Think of cities in the world with a song written about them, and New York probably comes first to mind. In fact, a search on Wikipedia confirms that nearly 100 songs have been written about New York, which shows the love that people around the world have for this giant metropolis and symbol of the USA.

One reason so many people choose New York to learn English is the sheer quantity of things to do and places to visit outside of study time. Manhattan Island alone contains over 50 landmarks and museums.

So students taking an English language course at Rennert New York in midtown Manhattan will find many of the city's most famous sights within striking distance: the Empire State Building, St Patrick's Cathedral and the Metropolitan Museum of Art to name just three. Districts like Chinatown, Little Italy, SoHo, Greenwich Village, Central Park and Wall Street, immortalised by writers, filmmakers, artists and musicians, are waiting to be explored. And no stay in New York is complete without a visit to the Statue of Liberty and nearby Ellis Island, where millions of immigrants first entered the United States.

New York is famous for its food, and its restaurants offer just about every world cuisine. Try New York style pizza in Little Italy or a pastrami sandwich in one of the many delis. The Waldorf salad and Eggs Benedict are among the dishes said to have originated here.

"The city that never sleeps" is packed with cool metropolitan bars, hip nightclubs and entertainment venues. From the big shows on Broadway to cutting-edge drama off-Broadway, from star performances at Madison Square Garden to the intimate music clubs of Bleeker Street, the Big Apple has something for everyone, every night. The neon lights of Times Square have to be seen once in a lifetime and for a dramatic view, take the Staten Island Ferry in the evening and capture the famous skyline on camera.

Beyond Manhattan lie the other boroughs. Brooklyn, accessed via another New York symbol, the Brooklyn Bridge, was once a separate city. It has a thriving cultural scene and a wealth of 19th century terraced housing on tree-lined streets. The borough of Queens is home to the New York Mets baseball team and US Open tennis championships. 

Learning English in New York can be a life-changing experience. Study here and maybe one day you'll be writing your own song about your favourite city......