English Courses in Philadelphia

Independence Hall, Independence National Historical Park and Liberty Bell
Independence Hall is a building in Philadelphia, known primarily for being the location where the United States Declaration of Independence was discussed and ratified in 1753. It is part of the Independence National Historical Park and is included in the list of World Heritage Sites. The main attraction of the building is the Liberty Bell; it is also possible to visit the buildings where the Founding Fathers wrote the Declaration of Independence on a guided tour. It is an unmissable stop for tourists and for language students after their English course in Philadelphia.

Betsy Ross House
If students were asked how and when the American flag was born, this would be the place to go after an English course to learn about its origins. The Betsy Ross House is not only a typical eighteenth-century colonial house, it is first and foremost the house where she lived, the woman who, as legend has it, sewed the first flag of the United States and replaced the six-pointed stars with five-pointed stars, which were easier to sew. Every year on the 13th of June, it hosts celebrations of Flag Day, the day on which the American flag was adopted on in 1777, through a resolution of the Second Continental Congress.

Benjamin Franklin Parkway
The Benjamin Franklin Parkway is a scenic boulevard that crosses the cultural heart of Philadelphia and represents the backbone of the Museum district. In fact, in this area students on English language courses can find the Philadelphia Museum of Art (at one end of the avenue, the other is City Hall), the Academy of Natural Sciences, the Rodin Museum, the Franklin Institute and the main area of the Philadelphia Public Library. Since 2012, the Barnes Foundation has also been located there.

The Rocky Statue
The Rocky statue and the famous movie staircase are two of Philadelphia’s most famous attractions. Students can put themselves in the shoes of the great (imaginary) boxing champion and retrace his journey, and then take a picture or selfie with the statue of Rocky himself. The statue was originally created for the third film of the saga and, after shooting, Sylvester Stallone donated the statue to the city.

National Constitution Center
The National Constitution Center is the first and only museum dedicated to the history of the United States Constitution. It opens in a dizzying series of interactive exhibits, from electoral booths to quiz games. Visitors can also see an original version of the Bill of Rights and swear themselves in as President. In the Signatories Hall students can walk through the 42 life-size bronze statues of the 39 delegates who signed the Constitution and the 3 who expressed their disagreement.

Elfreth’s Alley
Visitors can step back in time on the oldest street in the United States, Elfreth’s Alley, which dates back to 1702 and is still inhabited today. It is located in the Old City of Philadelphia.

Academy of Natural Sciences (1900 Franklin PKWY)
Students who love nature will enjoy a visit to the Academy of Natural Sciences where there are usually exhibitions of extinct species such as dinosaurs, but also of exotic animals.

Eastern State Penitentiary
If students would like to see something unique and gloomy, they can visit the Eastern State Penitentiary, a now-obsolete prison opened in 1829, as part of a controversial project to rehabilitate prisoners by “imprisonment in solitude and with work.” Not only it is possible to see what remains of the prison, but also to know, through an audio tour, what life was like for the prisoners.  Some of the most famous criminals who were imprisoned here were the bank robber Willie Sutton, and Al Capone. On display is the cell of the famous Italian-American gangster, who spent eight months there in 1929.

Italian Market
The Italian Market area of the city is definitely multicultural and very colorful, with small and family run shops. On South 9th Street there are over one hundred street vendors, selling goods arranged on stalls or carts. Students at language schools in Philadelphia can go here, as do the inhabitants of the city, to buy pasta, mozzarella, sandwiches, ice cream, and quality meat at reasonable prices.

Masonic Temple
This Norman-style granite structure featuring spires and towers was designed by the mason James Windrim. Considered one of the most beautiful Masonic temples in the United States, it is also one of the largest in the world. The interior is adorned with motifs that evoke the emblems of the different lodges.