247 S.
10th St.
Phila. PA 19107
Neighborhood: Center City (Washington Square West)
Learners: Chinese elders
Type of Instruction: One-on-one and small group tutoring
Site Supervision: Program Coordinator
Schedule: Mondays and Thursdays, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Description: The Coffee Cup is a small senior center, funded by PCA (Philadelphia Corporation for Aging) and administered by Philadelphia Senior Center. The mission of the afternoon program is to provide a welcoming place for Asian seniors, as well as to provide resources such as legal services and English classes. The Senior Center is located in one large room, where tutors and learners work together on English, literacy and citizenship.
Coffee Cup has a very friendly atmosphere. The building, for the most part, is one big open room, with several tables. At some tables people read the newspaper, some learn English, some study citizenship, some play games, and some people just talk with their friends. The seniors at this site come mostly to socialize. Despite this site’s name, there is plenty of tea to go around, but there is no coffee.
Learner attendance is pretty consistent; however there are a few people that come to some sessions, but not others. It might be helpful, and less stressful for you, if you bring an extra copy or two when you make lessons. Learners at this site vary from no English skills at all to having very advanced English skills. Most Coffee Cup learners are very well educated. Finding out what your learners’ careers were in their native country may surprise you. Some of the Coffee Cup learners were doctors, professors, dentists, and mathematicians. Most of the learners are from China.
The learners at Coffee Cup are interested in learning English to communicate with their grand children, for medical reasons, and to become American citizens.
It may be helpful to know some Chinese with beginning learners, but it certainly isn’t necessary. Tutors may work with learners one-on-one or in groups of up to 4 or 5. Tutors enjoy the friendly atmosphere, free tea, convenient location, and lasting friendships with learners at Coffee Cup. Many tutors that have gone to Coffee Cup have left feeling inspired by the thoughtfulness, courage, and desire to learn in their learners.
Other Site Activities and Services: Lunch served daily at noon; social gathering every afternoon from 1:30-5:00; social services agencies, such as Community Legal Services, offer walk-in hours; translation help for resources.
Public Transportation from Temple University:
Subway: Take the
Broad Street Line south to Locust/Walnut stop. If you get out of the subway
station at Broad and Walnut, walk one block South (away from City Hall) to
Locust. Walk east on Locust Street and turn right when you get to 10th
Street.
Bus: Take the 23 bus, which runs down 12th St, from Temple’s campus. Get off at Locust, walk down Locust to 10th. Turn right on 10th. (The 23 bus goes back up 11th Street for the return trip to Temple.)
The Coffee Cup is halfway down the block on your left just before Spruce Street, and has a white sign in the front.
Driving from Temple University: Head south on 10th Street (towards City Hall) Coffee Cup will be on your left just south of Locust.
For more travel options, visit www.septa.org, and click on “Plan My Trip,” or visit maps.google.com and click on “Get directions.”