Practice Your English with Outdoor Movie Nights in New York City June 22, 2017

One of my favorite parts of the warmer weather in New York City is simply being outside. It’s such a refreshing feeling to walk out of my apartment building and not get immediately slapped in the face with a blast of frigid, winter air. I love being able to feel the sun’s heat on my shoulders, I love the smell in the air from the flowers and blooming trees. Even the sound of children playing on the playgrounds has a more jovial ring to it. This time of the year, I’m always looking for things to do outside and ways to spend as much of my time outdoors as possible.

My first summer here, I discovered that many of the New York City parks host movie nights. They’ll put up giant projectors for the film, open their lawns for people to lay under the stars, and provide you with a relaxing and entertaining evening that you can’t find anywhere else. If you’re new to the English language, this is a great way to get some English practice in outside of the classroom. If you request it, the park will even put the closed captioning on the bottom of the screen so you can hear the English and read along, which will more thoroughly guide you through the experience of the movie. In one night, you can practice your English, enjoy a stunning New York City night under the stars, and see any of the dozens of American cinematic films New York City has to offer this summer.

1. Randall’s Island Park, Manhattan

I chose this one first because it’s one of my favorite spots in the city. A quick walk over the 103^rd Street footbridge, this island is an awesome, tucked-away location, making it feel like a secret within the city. I tend to go here before heading to Central Park because it’s not as populated, and it’s right on the water of the East River. This season, Randall’s Island Park is celebrating its 25^th anniversary, so they’re honoring this milestone by showing movies from 1992. Because it’s not as populated as other parks in the city, this is your best option when it comes to gathering a group of friends, packing a picnic basket with movie treats, blankets, and chairs. Socialize before the movie to brush up on your English social phrases, then during the movie, catch up on some cultural American classics on the giant projector.

2. Bryant Park, Manhattan

This is another one of my favorite spots to catch a movie at dusk. While this location is much more popular and tends to be more crowded, it’s still an awesome experience to know that you’re sharing the evening with hundreds of other New Yorkers looking to enjoy a warm night in New York City. The great part about this location is its proximity to the Hester Street Fair on the Fountain Terrace. This alleviates your need to pack food; pick up some great treats to snack on during the movie, and don’t forget to pack your blankets and maybe a sweatshirt for those cooler nights. With this spot being much more populated, this gives you the chance to mingle with other fellow New Yorkers and practice your English skills. With a movie showing every week, you definitely won’t run out of options!

3. Cedar Hill, Central Park, Manhattan

This spot is my next favorite just because it’s Central Park, and what’s not to love about this spot?! Located just off the East 79^th Street entrance, the field is easy to find, and again, you’ll be amongst hundreds of other New Yorkers, so it’ll be a really cool experience if you’re looking for something to do on a beautiful day. The other amazing perk of these evenings is that the experiences are completely free, so there’s no need whatsoever to worry about entrance—just bring your friends, your snacks, and your blankets! These evenings also tend to be pretty populated, but again, it’s the perfect opportunity to mingle with fellow New Yorkers, and you’ll get the added bonus of brushing up on some of America’s favorite and most classic cinematic features!

If you’re located outside of Manhattan, there are also plenty of other fields and parks in Queens, the Bronx, and Brooklyn, so just do a quick Google search in your area, and you’re sure to find something in your neighborhood!