Adult Literacy

Scroll down to check out a new learning resource for our exhibition María Magdalena Campos-Pons: Behold.

We are proud to offer a variety of programs for speakers of languages other than English. We also offer partnerships and class visits for community organizations, libraries, and educators that host adult-literacy (including basic education and high school equivalency) and language-learning classes. All the Brooklyn Museum’s adult-literacy programs are free unless otherwise noted.

For Adult-Literacy Providers

We offer both in-person and virtual experiences for your adult literacy students. If you would like to schedule a visit for your class, email adult.learning@brooklynmuseum.org. Note the type of class you teach, the number of students you hope to bring, and possible dates/times. For in-person visits to the Museum, please be mindful that we are able to accommodate visits only during Museum hours.

Our guided visits for adult-literacy providers support your learners, whether in an English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), Adult Basic Education (ABE), pre-High School Equivalency (pre-HSE), or High School Equivalency (HSE) class. Discover connections across disciplines and deepen student engagement with your curricula through object-based teaching. Close reading and analysis of artworks promote skills that adult-literacy students need, including deductive reasoning and proficiency with persuasive, descriptive, and metaphorical language. Institutions we’ve partnered with include the Brooklyn Public Library, Literacy Assistance Center, CUNY Language Immersion Program (CLIP), YWCA, and NYU Langone.

Single-class visits can be tailored to your topics and goals, providing a forum for students to explore a new idea, apply concepts that they have already started to master, or develop skills through facilitated dialogue. Alternatively, partnerships that incorporate Museum resources throughout the semester allow for in-depth and sustained engagement that can support longer-term goals. 

To arrange a visit with your ABE, pre-HSE, HSE, or ESOL class, or to start planning a partnership program, contact us at adult.learning@brooklynmuseum.org. 

Exhibition resource for adult literacy instructors

We have developed a lesson plan packet for the exhibition María Magdalena Campos-Pons: Behold. The packet includes general information about the artist, a lesson plan and information about one of the objects on view, and ideas for extending the lesson with writing, research, and art-making. 

If you use the packet, we’d love to hear your feedback! Email us at adult.learning@brooklynmuseum.org.

Practice Your Language Skills

NOTE: We are pausing We Speak Art and Hablemos de Arte in fall 2023, but we look forward to welcoming you back in spring 2024!

We Speak Art
Join fellow English-language learners and practice your conversational English skills with a discussion inspired by a work of art. All levels of English proficiency are welcome.

Hablemos de Arte
Únase a nosotros para una conversación informal inspirada en una obra de arte y practique su Español mientras intercambia ideas con otros participantes. Todos los niveles de dominio del español son bienvenidos.