English Courses in Boston

Boston is what I would have the whole United States to be. –Charles Dickens

For a long time, Boston was the United States. In the 17th and 18th centuries, America’s formative years, the city played a starring role in the country’s fight for independence. In the 19th century, some of America’s most influential doers and thinkers called Boston home, unabashedly dubbing it the “Hub of the Universe.” In the 20th century, the Biggest Small Town in America experienced the same growing pains sweeping the rest of the nation, including immigration booms, civil rights battles, and problems with urban expansion and renewal. Today, many visitors think the city is little more than the Freedom Trail, a walking tour through Boston’s most important historical landmarks. But while the well-trampled Trail does revisit some exciting moments in US history, this most American of American cities didn’t earn the title of “America’s Walking City” for this 4-kilometer stroll. Boston is a restless stew of compact neighborhoods, dramatically distinct communities, winning cultural attractions, and acres of urban parks, all of which are best sampled on foot. While the Freedom Trail is a nice place to start, wandering around Boston’s many different districts, its jumble of streets, and its squares will give you a glimpse of a still-evolving metropolis where the lives of those who live in the city today are as important as its history.

Boston is a fantastic city for students of all nationalities. In the countryside of New England, through historical locations and quaint towns, everyday life runs at a slower pace than that of other American cities, and its people are more relaxed and friendly. The student will quickly become familiar with the city, will socialize with both its residents and the students attending its more than 60 colleges and universities, and will appreciate a lifestyle that is typically American.

Boston’s wide range of attractions renders the city a “little New York.” Outside of town, on the weekends, Cape Cod is not far away, nor is the Atlantic coast, the natural beauty and the American “aristocracy” on the islands of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. New England is famous for its spectacular autumn leaves, and the area is often visited by residents of “old” England. In the wintertime, there are many mountains and places to ski.

If all of these enticements still aren’t enough, the attractions of the “big” New York are just five hours away. Boston’s airport and train stations are easily accessible from the city and allow the visitor to take advantage of the numerous rail, road and air connections to Manhattan.