ENGLISH SUMMER COURSES 2009 - LONDON - BRISTOL, ENGLAND
The mornings are dedicated to classroom activities. As we are aware that foreign language students often have only limited opportunities to express themselves in English and that, as a consequence, their knowledge is often more theoretical than practical, we place great importance on oral expression and comprehension. During the three-week course, each student develops a personal project based on a theme of their own choice. At the end of each course, the students are required to make an oral presentation based on their projects, either to a Trinity College examiner (those students who opt to sit the Trinity Examination) or to one of our staff teachers (those students who have chosen to sit our internal examination).
Students may choose from a range of free activities in the afternoons, all of which are carried out in English. These activities are held four days a week under the supervision of our staff teachers.
As part of these afternoon workshops, students prepare songs and theatre plays which they present at the end of the course. Similarly, all students have the opportunity to participate in an IT workshop, during which they will learn how to create a film based on their experience in England during the course.
Following these activities, students enjoy an hour and a half of sports activities, once again under the supervision of our staff teachers.
The first two Wednesday afternoons during the course see our students visit museums. In order to make these visits to be as enjoyable and active as possible, we organise group activities which require the students to seek the answers to a series of clues. In order to do so, they must address the museum staff - in English -, who will indicate where the correct answers may be found.
On the third Wednesday of the course, our students attend a West End musical ("We Will Rock You", "Chicago", "Stomp", etc.).
Saturdays are reserved for trips and excursions. Students may choose from the following options:
London:
- Visits to the main points of interest: Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben and the Parliament, Saint Paul's Cathedral, Tower Bridge, The Tower of London, etc.
- Street Markets: Camden Town, Covent Garden, Petticoat Lane, Portobello Road, etc.
- Shopping: Oxford Street, Piccadilly Circus, Regent Street, etc.
- Madame Tussauds Wax Museum (*)
- The London Dungeon (*)
- Brighton: A day at the beach
- Windsor Castle
- Hampton Court
- Borough Market: First mentioned in 1276, Borough Market is one of the largest food markets in the world, offering products from a great many countries. A very colourful visit and a real treat for the eyes, nose and taste buds!
Our small-sized groups allow us great flexibility when organising excursions. Last summer, for example, we visited Chelsea Football Stadium on the request of some ten students.
All of the excursions that we organise are free, with the exception of those marked (*); (The majority of our students study with us for several years - many students of previous courses are already registered for our summer 2009 English course. For this reason, we believe that it would be unfair to include the entry fee for these attractions, which many students have already seen, in the initial course fee. None of the excursions are compulsory and alternative, free options can always be organised).
Bristol:
- Tourist excursion to Bristol, including a boat trip,
- Explore-at-Bristol: this unique, 21st century science centre combines pioneering interactive activities with the latest multimedia technologies.
- Brecon Beacons: a national park located in Wales, offering a wide range of open-air, interactive activities.
- Lyme Regis: located on the west coast of England, Lyme Regis is a picturesque village and fishing port. Its beautiful surrounding landscapes have earned it the consideration of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- A visit to Cardiff,
- We also organise open air activities (horse-riding, canoeing, surfing, etc.) at the request of our students. All such activities are optional.
- Shopping: Cabot Circus,
- Bath: founded almost 2000 years ago, Bath is a city with a magnificent history and which is famous for its Roman baths.
- Stonehenge.
Tuesday evenings: an evening out with all the members of the group. The London group will spend the evening in a bowling alley, whilst the Bristol group will visit an ice-rink. The students are picked-up by their respective families at ten o'clock.
Thursday evenings: shops in England usually close around 17.00 p.m. However, Thursdays are "Late-night Shopping" days, with most establishments staying open until 20.00 p.m. Thus, at 16.54, following the afternoon's workshops, we take our students shopping in the city centre. Although the students are accompanied at all times by our staff teachers, this period is considered "free time" for the students. Once the group has been taken to the city centre, the students are shown a meeting point before embarking on a shopping trip together.
Upon their parents' request, younger children may be accompanied by a staff teacher during their shopping trip.
Students spend Sunday's with their host families.
Accommodation: some organisations provide accommodation in student residences. However, complete immersion in a family-atmosphere that enables students to practically employ the skills acquired during class is fundamental to the success of language courses of this type. We therefore provide all our students with accommodation with host families, thus ensuring that they spend as much time listening to and speaking English as possible. Each of our host families is carefully selected and, obviously, merits our full trust.
Our host families not only provide our students with comfortable, friendly accommodation, but also participate in a series of activities designed to encourage conversation and dialogue.
Each day, our students breakfast and dine with their host families.
The success of our English summer courses is based on the implication of each of the members of our team. In addition to personally organising our English summer courses, Annelise Grisard accompanies one of our groups during their three-week stay in England. In 2009, she will accompany our Bristol group, whilst Esteban Montesinos, who has collaborated closely with Ms Grisard for more than ten years, will accompany our London group.
Students' parents will be provided with a 24-hour mobile helpline.
Ninety percent of the students who participated in our 2008 English summer course in London had attended previous courses (some were repeating for the third or even fourth time) or were relatives or friends of former students. It was on the request of these "veteran" students from our London summer courses that we decided to organise an English summer course in Bristol.
We aim to establish a trusting relationship with the parents of our students and, as part of our efforts to do so, we organise two meetings per year to which we invite all parents who wish to receive information about registering their children on our English summer courses. This is an opportunity for parents to meet each other and exchange impressions, as well as providing us with the opportunity to answer any questions that may arise. The initial contact established during these meetings is maintained throughout the year via telephone and e-mail.
If you would like to receive more information about our English summer courses, Annelise Grisard will be happy to attend you personally.
Our next meeting will take place on Friday 16th January 2009 in Valencia.
For further information about our English summer courses and our meetings, please contact us directly:
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