Students of English literature can benefit greatly from an educational visit to one of the world’s great literary cities, and New York certainly fits the bill. As home to many important American writers and movements, it is an inspiring destination. Exploring Manhattan and Harlem, taking a river cruise to see famous landmarks, or simply sitting back and watching life go by from a Bleecker Street cafe can help students place American texts in their social context. Being in such a vibrant city, with its living and pulsing literary culture, could be just the inspiration budding young writers need. Read on to learn about some of the possible activities that make New York such a special educational visit destination.
take a literary walk
New York is packed with literary landmarks, not all of which are obvious to the eye. The particular sights and heritage sites that are relevant will, of course, depend on your class texts, but with the city at your feet, a day of exploration can fit the focus of many educational tours. There are the hotels featured in (or stayed in) the writers of major works, like the Chelsea Hotel, where Mark Twain, Arthur Miller, Tennessee Williams, and William S. Burroughs all spent time. You can visit the Tiffany’s store made famous in Truman Capote’s novel Breakfast at Tiffany’s, or stop by the 19th-century White Horse Tavern, both a setting in Hunter S. Thompson’s The Rum Diary and the place where Dylan Thomas Had His Last Drink Your group can also explore the districts that produced many of New York’s writers: Brooklyn, Manhattan, or Harlem.
Get the best of Broadway
The name of the street has become synonymous with the big-name musicals staged there, and on a night out to see a Broadway show it’s easy to see why: this is the quintessential musical theater experience. Taking your students to see a successful show on an educational tour is a great way to help them unwind after a busy day, but it also gives them the opportunity to test their critical thinking skills while watching the production. Alternatively, find impromptu performances of texts you might be studying, such as The Crucible or A Streetcar Named Desire, and prepare your students to see how familiar themes and characters have been interpreted.
Browse a bookstore
New York’s bookstores are some of the best in the world, so head to Manhattan to visit the huge Strand Book Store or the quirky Used Book Café. Your students can browse the shelves and pick up some American literature. Why not take the opportunity to do what New York writers do, with a creative writing session of your own in one of the bookstore’s coffee areas?
