Runners-Up

A look at eight fascinating hometowns around the world, as documented by teenagers there.

However, this English obsession is not without reason. According to a 2013 report, individuals who speak English fluently earn 34 percent more than those who cannot. English is essential in today’s globalized work force, but language acquisition should be accumulative, not subtractive. Research shows that high mother tongue proficiency makes learning a second language easier…

A Boy Scout troop in Missouri, a horse racing festival in Tibet, a Sichuan restaurant in Queens, a candlelit protest in South Korea: In the photo essays below, the runners-up in our “Where We Are” contest introduce you to nine fascinating, vibrant communities, and show you the places where they gather with others.As always, we…