English in the City, exploring a city while learning English

Home English Courses English in the City

**Turn a foreign city into your city**

Dreaming about learning English in different cities? Start here, with our English in the City course, and immerse yourself in a new city through its language. With 20 lessons of General English plus lessons focused on language study inspired by your destination, this intensive course is your gateway to the practical use of English. Weekly English in the City lessons include themed trips to historic landmarks, museums and neighbourhoods, where you can use your English in real life situations and discuss your experiences back in class.

Level

Intermediate

Course Duration

Minimum: 1 week

Maximum: 4 weeks (Boston: 8 weeks, Manchester: 12 weeks)

Course start dates

Available in high season only (all year in Cape Town, Cambridge & Manchester)

Lessons per week

USA & Canada: 24 (20 General English + 4 English in the City)

UK & Cape Town: 30 lessons per week (20 General English + 10 English in the City)

Hours per week

24 lessons = 18 hours

30 lessons = 22.5 hours

Available in

Boston, New York, Toronto, London, Cambridge, Brighton, Manchester, Cape Town

English in the City is offered in these locations

Discover our destinations and find the perfect place to learn English and experience new cultures.

USA
Canada
United Kingdom
Ireland
South Africa

USA

Boston

Start at $505

New York

Start at $500

New York 30+

Start at $500

Canada

Toronto

Start at C$435

United Kingdom

London

Start at £405

Brighton

Start at £385

Manchester

Start at £380

Ireland

Dublin

Start at €380

South Africa

Cape Town

Start at €345

Cape Town 30+

Start at €345

What can you expect on this course?

Real-world immersion

Being immersed in an English-speaking country will naturally improve your English—and our English in the City course will help you focus in on accelerating that improvement. Every week, your classes will include cultural and historic tours, museum visits and more, so you can use your English in real life situations and discuss your experiences with your classmates.

Core English classes

English in the City combines 20 lessons of General English with 4 or 10 lessons focused (depending on location) of language study inspired by your destination. Wherever you are in you host city, you’ll be able to understand more, and express yourself clearly and confidently through speaking and writing.

Themed lessons

The Special Focus course includes one lesson per week outside the classroom that focuses on a specific theme, while visiting places of interest and engaging in local activities. Themes change weekly and may include Business English: Tours of Local Businesses; Describing Art & Culture: Museum Tours; and Talk like a Local: Neighbourhood Visits. Classroom study will also support each theme.

Exceptional instructors

Our English in the City instructors are not only qualified English teachers, but they’re you’re your local guides who will help immerse you in all that your host city has to offer and engage in meaningful interactions to improve your English.

Unparalleled support

Every step of the way, your instructors will be there to guide you, provide constant feedback and help track your progress. With our full support, and the support of likeminded classmates, you’ll acquire the practical English skills you need to interact with the locals in your host city.

Guaranteed results

As long as you follow your programme, we guarantee that not only will you have improved your English in the classroom, you will have gained practical experience in speaking English in everyday situations in your chosen destination.

English in the City is ideal for:

✔ Adults who want to learn English abroad through real-world experiences, not just classroom study.
✔ Curious, culturally-minded learners who want to explore a new city and understand it through its language and history.
✔ People who learn best by doing; through guided tours, museum visits, and everyday conversations with locals.
✔ Short-stay learners looking for an intensive English course that fits into one to four weeks.
✔ Adults 30+ who want to improve their English alongside like-minded professionals in a mature, welcoming environment.
✔ Anyone on a sabbatical or gap year who wants a purposeful, enriching travel experience with measurable language progress.

Guaranteed morning schedule

This course guarantees a morning schedule for these destinations:

In selected schools with a double-banking timetable, a guaranteed morning lesson start can be reserved for an additional fee.

Available in: EC Toronto, EC London, EC London 30+, EC Brighton, EC Dublin, EC Malta, EC Malta 30+, EC Cape Town and EC Cape Town 30+

No supplement required:

New York, New York 30+, and Boston

EC Promise

Count on the EC Promise

At EC English, we promise that your progress will always be visible and guaranteed. Simply put, as long as you follow your personalised learning programme, we guarantee your English will improve.

Learn more about our promise

Maximum in Class

Our maximum class size is 16 students or less, depending on the destination. Which is right for you?

Max 15

Max 16

EC Canada, on limited occasions, may reserve the right to teach classes up to a max of 18

Toronto

What you’ll learn on English in the City

Our students develop practical English skills through immersive, real-world learning, including:

✔ Conversational fluency for everyday situations
✔ Vocabulary for travel, culture, and local life
✔ Listening comprehension in real environments
✔ Pronunciation and confidence speaking with native speakers
✔ How to describe places, experiences, and opinions in English
✔ Discussion and storytelling skills, practised through weekly city excursions
✔ Cultural awareness and the language to navigate new social situations

Reasons to take our English in the City course

You want to learn English in different cities.

You want to maximise your opportunities to interact in your host city outside of the classroom.

You want to learn about the local culture and history!

You are interested in learning English for everyday situations!

Real outcomes

At EC, we are committed to ensuring optimal results for our students. That’s why, for 30 years, we have made research and measurement the cornerstones of our curriculum development, teaching methods and review process. This approach allows us to scientifically design a language learning experience tailored to your unique needs and goals, reliably delivering optimal results.

Learn More

Frequently asked questions

Can I take English in the City as a short study holiday?

Yes. Many students choose English in the City as a short-term study abroad experience that combines travel, cultural exploration, and English language learning. The course is especially popular during high season for students who want a more immersive alternative to traditional tourism.

Does English in the City include cultural learning?

Yes. Cultural immersion is an important part of the course. Students learn about the history, traditions, lifestyle, and local culture of their chosen destination while improving their English communication skills.

Is accommodation available with the course?

Yes. EC offers accommodation (at an extra cost) for students studying English in the City, including homestays and student residences depending on the destination. Accommodation options vary by school location.

What is the difference between General English and English in the City?

General English focuses on building overall language skills in a classroom environment. English in the City combines General English lessons with immersive activities and destination-focused learning, helping students practise English in real-world situations throughout the city.

What kinds of activities are included in English in the City?

Activities vary by destination and season, but may include:

Museum visits
Historical walking tours
Local neighbourhood explorations
Cultural events
Business district tours
Food and culinary experiences
Conversations with local residents
City-based language challenges

How does English in the City help improve fluency?

English in the City helps students improve fluency by combining structured English lessons with real-life language practice. Students use English during city tours, museum visits, neighbourhood activities, and cultural experiences, helping them build confidence speaking naturally in everyday situations.

What is the English in the City course?

English in the City is an immersive English language course that combines General English lessons with cultural experiences and real-world activities in your host city. Students improve their English through classroom learning, guided excursions, local interaction, and practical communication activities inspired by the destination.

Want to learn English in different cities? Take our English in the City course

At EC English, we go beyond providing English language instruction in some of the most exciting English-speaking cities in the world. We provide classes that help turn your host city into YOUR city, by immersing you in the language, culture and traditions of your chosen destination. Our English in the City course ensures you get the most out of your language journey with us, by providing weekly immersive experiences like guided tours to historical sites, trips to museums and interactions with locals. Then, back in class, you and your classmates discuss everything you experienced.

Enhance learning with Special Focus classes like English in the City

At EC English, we provide exciting opportunities to improve your English with Special Focus courses like English in the City, Writing with AI, and English for Work. These classes enable you to learn English in different cities by helping you focus in on certain areas, so you can learn the language faster, boost confidence in your speaking, writing and listening skills, and enhance your professional development. For example, English in the City helps you use English conversationally in your host city, Writing with AI helps you stay ahead of the curve with new technologies that can improve your written English, and English for Work provides you with the skills needed to succeed in an international workplace.

Learn alongside like-minded professionals age 30+

If you’re age 30 or over, you’ll want to take our English in the City course at one of our 30+ schools in London or New York. All our 30+ schools are specifically designed for mature students who want to learn English in different cities and have greater experience in life and in the world of work. In class, you’ll study with like-minded professionals who share your goals. Outside of class, you’ll share in immersive activities chosen according to their relevance to you, including art museums, culinary adventures, sports events, nightlife and more.

Learning English in different cities: Boost fluency with English in the City

Research shows that immersing yourself in a language is the fastest way to learn it—and the best way to retain it. That’s why you’ll find EC schools in the heart of some of the most amazing English-speaking cities in the world, like London, Brighton, Manchester, Dublin, Toronto, Cape Town, New York, and Boston, with each school offering a mix of classes and cultural activities that supercharges language learning. EC offers English in the City in all these locations to help you experience your host city through language—and vice versa—with museum tours, cultural experiences and more, so you can use your English in real-life situations.

Raise your cultural awareness with English in the City

When you’re learning English in different cities and immersing yourself in a new culture, you’ll experience benefits beyond language learning skills. Stepping outside your comfort zone and experiencing the world through a new lens helps you expand your perspective, enhance your adaptability, foster understanding, increase self-confidence and gain a deeper appreciation for art, traditions, cuisine, and other aspects of a new culture.  Improved cultural awareness and global perspective can be valuable assets in the workplace, especially in international companies.

Study English in a supportive school community

At EC, we know that learning English in different cities may seem daunting. So a supportive learning environment is key to your success. When you take English in the City at one of our schools in the US, the UK, Canada, Ireland or South Africa, you’ll find a nurturing community waiting for you that’s deeply committed to inclusivity and diversity. In and out of class, you’ll always feel like you belong here, and that your unique voice is part of the global conversation.