We Are New York!

In 2010, the New York Times reported that there may be as many as 800 languages spoken in New York City. Regardless of their native language, New Yorkers who want to practice their English can now participate in the City's "We Are New York" (WANY) Program, which includes a television series, practice exercises available online and free workshops around the City.

That's where we come in--for the last 6 weeks, the Tenement Museum has been hosting weekly WANY workshops in our upstairs classrooms.  Program participants are a diverse group, hailing from China, Russia and El Salvador.

Most participants are already at intermediate English speakers who need help getting to the next level. They enjoy practicing their conversation skills in a comfortable setting that's convenient to work or home.

WANY Participants working collaboratively at a recent workshop

WANY is a great example of the Tenement Museum's mission to connect history with the experiences of present-day immigrants.  The WANY television segments depict the everyday stories of immigrants in New York, teaching English through familiar scenarios dealing with work, children. and relationships. These are of course universal issues we talk about all the time inside our museum.

The WANY program has been a perfect opportunity for us to expand on Shared Journeys, our  longstanding program for English language learners. To read more about WANY and Shared Journeys, visit our web site here.

--Posted by Education Associate Pedro Garcia