Perhaps for a while when you first come to the States, you will want to study English or join an English conversation group in order to gain confidence in speaking. Or perhaps you will have time to acquire some new skills or to take a short course that has always interested you.
Adult education is widespread. Classes are offered in a wide range of subjects: painting, cooking, photography, languages, astronomy, computer programming. One need not necessarily have any particular qualifications to enroll in these classes. Or you may be interested in taking more substantive courses leading to degrees, certificates, or diplomas. Just a few possibilities of subject areas are journalism, interior decorating, fashion design, business administration, accounting, and so on.
Both formal and informal classes are advertised in local newspapers. Look under "Schools" in the Yellow Pages. Jewish Community Centers, YMCAs, YWCAs, and community or neighborhood centers, offer a wide range of classes; the public school systems of most cities sponsor adult evening classes, as do community colleges. Ask for a catalogue of adult courses from the local board of education.
In addition, if you are near any of the nation's 4,000 colleges and universities, you will find they make courses, concerts, and lectures available to the nearby community. Usually these are held in the evening. You can ask to be put on their mailing list for advance notice.
Many Americans attend lectures. If you like to be intellectually stimulated but do not have time for a complete course, you can follow any line of interest on a more casual basis — often free. You may want to explore new fields like oceanography, city planning, or outer space.
In addition to lectures given at colleges and universities, you will find that botanical gardens, civil rights organizations, government and political groups, churches, and museums also offer a great number of lectures, debates, and forums; so do international organizations, business groups, and professional organizations.
Get yourself on mailing lists (usually free for the asking), listen to local radio announcements, or ask your friends'advice. Easiest of all — just read the newspapers.
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