E7 M - New York City – People and places
aiMOOCE7 M - New York City – People and places
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E7 M - New York City – People and places
Welcome to New York City! In this aiMOOC, you explore the city through maps, pictures, audio, short videos and short texts. You learn to describe places, understand simple travel information, react in conversations and give your own opinion.
Your mission: Notice → understand → try → use → communicate → feedback → improve → use again.
I can ...
- I can find the five boroughs on a map.
- I can understand the main idea of short texts and videos about New York City.
- I can describe a place with useful adjectives and prepositions.
- I can ask for directions and react to information.
- I can give reasons for my choice: I would like to visit ... because ...
- I can write a short structured message or report about a day in New York.
Before you start: What do you already know?
Look at the skyline for 30 seconds.
Try first – in English:
- Name three things you can see.
- Say one thing you already know about New York City.
- Say one place you would like to visit.
Hint: Use simple starters: I can see ... / I know that ... / I would like to ...
Deutsch-Hilfe nur wenn nötig: Beschreibe zuerst nur das, was Du wirklich auf dem Bild erkennst. Vermutungen kannst Du mit Maybe ... markieren.
Media start: New York on the map
New York City has five boroughs: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island. More than eight million people live in the city. Each borough has many different neighbourhoods, parks, streets, schools, shops, workplaces and cultural places.
Map challenge:
- Point to Manhattan.
- Find the borough east of Manhattan.
- Find the borough north of Manhattan.
- Find Staten Island.
- Which borough looks biggest on this map?
Think: A map shows space, but it does not show everything about the people who live there. What information is missing?
Viewing task: Watch the five-borough video once without stopping. Write down only the borough names you hear. Watch again and add one place or feature for three boroughs.
Feedback: If you have all five boroughs, your first listening goal is complete. If not, use the map and watch one more time.
Places in the city
Manhattan: busy streets and green space
Times Square is in Manhattan. It is known for bright screens, theatres, traffic and many visitors. The picture shows a very busy urban space.
Try: Choose three adjectives: bright – quiet – crowded – green – busy – empty – colourful.
Model: Times Square looks crowded and colourful. There are many people in the street.
Central Park is also in Manhattan. It is a large public park inside a very dense city. People walk, run, meet friends, play sports or simply relax there.
Compare: Times Square is more crowded than this part of Central Park. Now make one more comparison.
Hint: ... is quieter than ... / ... is greener than ... / ... looks more ... than ...
Brooklyn: across the East River
The Brooklyn Bridge connects Manhattan and Brooklyn across the East River. People can cross it on foot, by bike or by vehicle.
Mini-speaking task: You are standing near the bridge. Your partner asks: What can we do here? Give two ideas and one reason.
Useful language: We could ... / Let's ... / I think ... because ...
Liberty Island: a symbol in New York Harbor
The Statue of Liberty stands on Liberty Island in New York Harbor. It was dedicated in 1886 and became an important symbol connected with freedom and immigration history.
Viewing task: Watch the short video. Find:
- one way people travel to the island,
- one view of the city,
- one detail that is easier to understand in the video than in the photo.
Hint: You do not need to understand every word. Use pictures, movement and key words.
Grand Central Terminal: moving through the city
Grand Central Terminal is a famous transport building in Manhattan. The large main hall is also known for its architecture.
Notice → use: Look at the image for 20 seconds. Then hide it and complete:
- There are ...
- In the centre, I remember ...
- The place looks ... because ...
The High Line: a different kind of park
The High Line is a public park built on a former elevated railway line on Manhattan's West Side. It combines plants, paths, city views and old railway structures.
Mini-transfer: Imagine an unused railway line near your town. What could people create there?
Moving around: the subway
The New York City subway connects many parts of the city. A subway map can look difficult at first, so focus on a start point, a destination, the line and the direction.
Listening/Viewing: Use only the section about subway lines and the map. Listen once for the main idea. Then listen again and note two words that help you navigate.
Try this dialogue:
A: Excuse me. How do I get to Times Square? B: Take the subway downtown. Check the line on the map. A: Do I have to change trains? B: Yes, change at the next station. A: Thanks!
Your turn: Change the destination and one piece of travel information.
Communication strategy:
- Sorry, could you say that again?
- Do you mean the A train?
- So I change at ... , right?
- Thanks, I got it.
Pronunciation: New York
Listen to the US-English pronunciation of New York. Repeat it quietly, then in a full sentence:
I'd like to visit New York one day.
Goal: Be easy to understand. You do not need to copy one perfect accent.
Reading: Three fictional teens, three city moments
The following profiles are fictional. They do not use private social-media data.
Maya, 13: I am visiting my cousin in Queens. In the morning, we take the subway to Manhattan. I like the view from the bridge, but I enjoy the park more because it is calm. In the afternoon, we want to see a basketball court and get something to eat.
Noah, 14: My favourite place today is Brooklyn Bridge Park. I can see the river and the Manhattan skyline. There are families, runners, tourists and local people. I take notes for a short school report, but I do not photograph strangers close up.
Sam, 13: At first, the subway map looks confusing. I ask a station worker for help. After that, I can find our route. I feel more confident because I understand the signs better.
Reading tasks:
- Who prefers a calm place?
- Who is writing for school?
- Who needs help with transport?
- Find one reason with because.
- Which profile is most similar to what you would enjoy? Give one reason.
Hint: First underline names, places and reason words. Then answer.
Vocabulary in context
| Word / phrase | Meaning from context | Use it |
|---|---|---|
| borough | one of the five main parts of New York City | Brooklyn is a borough of New York City. |
| neighbourhood | a smaller local area in a city | This neighbourhood has many small shops. |
| crowded | full of many people | The station is crowded at rush hour. |
| skyline | the shape of buildings against the sky | We can see the Manhattan skyline. |
| downtown | towards the lower part of Manhattan in many travel contexts | Take the train downtown. |
| uptown | towards the upper part of Manhattan in many travel contexts | Is this the uptown platform? |
| change trains | leave one train and continue on another | We have to change trains. |
| landmark | a well-known place or building | The Statue of Liberty is a famous landmark. |
Quick use: Choose four expressions and make a mini-dialogue of four lines.
Functional grammar
There is / There are
Use there is for one thing and there are for more than one.
There is a large park in Manhattan. There are many subway stations in the city.
Try: Write one sentence about the borough map and one sentence about a photo.
Comparisons
Use comparisons to describe two places.
Central Park is quieter than Times Square. Times Square is more crowded than the High Line.
Try: Compare two New York places. Add a reason with because.
Past events: simple past first
Use the simple past for finished events:
We visited Brooklyn yesterday. Sam asked for help at the station.
Controlled E-lookout – not a main learning goal: After Maya had checked the map, she took the train. The past perfect can show that one past action happened before another past action. You only need to notice this pattern here.
Speaking: Choose a place
Work with a partner.
Student A: Choose Times Square, Central Park, Brooklyn Bridge, the High Line or Liberty Island. Student B: Ask three questions.
Use:
- What can you do there?
- Why would you go there?
- How can you get there?
- Would you prefer this place or ... ? Why?
Then change roles.
Feedback check:
- Did you ask a follow-up question?
- Did you react to your partner?
- Did you give at least one reason?
- Was your message easy to understand?
Writing: A short New York message
Write an email of about 80–100 words to a friend.
Situation: You have spent one day in New York City. Describe two places, one journey and your opinion.
Structure:
- Greeting
- Where you went
- What you saw or did
- One comparison
- Your opinion with a reason
- Closing
Language help: First ... / Then ... / Later ... / I liked ... because ... / ... was more ... than ...
Improve: Read your text again. Check verbs, sentence order, capital letters and one reason sentence. A digital or AI tool may give feedback if your school allows it, but check the feedback yourself and keep your own ideas and wording.
Mediation mini-task
Your German-speaking family member asks what this notice means:
“Uptown trains: use the entrance across the street.”
Explain the important information in German. Do not translate every word. Give only the information the person needs.
Possible focus: Richtung + Handlung.
Safe and responsible media use
- Use media from reliable or clearly licensed sources. The images and audio in this course come from Wikimedia Commons; check the file page for the exact licence when reusing them.
- Videos are embedded from YouTube. Do not copy or re-upload them.
- Recording your own voice or video is voluntary unless your teacher gives an approved school task. Keep recordings private unless sharing is agreed.
- Do not upload photos of other people without permission.
- Do not send personal data or schoolwork to external AI services without permission.
- AI feedback can be useful, but check its level, facts and language. It should support your writing, not replace your own text.
Interaktive Aufgaben
Quiz: Teste Dein Wissen
How many boroughs does New York City have? (Five) (!Four) (!Six) (!Eight)
Which place is a large park in Manhattan? (Central Park) (!Times Square) (!Liberty Island) (!Brooklyn Bridge)
Which borough is north of Manhattan on the borough map? (The Bronx) (!Brooklyn) (!Staten Island) (!Queens)
What does crowded mean? (Full of many people) (!Very quiet) (!Far from the city) (!Only for tourists)
Which phrase is useful when you did not understand travel information? (Could you say that again?) (!I never use maps.) (!This park is green.) (!Yesterday was Tuesday.)
Which sentence correctly describes more than one thing? (There are many stations.) (!There is many stations.) (!There are a station.) (!There is two stations.)
Which sentence gives a comparison? (Central Park is quieter than Times Square.) (!Central Park is in Manhattan.) (!I visited Central Park.) (!Where is Central Park?)
Where does the Statue of Liberty stand? (On Liberty Island) (!In Central Park) (!On the High Line) (!Inside Grand Central Terminal)
What should you do first when a listening text is difficult? (Listen for the main idea) (!Translate every word immediately) (!Stop after the first unknown word) (!Guess without listening)
What is a good rule for AI feedback on your own text? (Check the feedback and keep your own ideas) (!Replace your whole text automatically) (!Upload private data) (!Accept every correction without checking)
Memory
| Manhattan | Central Park |
| Brooklyn | Brooklyn Bridge |
| Liberty Island | Statue of Liberty |
| subway | change trains |
| skyline | city buildings against the sky |
Drag and Drop
| Ordne die richtigen Begriffe zu. | Thema |
|---|---|
| Manhattan | Times Square |
| Brooklyn | Brooklyn Bridge Park |
| Liberty Island | Statue of Liberty |
| High Line | elevated park |
| subway | urban transport |
Kreuzworträtsel
| Borough | What is one of the five main parts of New York City called? |
| Skyline | What word describes the outline of city buildings against the sky? |
| Subway | What urban railway helps people travel through New York City? |
| Liberty | Which word completes the name Statue of ...? |
| Manhattan | Which borough contains Times Square and Central Park? |
| Crowded | Which adjective means full of many people? |
LearningApps
Lückentext
Offene Aufgaben
Leicht
- Picture talk: Choose one picture from this aiMOOC. Record or present five English sentences about what you can see. A recording is optional and should stay private unless sharing is agreed.
- Borough map: Create a simple labelled map of the five boroughs and add one place from the course to three boroughs.
- Subway mini-dialogue: Write and act out a six-line dialogue in which one person asks for directions and the other person helps.
- Vocabulary card: Make six vocabulary cards with an English word, a short English explanation and your own example sentence.
Standard
- One-day plan: Plan a one-day route with three places. Explain the order and give a reason for each stop.
- Compare two places: Compare two places from the aiMOOC in 80–100 words. Use at least three comparison forms.
- Fictional profile: Create a fictional teen profile and write a short city diary. Do not use real private social-media information.
- Mini audio guide: Prepare a 45–60 second English audio guide for one place. Recording is optional; a live presentation is also possible.
Schwer
- Urban space inquiry: Use the images and map to explain how transport, green space and famous places shape city life. Support your ideas with at least three examples.
- Media comparison: Compare what you learn from a map, a photo and a video about the same city. Explain the strengths and limits of each medium.
- Mini-report: Write a 120–150 word report titled A day between busy and calm places. Use a clear beginning, middle and ending.
- Local transfer: Choose one place in your own town or region. Create a bilingual mini-guide that helps an English-speaking visitor understand what the place is, how to get there and why it matters.
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Lernkontrolle
- Map reasoning: A visitor wants to see Central Park, Brooklyn Bridge and Liberty Island. Explain a sensible order and which media you would use to plan the route.
- Listening strategy: Explain what you do when a video is too fast. Give at least three steps and explain why they help.
- Place comparison: Compare a busy and a calm place from the course. Explain which type of place is better for two different activities.
- Communication problem: A traveller misunderstands a subway direction. Write a short dialogue showing how they ask for clarification and confirm the information.
- Media literacy: Explain why a map, a photograph and a short video can give different impressions of the same city.
- Responsible AI: A tool rewrites your complete school text in difficult English. Explain why this may not help your learning and describe a better way to use feedback.
Lernnachweis
For a successful learning record, you should be able to:
- identify and name the five boroughs on a map,
- understand the main ideas of short English texts and selected video sections,
- describe and compare New York places with suitable vocabulary,
- ask for directions, react and ask follow-up questions,
- write a short structured message or report,
- use media information critically and protect privacy,
- reflect on feedback and improve your own language.
A useful learning record can combine a short written text, one map task and a short speaking task. Audio or video recording should only be used when it is voluntary or part of an approved school setting.
Self-check: Can you do it?
| I can ... | Not yet | With help | Yes |
|---|---|---|---|
| find all five boroughs on a map | □ | □ | □ |
| understand the main idea of a short NYC video | □ | □ | □ |
| ask for and confirm directions | □ | □ | □ |
| compare two places | □ | □ | □ |
| give an opinion with a reason | □ | □ | □ |
| write a short structured message | □ | □ | □ |
If you tick “with help”: Go back to the model sentences and try again with a new place. If you tick “yes”: Use the same language with a place that was not used in the model.
Follow-up course
Continue with E7 M - New York City – Getting around and making plans. There you can use the same city vocabulary in longer dialogues, route planning and practical travel situations.
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