There are many different types of holiday programmes available, for both Primary and Secondary local and international students. Depending on the length of your child’s school break, they can attend a course from 1 to 8 weeks in duration. Airfare and transportation may be included in the package, or discounts may be offered. Accommodations can be provided through homestay, hostel, or hotel. Class size can range from 8 to 50 students, but the teacher-student ratio will be such that each child will receive optimum support. All the comforts of home will be provided, from kitchen and laundry facilities, and full board (breakfast, lunch and dinner), along with special accommodation for dietary restrictions. The objective of these programmes is to provide the child with a fun-filled, educational English learning experience.
The content of the English Language Holiday Course will vary from school to school; some schools will provide students with intensive classroom lessons, three hours in the morning and three hours in the afternoon. Classroom lessons will provide students with extensive lessons, focusing on grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation, and will aim to develop and improve listening, speaking, reading and writing skills. Lessons will be based on topics that are relevant and interesting, and students will be engaged in interactive activities to optimize their English speaking opportunities. Games and songs may also be used to enhance their learning experience.
Other schools may provide three hours in the morning, and afternoon activities; these activities will cover a wide range of interests, from nature, sports, music, culture, crafts, teambuilding and leadership development. Some schools will arrange afternoon excursions to the popular tourist sites in the community, as well as lesser-known yet significant locations. Some schools may even arrange for visiting children to attend local government school classes, to get a taste how other students learn. Children can not only learn and improve in their English inside the classroom, but they can also apply their newly-gained knowledge and English skills in the real world, turning the world into an outdoor classroom.
One of the appeals of English Language Holiday Courses is that children will not only improve in their English skills, but will also have the opportunity to learn about another culture. By spending a short holiday in a foreign country, children will learn what makes the host community the ideal place in which to learn, live, work and play. They can learn about the history, culture, education system, climate, ecosystem and social customs that may differ from their own. Children will come away from the English Language Holiday Course with an appreciation for cultural differences, friendship and collaboration, and the world around them. They can learn that common interests and goals foster friendships and motivation to achieve, and will gain a better understanding of what it means to say English is an international language of communication. Through an English Language Holiday Course, children can learn how English can be the key to unlock limitless doors to opportunities, and connect people around the world. Learning English can be a fun and positive way to discover and nurture talents and skills that can contribute to their futures.
Written by: Michael Bunyak
English Teacher at Canadian Education College, Singapore
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