole atop One Times Square (formerly Times Building) to signal the passage of time, made its maiden descent in 1907, three years after Longacre Square was renamed Times Square after The New York Times tower.

Times Square is also the hub of the Broadway Theater District where theatrical performances are presented in 41 professional theatres, each with 500 or more seats. Considered the pinnacle of American theatre, most Broadway shows are musicals and you can’t say that you’ve been to Broadway unless you’ve actually watched one. Phantom of the Opera anyone? Or is The Lion King more your cup of tea?

World recognisable landmarks

Visiting the Statue of Liberty is top on every visitor’s list but until they do, few realise that this statue, which has become America’s most iconic sight, was actually a gift from France to the American people in 1886. The statue was constructed in parts in Paris before being reassembled on a pedestal on Bedloe Island, now Liberty Island. President of the French Anti-Slavery Society, Edouard Rene de Laboulaye proposed the idea of the statue while Frederic Bartholdi, a sculptor, designed it. Gustave Eiffel, the man behind the Eiffel Tower, designed Lady Liberty’s ‘spine’. An enduring symbol of freedom, the Statue of Liberty – a robed figure of Libertas, the Roman liberty goddess, holds a torch and tablet upon which is inscribed July 4, 1776, the date of the American Declaration of Independence. Measuring 93 metres from the ground to the top of the torch and weighing 204 metric tonnes, Lady Liberty is standing among a broken shackle and chains, with her right foot raised, depicting her moving forward away from oppression and slavery. While the Statue of Liberty is visible from land, to truly appreciate it one should take a short boat trip to Liberty Island and see it up close and even go right up to the crown.

The Empire State Building is one of New York’s most famous landmark buildings and key tourist attractions. Built in 1931, this 102-storey Art Deco skyscraper stood as the world’s tallest building until the World Trade Center came about in 1970. There are two observatories above the Empire State Building, both offering astounding views of the city and on clear days, you can see way up to the neighbouring states of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. If you’ve never heard of the name Empire State Building but think the building looks familiar, that’s because it’s been featured in countless movies and television shows. Remember King Kong climbing up the Empire State Building and fighting off airplanes?

Stretching eight blocks from Broadway to South Street is Wall Street, home to the world’s two largest stock exchanges – the New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ. Standing at Broadway and symbolising Wall Street and the Financial District is the Charging Bull, a 3,200kg bronze statue created by Italian artist Arturo Di Modica in the wake of the 1987 Black Monday stock market crash. The Charging Bull, sometimes referred to as the Bull of Wall Street and representing aggressive financial optimism and prosperity, draws thousands of people a day who not only pose for photographs but also rub the bull for good luck.

Our escapade in New York does not end here. There are lots more to see, lots more to learn after this. Stay tuned!

Words and Phrases to Learn:

legendary – very well known

concrete jungle – a modern city filled with large buildings and regarded especially as a harshly competitive place

vibrant – full of energy and life

subway – an underground railway

wee hours – hours very late at night or very early in the morning

perpetually – in a way that never ends or changes, constantly

dazzling – extremely bright, extremely impressive

notion – concept

atop – on the top of

maiden – the first attempt or act of its kind

hub – the effective centre of an activity, region or network

pinnacle – the most successful point, the culmination

cup of tea – preference

landmark – a building or place that is easily recognised

iconic – widely known

pedestal – the base of support on which a statue is mounted

enduring – long-lasting

inscribed – surface marked with characters

shackle – a metal link used to secure a chain or rope to something or someone

depicting – portray

oppression – unjust treatment

key – of crucial importance

skyscraper – a very tall building of many storeys

admire – look at something with pleasure

symbolise – signify

in the wake of – as a consequence of, following

aggressive – behaving or done in a determined and forceful way

escapade – exploit, adventure

Have English will travel – travel far in life that is. Knowing English opens doors for you. Do not let opportunities in life pass you by, be it at school or at work. Be the best you can be by mastering English with ILTI. Come speak to us and find out more about our Cambridge English programmes by visiting ilti.edu.my or calling 010-395 3067 today.