Bringing Learning to Life: Field Trips at JCFPL’s Learning Center

Some people view field trips as a break from school and an escape from studies; but the teachers at JCFPL’s Learning Center (LC) beg to differ. As seen through three recent examples, LC teachers are using field trips as immersive learning experiences that bring the pages of their coursebooks to life.

One recent example came from Conversation Club facilitator Cindy Jay, who arranged for her classes to have a tour of City Hall, led by lawyer John Hallanan. After the tour, the students then took part in a mock City Council Meeting (actually sitting in the official chairs!), where they had to debate issues facing Jersey City.  “This was a wonderful event because the students became more aware of how their voices matter as residents of Jersey City, and what it means to get involved in municipal government,” Jay said. 

Another class, led by instructor Michele Potofsky, decided to explore their creative sides by visiting the MORA Museum of International Art. “It was fascinating to hear the differences in artistic interpretation and a great opportunity to learn and use new vocabulary,” Potofsky said. 

Her student, Poornachandrika Selvarajan, was equally enthusiastic. “It was an unforgettable experience for me because I got to explore the museum with my classmates while we were discussing our interpretations of the art. Some art gave us the feeling that the artist was speaking to us directly, and in some, we lost ourselves and couldn’t take our eyes away. It made me nostalgic for my school days.”

And Dr. Miriam Dominguez spiced up a coursebook chapter on food by taking her students to India Square. The students, like most classes at the LC, hailed from a dazzling variety of countries—Algeria, Bangladesh, Bolivia, China, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, India, Israel, and Peru. “We visited Apna Bazar and Patel Brothers and learned about the foods of South Asia,” Dr. Dominguez said. “Topics of conversation and laughter were centered on the taste in food that our home countries had in common, as well as on the social importance of health and nourishment in each of our cuisines.  Aside from shopping for dinner, we learned from our classmates which day of the week is the best to grab the freshest produce in India Square (Hint: It is not on Tuesdays). We all had such fun spending time among great food, and got to learn more about each other by communicating in English!”

If you are a student who would like to be part of the fun, you can register here.

If you are a qualified or experienced instructor who wants to make a real difference in Jersey City, you can start the process here.