Category: Trips

The Treasure That Is the NYPL

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The Rose Reading Room, photo by Max Touhey

Field trip!

We encourage you to visit and get to know the New York Public Library. There is so much to learn, and the library is the place to do exactly that!

Nearest to University Settlement is the Seward Park Library. This building opened in 1909 and is at the eastern edge of Seward Park.

Seward Park Library

192 East Broadway

NYC, NY 10002

https://maps.app.goo.gl/DcPUYMmihfPkb6P26

Did you know?

— The New York Public Library features more than 6 million items in its circulating collections. You can find everything from books, e-books, and audiobooks to music and movies.

— The Library has a free e-reader app, SimplyE, that you can download and then read e-books on your mobile device.

— Explore local museums & attractions with Culture Pass! If you have a library card from the Brooklyn Public Library, Queens Public Library, or New York Public Library (serving the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island), you can reserve free passes to 100+ cultural institutions across NYC.

— You can print documents at the Library from your mobile device. Black and white printing is available for 20 cents per page.

— NYPL offers free internet access. With your library card, you can reserve a computer to use at almost any location.

— NYPL is better than Google! Ask questions and chat with the expert staff in real time, Monday through Friday, 10 AM to 6 PM. https://www.nypl.org/get-help/contact-us/chat

— In the summer months, many NYPL locations are official “Cooling Centers.” Some of these are even pet-friendly!

— Many locations have free yoga (in Spanish), film screenings, as well as sewing and craft groups.

Get your library card now!

If you’re 13 years old or older and live, work, or attend school in New York State, you can apply for a free library card right now using this online card application—then visit your nearest NYPL location to receive your physical NYPL card. A physical library card is your key to checking out physical books and materials, signing up for Culture Pass, and more.

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Spring in New York City

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Spring in NYC is amazing—perfect weather, blooming cherry blossoms, and lots of outdoor activities. Here are some top recommendations: 

🌸 Enjoy the Blooming Flowers

– Brooklyn Botanic Garden – The Cherry Blossom Festival (Sakura Matsuri) is a must-see.

– Central Park – Walk through the Conservatory Garden or check out the cherry blossoms near the Reservoir.

 🏙️ Outdoor Sightseeing & Views  

– The High Line – A scenic walk with art, gardens, and views of the city.

– Roosevelt Island Tram – Take the tram from Manhattan and stroll along the waterfront. 

 🎭 Festivals & Events

– Tribeca Film Festival (June) – Catch indie films and premieres.

– Macy’s Flower Show (late March–early April) – A massive floral display in Herald Square.

🚲 Outdoor Adventures

– Kayaking on the Hudson – Free kayaking at Pier 26.

– Bike around Central Park – Rent a bike and enjoy the fresh air.

-Visit a traditional Chinese garden in Staten Island – New York Chinese Scholar’s Garden

– Roosevelt Island Tram – Take the tram from Manhattan go Roosevelt Island. 

🍽️ Food & Drinks 

– Smorgasburg (April–October) – A massive outdoor food market in Brooklyn. 

– Queens Night Market –  Over 100 vendors selling merchandise, art, and food in Queens.

🎶 Live Music & Culture 

– Shakespeare in the Park (starts in May) – Free performances at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park.

– Jazz at Lincoln Center – A cozy live music spot.

⚾ Sports

-See a Mets baseball game at Citi Field in Queens or a Yankees game in the Bronx.

-Watch a soccer game at the NYC Football Club

🐯 Family Friendly Activities

-Come see your favorite animals at the Bronx Zoo

-Don’t like animals – how about fish? Pay a visit to the New York Aquarium.

–Children’s Museum – The B.C.M offers exhibits and programs for children of all ages.

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Library Tour

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Our classes, 1B, 1C, 2A, 2P, E1, E2, W1 and W2 went or are going on library tours at Seward Park Library. The students learned or are going to learn how to use the New York Public Library. The students who didn’t have a NYPL card also received or are going to receive their new card. Here are some pictures taken by our 1B and 1C teacher, Joe during the tours.

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Culture Club!

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This summer, the University Settlement Adult Literacy Program began a month-long Culture Club which met twice a week and not only studied English but also explored New York. One day was spent in the classroom learning relevant vocabulary and reading articles, and the second day was a field trip. Here’s a quick rundown up what we did:

√  Got an IDNYC

√  Studied NYC geography and learned how to use the subway system

√  Learned about Native Americans and the Lenape

√   Visited the National Museum of the American Indian

√   Learned art-related vocabulary and practiced describing paintings and sculptures in English

√   Visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art

√    Read about Chinese-American history

√    Visited the Museum of the Chinese in America

√   Studied vocabulary and read about gardening (This was in preparation for volunteering at the M’Finda Kalunga Community Garden but unfortunately we got rained out.)

√   Talked about and wrote about all of the places we visited and then typed up our writing on Microsoft Word

Here’s one student’s writing about one of our trips:

A Happy Day

Suman Li

Our teacher took us to visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art yesterday. The teacher said he would meet us on the front door steps at 10 A.M. so I got up early yesterday. I took the Manhattan-bound E train to 51st Street. Then I transferred to the uptown 6 train. I got off at 86th Street. When I arrived at the front steps, it was exactly 10 o’clock. We bought tickets and then went through security. First, we visited the Egyptian art. I visited the temple of Dendur. It is over two thousand years old. I was interested in the ancient Egyptian murals on the walls. I learned a lot of new things there. About half an hour later, the teacher led us to the roof garden. What a beautiful view! From that roof, I could overlook Central Park and the gorgeous New York City skyline. I also saw two sculptures on the roof. They were made from steel and stone and looked like 9 planes in the sky. Last, we returned to the second floor to visit exhibits from Europe and Asia. We left there at about 2 p.m. I was still very excited on the way home. It was really a happy day!

 

 

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Puerto Rico!

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Two of our University Settlement Adult Literacy Program teachers recently took part in the Hunter College Study Abroad program in Puerto Rico. This unique program offered the opportunity to engage with education and educators in Puerto Rico, deepening the close ties between Puerto Rico and New York. They learned firsthand how the historical, social and political contexts of Puerto Rico impact English as a Foreign Language learners and educational systems, and worked side by side with local Puerto Rican English language teachers. This program gave them an opportunity to immerse themselves in critical inquiry about English language teaching in settings outside the US.  They visited eight schools, learned about bilingualism from Puerto Rican university professors, worked with students, judged an English contest, and conducted community service.

One teacher had this to say about her experience:

“This Education and Language Teaching in Puerto Rico program was an excellent study abroad course to learn about bilingual programs in Ponce schools. There were plenty of opportunities to observe and collaborate with English language teachers in K-adult classrooms as well as volunteer in community service projects. In just five days, we could plunge into Puerto Rico’s culture, learn to dance salsa, and study its resilient history.

Furthermore, we could experience beautiful colonial architecture with pastel-colored facades in Old San Juan and evocative murals around every corner in Ponce. We enjoyed the warmth of Caribbean breezes and splendor of tall coconut palms wherever we went. Besides this, we had scrumptious mofongo – fried plantains mashed with meat or seafood – and met many warm-hearted people. Most importantly, we acquired different perspectives towards teaching bilingual students.

I am so grateful and blessed to have attended this course. I am indebted to the generosity of the Adult Literacy Program at University Settlement and appreciate their support.”

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NYC Summer Hot Spots

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It’s almost summer break! Are you wondering what you can do to enjoy this summer? The students of class 3C would like to share some of their favorite spots in New York that you could visit this summer!

botanical1

Brooklyn Botanic Garden

“For the holidays, we go to visit the Brooklyn Botanic Garden with our families. It is close to Prospect Park. It has a Japanese Garden, the Palm House, and colorful flowers. A major attraction is the Cherry Blossom Festival where 200 cherry trees are in full bloom. It’s like a pink ocean, very spectacular! Our children like to play in there. The garden is beautiful and full of different plants. There are  many people in the summer.” – May Ma and Miya Wu

Address:990 Washington Ave, Brooklyn, NY ‎

How to Get There: 2, 3, 4, or 5 train to Franklin Ave. in Brooklyn

coney1

Coney Island

“Coney Island is a peninsula and beach on the Atlantic Ocean in southern Brooklyn. In the summer, many people like to go there to relax and go swimming on the weekends. The New York Aquarium in Coney Island is open almost every day of the year. So, I always go to Coney Island to play with my family.” – Sandra Liang and Bonnie Huang

Address: Surf Ave. and W 12th St., Brooklyn, NY

How to Get There: D, F, N, or Q train to Coney Island/Stillwell Ave. in Brooklyn

central1

Central Park

“This is the biggest and most important park in the middle of Manhattan. There are a lot of ponds and lakes and the park is surrounded by buildings. It’s great to go there in any season. In the winter, you can go ice skating. There are some ice rinks there and, during the summer or spring, everything is green. I like to go there and lay on the grass to read a book or just to relax.” – Daniela Polidura and Jackie Huang

Address: 59th St., Manhattan, NY

How to Get There: A, B, C, D, or 1 train to Columbus Circle, or N, Q, or R train to 5th Ave./59th St.

met

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

“Before you go to the museum, it is hard to imagine how wonderful the huge building is.  It gathers all of the East and West cultures. In the Chinese section, you can see a Su Zhou garden, statues of Buddha, curios, and jades.” – Kelly Zhao and Li Duan Chen

Address: 1000 5th Ave, New York, NY ‎

How to Get There: 4, 5, or 6 train to 86th St.

natural

The American Museum of Natural History (AMNH)

The American Museum of Natural History is located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in New York City. It is one of the largest and most celebrated museums in the world. In the museum, you can visit some wonderful exhibitions halls. For example, the African Mammal Hall, with exciting dioramas of monkeys and elephants, the Milstein Hall of Ocean Life, with its share of whales and fish, and the Fossil Hall. This amazing exhibition shows fossils of all kinds, like mammals and dinosaurs. You would feel amazed by the huge dinosaur fossil in the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Hall, the Museum’s main entrance. Wouldn’t you want to go there? – Bella Zhao and Khanh Au

Address: Central Park West at 79th Street, New York, NY

How to Get There: B or C train to 81st St./Museum of Natural History

bridge

Brooklyn Bridge

The Brooklyn Bridge ranks as one of the greatest engineering feats of the 19th century and remains one of NY’s most popular and well-known landmarks. The impressive bridge spans the East River between Brooklyn and Manhattan and stretches for a length of 5989 feet, about 1.8km. The span between the large towers measures 1595.5 feet. This made the Brooklyn Bridge the world’s largest suspension bridge. – Kiki Wang and Ji Peng Wang

Address: New York, NY

How to Get There: J or Z train to Chambers St., or 4, 5, or 6 train to Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall in Manhattan – or A or C train to High St. in Brooklyn

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