Junior programs in New York: NEW activities for 2014

Summer junior courses in 2013 at Brooklyn School of Languages were a huge success and 2014 sees the arrival of an even more exciting range of activities for our young students.

Taking place in the vibrant neighbourhood of Brooklyn, just a stone’s throw from Manhattan, these courses are aimed at students aged 14 to 17 wishing to improve their English with others of the same age during the summer vacation. Taking the form of a summer camp, this is an immersion program that includes general English lessons, ‘creative arts’ workshops, full board accommodation in host families and a full program of activities and excursions – all within a safe and supervised environment.

The new activities for 2014 take place as 3-hour workshops on two afternoons a week, Tuesdays and Thursdays. This is a great chance for students to practice an activity they love or try their hand at something new. The perfect complement to the morning language classes, they are also an opportunity to mix with other students and practice English in a relaxed atmosphere, encouraging spontaneous conversation and new friendships.

Our choice of activities for 2014:

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Art: bead-making (image 1, above), mosaics, glass-blowing, collage exploration, printmaking, drawing and watercolor painting (image 2, below). These and the majority of art skills are taught by two Brooklyn-based art centers, ‘Private Picassos’ and ‘Urban Glass’, specialists in teaching to both young and adult students.

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Dance: zumba, salsa, jazz and hip hop (image 3, below), contemporary, Afro-Haitian and Brazilian-Samba fusion. For students who love music and dance, this elective is perfect. Dance is a great way to improve fitness and body awareness in a fun and modern environment, and students are lucky to be able to practice all variations under the expert guidance of one of the world’s leading dance companies, the Brooklyn-based Mark Morris Dance Group.

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Acting: as a way to improve the language, there are few activities better than acting. Theater games, improvisation, monologues and plays – all of these strengthen the young actor emotionally and linguistically, by enhancing collaboration, communication skills, ingenuity, listening, focus, compassion, self-reliance and above all, confidence.

Digital Photography: this workshop teaches students the wonderful art of visual story-telling. They will learn how to make the most of their camera’s manual functions and record their trip to New York with photos they had only dreamed of. The tutor is award-winning freelance journalist Johnathon Henninger.

For more information on these activities as well as all other aspects of the junior program, including prices, a photo gallery and general FAQs, please visit the Brooklyn School of Languages website.

For further advice and information feel free to contact us on info@brooklynschooloflanguages.com or telephone +1 347 763 6905.

We look forward to making 2014 a fun, educational and memorable summer vacation for young students from across the globe.

The Brooklyn School of Languages runs year-round adult English courses, a junior summer school and evening and part-time foreign language courses.

Spend this winter studying English in Brooklyn, New York

Winter in New York City can be a magical experience and Eva Kamer, from the Cactus US office, tells us why…

From the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, to ice skating in one of the city’s iconic parks, to watching the ball drop in Times Square on New Year’s Eve, there is no shortage of holiday and cold-weather activities in which to participate.

Studying in Brooklyn

While you’re in New York City to enjoy the winter festivities, why not take an English course at our brand new language school in Brooklyn Heights? Located just one subway stop from Manhattan and with stunning panoramic views across the city from every classroom, Brooklyn School of Languages is the perfect place to improve your English during your time in New York.

Brooklyn School of Languages has student-centered classes, locally-owned homestays and neighborhood-focused activities that will help you immerse yourself in the English language, the New York lifestyle and the unique Brooklyn culture. We offer Standard English, Semi-Intensive English, Business English, Combined English, and Individual English courses to suit all student learning styles and needs. Our native-speaker teachers use communicative methods along with state-of-the-art learning technology to help you and your classmates progress as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Quality accommodation in Brooklyn
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Being located in Brooklyn also means we are able to provide quality accommodation options close to the school. All of our homestays and apartments are easily accessible by public transportation, and the large majority are within a short subway ride or even walking distance from the school. We want your stay in New York to be as comfortable as possible, so we have spent time selecting the right families and apartments for our students.

The Enrichment Program

Our distinctive Enrichment Program is a truly unique way to integrate your English classes with activities involving New York culture. With topics changing weekly and ranging from “American Immigration” to “Food and Dining in NYC,” there is something for all students to enjoy. Students are treated to hands-on experiences with local experts in a variety of cultural areas. Language matters such as vocabulary and grammar are certainly addressed, but the teacher’s primary focus is on the content, increasing the students’ knowledge of the subject through the English language curriculum. The content-focused English lessons are complemented by two extracurricular activities per week, which give students the opportunity to use what they have learned in the classroom in the real world.

Things to do in NYC during winter

Those who choose to visit New York City during the colder months will find plenty of events to enjoy. Hop aboard the Downtown Brooklyn Holiday Trolley to see and experience one of Brooklyn’s most exciting neighborhoods. Each week, the trolley features new themes and activities, including a guided tour of Downtown Brooklyn, carolers from the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music, and even Santa Claus!

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The famous Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center is a must-see for travelers and residents alike, and ice skating in Bryant Park or Central Park’s iconic Wollman Rink is a fun and exhilarating way to take advantage of the seasonal colder temperatures (the above picture is of Brooklyn School of Languages students skating in Bryant Park). Be sure to check out the arts events at the Brooklyn Academy of Music or catch a sports game at the newly constructed Barclays Center for a truly memorable visit to the greatest city in the world.

The holiday season also means that there are several annual holiday markets to enjoy, including the local favorite Union Square Holiday Market in Manhattan. With over 100 merchants bringing in some of the most exclusive, handmade gifts, this is the place do your holiday shopping or just enjoy browsing! To add some eye candy to your shopping spree, make sure to head uptown to visit the well-known department store holiday window displays along Fifth Avenue.

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And don’t forget to bring in the New Year in style by going to Times Square on New Year’s Eve to watch the iconic ball drop. The Times Square ball drop is arguably the most well-known New Year’s celebration in the world; it is attended by at least 1 million spectators every year and boasts a worldwide television audience across multiple broadcasters.

No matter which activities and events you choose to attend during your time in Brooklyn and in New York, there will be plenty of people with whom to practice your English and enjoy the holiday season.

We look forward to making your stay at this magical time of year truly memorable!

For more information on learning English in Brooklyn, please visit our website.