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Chinatown in Flushing, Queens
Mandarin, Neighborhoods
From what I have heard, the Chinatown of Flushing is considered by many to be a more authentic Chinatown than the one in Manhattan. I have much more to explore still, but I can tell you there are tons…
The Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar
English, Organizations
I happen to love this organization, which consists of highly passionate teachers of grammar, but my feeling is that it tends to be most effective, in its commitment to grammar pedagogy, at preaching to the choir. I have been to…
Museum of Chinese in America
Mandarin, Museums/Cultural, Kids
In Manhattan’s Chinatown, this small, friendly, attractive museum has a standing exhibit on the history of Chinese immigrants in the United States. It is a history full of discrimination—and achievement in spite of it. The exhibit includes…
Rosetta Stone Japanese
Japanese, Multimedia
Rosetta Stone Japanese offers an interactive, computer-based learning experience that includes games, voice-recognition features, and even human tutors if you want them. I am not a fan of Rosetta Stone for more familiar languages—such as French, Spanish, Italian, or…
De Nederlandse Taalunie (Dutch Language Union)
Dutch, Organizations
The Nederlandse Taalunie, or Dutch Language Union, is a kind of language regulator. It dates back to 1980, when the Netherlands and Flanders signed a treaty agreeing that the two governments would “set joint policy with respect to the Dutch language.”…
Central Park
Arabic, Dutch, English, French, General, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Persian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, Yiddish, Parks, Kids
Central Park draws international visitors year round, but if you really want to hear other languages, walk around here during the three non-freezing seasons: spring, summer, and fall. Summer especially is crazy with tourists. You can hear dozens of languages.…
Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue
Portuguese, Religious
I don’t really know much about this building. I passed it and found it pretty, but I couldn’t get in the day I was there. According to the website: Congregation Shearith Israel, the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue in…
Académie française (French Academy)
French, Organizations
In countries not the United States, it is not unusual to find an organized body of language experts who weigh in on questions relating to their national language. You know, like a Council on American Grammar and Usage—except we…