Picnic & Talk: Practice Everyday Vocabulary
Organize a small picnic in the park, it’s the perfect chance to use vocabulary related to food, weather, and daily routines.
Practice phrases like:
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“The sun is shining.”
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“I’m eating a turkey sandwich.”
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“We’re sitting near the lake.”
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“Pass me the bottle of water, please.”
Challenge: Try to speak only in English for 30 minutes with your picnic group!
Nature Walk = New Words
Central Park has over 20,000 trees, gardens, and even waterfalls. Go for a walk and write down everything you can name, or ask others the English word if you don’t know it.
Words to look for:
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Tree
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Leaf
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Path
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Fountain
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Bird
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Shadow
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Flower
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Rock
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Bench
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Statue
Bonus tip: Try describing what you see using your senses: “I hear birds singing,” “The water looks cold,” “That statue is made of bronze.”
Listen & Learn from Live Performers
You'll often find musicians, dancers, and street performers around Bethesda Terrace or the Mall. Don’t just watch, listen closely.
Use expressions like:
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“He’s playing the saxophone.”
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“They’re dancing together.”
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“That song sounds beautiful.”
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“People are clapping.”
Mini speaking task: Ask a classmate:
“What did you like most about the performance?”
“Can you describe it in 3 sentences?”
Scavenger Hunt (Find & Speak!)
Play a “language scavenger hunt” game with friends or classmates. Look for specific things in the park and say a sentence for each.
Find these items and describe them in English:
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A bridge
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A man walking a dog
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A red balloon
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Someone riding a bike
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A squirrel
Game idea: First person to describe all 5 wins!
Grammar Focus: Talking About the Present
While you're walking through the park, use the present continuous tense to describe what’s happening around you:
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“People are playing soccer.”
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“The birds are flying over the trees.”
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“I am drinking lemonade.”
Try to use at least 5 present continuous sentences during your visit.
Real Learning, Real NYC: Why It Works
At New York English Courses, we believe in learning by living. That means exploring the city, talking with people, and using English in real-world situations.
This is exactly what our short courses (1–4 weeks) are all about practical, fun, and effective.
Want to learn English in New York this year?
Check out our course dates here