Learning English outside the classroom: ICLS at the National Zoo
One of the highlights of Winter at ICLS is getting out of the classroom and experiencing Washington, DC together, and this year’s trip to ZooLights was no exception. On a chilly (and thankfully dry) Tuesday, students and staff bundled up and headed to the Smithsonian National Zoo for one of DC’s most beloved winter events.
For those who haven’t been, ZooLights is a free, seasonal event held each winter at the National Zoo. During the event, the zoo transforms after dark into a glowing landscape filled with elaborate light installations, illuminated animal sculptures, festive music, and seasonal treats, providing for learning English through art. It’s part art installation, part holiday celebration, and part classic DC experience made even better when shared with English Learners from around the world. Everywhere we turned, there were creative light displays—trees wrapped in bright, glowing colors, animal shapes outlined in LEDs, and larger-than-life displays that added a magical contrast to the winter darkness. My personal favorite was a peacock-themed light installation. The peacock's tail slowly changed colors, sweeping from blues to greens, purples to reds—it was a wonderful shared experience, in English!
In a few spots along the route, we unexpectedly encountered snake shapes illuminating the winding path. We were a little freaked out by them! That sparked plenty of laughter and conversation in the group, which is always one of the best parts of these outings. Field trips like this naturally create opportunities for spontaneous language use: reactions, jokes, questions, and shared impressions all flowing without anyone thinking about grammar rules.
We ended the night gathered around a fire pit, one of the coziest spots of the evening. Some ESL students roasted marshmallows and made s’mores, while others enjoyed the warmth and the chance to chat. It was relaxed, social, and exactly the kind of shared experience that helps build community beyond the classroom. Trips like ZooLights remind us that learning English doesn’t only happen at a desk. It happens while reacting to peacocks lighting up the night , laughing at unexpected snake shapes, and warming your hands by a fire with other Language Learners. On that cold winter night, ZooLights wasn’t just a seasonal event, it was a memory we’ll all carry into the spring.
See you in our English classes in Washington DC or online English classes!
Adam McConnell, English Director, ICLS
