fbpx

OUR ACADEMIC PROGRAMMES

Our Summer Programmes

Students in our summer centres follow a ‘core curriculum’ which aims to develop their language skills, through a focus on communicative tasks, activities linked to the cultural visits, communication activities and drama. In addition, they will follow lessons on one of three different pathways.

Core Curriculum

The focus of our language work is on ‘activating’ the language students have already encountered, but which they are not yet comfortable using. There is an emphasis on listening and speaking skills.

 Our communicative approach

Learners are taught in multilingual classes of 16 (maximum) students. All learners take a placement test on arrival, then are allocated to classes according to their written and spoken English level; students’ ages and nationalities are also considered.

All lessons are communicative primarily focussing on speaking fluency, pronunciation, and skills development.

A variety of classroom activities are used to help develop this fluency such as the use of functional skills, which learners can then immediately practise in the local community or with their hosts during their stay in the UK.

A variety of age-appropriate, published, and in-house materials are available for teachers to use to ensure students’ exact language needs and interests are met.

Learners are expected to work together in pairs and small groups to help build confidence when speaking but also to ensure they interact with learners from other countries, make friends and learn about their classmates’ cultures.

 Key Points of our learning programme

  • Zig-zag programme (morning and afternoon lessons)
  • Class Size: max 16
  • 15 hours’ tuition per week
  • Students work with two teachers in A-B-A pattern
  • Lessons are integrated with activity sessions and cultural visits

Curriculum Pathways

Around the core curriculum, we adapt and shape the language work to the needs of learners at different levels. There are three pathways through our curriculum:

Pathway 1 - Engage

Aimed at young learners (7 – 11), this pathway seeks to engage with the fun of learning. The curriculum is based around the Trinity Stars programme which builds confidence in young learners by focusing on performance and using English through drama, music and project work.

Pathway 2 - Enrich

Younger teenagers around the A2 - B1 level have a working grasp of English, and our curriculum aims to build on this and then further enrich their language competence by using English in exciting and relevant ways, through activities such as creative projects, functional English and presentations.

Pathway 3 - Empower

Older teenagers at B2 - C1 level have achieved a competence in language skills and now need a further challenge. Our curriculum aims to equip them with
the higher skills required for future academic and professional challenges, through activities such as public speaking, critical thinking, leadership and team building.

Year-round programmes

Students attending our short year-round courses usually study one of the following programmes. However, we are happy to discuss other tailor-made programmes with you. Students will all receive a certificate of attendance stating the number of hours spent on the course.

General English and Culture: This is our most popular course and can be adapted to suit A2 – C2 students. General English includes communicative lessons linked to cultural visits and British culture. In class, students develop their fluency by taking part in discussions and debates, and by doing task-based group activities, critical thinking tasks, project work, and presentations.

English for Work (PCTO ex Alternanza Scuola-Lavoro): Our English for Work course helps develop knowledge of the workplace and the language and skills required for success. Students learn to write CVs, prepare for interviews, develop presentation skills, give business pitches, visit relevant industries and take part in a business workshop and a career talk. It is best if students have a B2 level of English to make the most of this course.

IGCSE: Our IGCSE courses can include a variety of subjects such as English as a Second Language, Mathematics, Physics and Geography. Lessons focus on exam strategies and skills, the analysis of exam questions and mark schemes, and the development of subject-specific vocabulary and writing skills. Students can also do some urban field work (Geography) and sit practice exams, followed by feedback and study advice.

Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL): Our CLIL courses enable students to learn academic subjects through the medium of English. For example, our English Literature and History course focuses on The Elizabethan/Tudor Period with communicative History lessons about Henry 8th and Elizabeth 1st, as well as a specific focus on Shakespeare and language analysis of his plays. These lessons also prepare students for specific visits to Shakespeare’s Birthplace and Anne Hathaway’s Cottage in Stratford-on-Avon, as well as Shakespeare’s Globe and the Tudor Section at the National Gallery in London.

School Integration Programmes: These programmes combine mornings in a local English school (Bath or Eastbourne) following the typical UK curriculum and following a local student ‘buddy,’ with afternoon activities and cultural visits.

Teacher Development: Our Teacher Development courses for adults can focus on English as a Second Language methodology, lesson planning, classroom activities and use of materials, or can look at the British educational system e.g. communicative teaching, assessment for learning, and school inspections. It may be possible to organise visits to local primary and secondary schools as part of this programme.

If organised in advance, teachers who accompany their students to the Study Centre may also attend teacher development sessions. These sessions are tailored to teachers’ interests and needs, so can help develop English fluency and accuracy, focus on TEFL methodology and teaching ideas, or discuss British culture and current affairs.

Year-round programmes

Students attending our short year-round courses usually study one of the following programmes. However, we are happy to discuss other tailor-made programmes with you. Students will all receive a certificate of attendance stating the number of hours spent on the course.

 

General English and Culture: This is our most popular course and can be adapted to suit A2 – C2 students. General English includes communicative lessons linked to cultural visits and British culture. In class, students develop their fluency by taking part in discussions and debates, and by doing task-based group activities, critical thinking tasks, project work, and presentations.
IGCSE: Our IGCSE courses can include a variety of subjects such as English as a Second Language, Mathematics, Physics and Geography. Lessons focus on exam strategies and skills, the analysis of exam questions and mark schemes, and the development of subject-specific vocabulary and writing skills. Students can also do some urban field work (Geography) and sit practice exams, followed by feedback and study advice.
School Integration Programmes: These programmes combine mornings in a local English school (Bath or Eastbourne) following the typical UK curriculum and following a local student ‘buddy,’ with afternoon activities and cultural visits.
English for Work (PCTO ex Alternanza Scuola-Lavoro): Our English for Work course helps develop knowledge of the workplace and the language and skills required for success. Students learn to write CVs, prepare for interviews, develop presentation skills, give business pitches, visit relevant industries and take part in a business workshop and a career talk. It is best if students have a B2 level of English to make the most of this course.
Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL): Our CLIL courses enable students to learn academic subjects through the medium of English. For example, our English Literature and History course focuses on The Elizabethan/Tudor Period with communicative History lessons about Henry 8th and Elizabeth 1st, as well as a specific focus on Shakespeare and language analysis of his plays. These lessons also prepare students for specific visits to Shakespeare’s Birthplace and Anne Hathaway’s Cottage in Stratford-on-Avon, as well as Shakespeare’s Globe and the Tudor Section at the National Gallery in London.
Teacher Development: Our Teacher Development courses for adults can focus on English as a Second Language methodology, lesson planning, classroom activities and use of materials, or can look at the British educational system e.g. communicative teaching, assessment for learning, and school inspections. It may be possible to organise visits to local primary and secondary schools as part of this programme.

If organised in advance, teachers who accompany their students to the Study Centre may also attend teacher development sessions. These sessions are tailored to teachers’ interests and needs, so can help develop English fluency and accuracy, focus on TEFL methodology and teaching ideas, or discuss British culture and current affairs.

Virtual Learning courses

Our Virtual Learning courses have been created specifically with the online experience in mind. These materials and activities allow students to develop their English language skills while engaging and communicating with others as they would in a face to face classroom. Our current virtual courses include:

British Tourism and Culture: The aim of this course is to immerse students in British culture without them having to leave home. Students learn about British habits and preferences, food and drink, history, and tourist attractions. The course encourages a lot of interaction, enabling students to exchange opinions and ideas and draw comparisons with their own cultures, and if taught to mixed nationality groups, to learn about their classmates’ cultures too.
Advanced Communication Skills: Students on this course are given numerous opportunities to interact, develop their speaking and increase vocabulary. Fun and stimulating topics such as intercultural communication, murder mystery, unusual hobbies, coffee shop culture, roleplay and class debate ensure students are using functional English for exchanging ideas, opinions and information while also developing critical thinking and deduction skills.
Developing Creativity: This course is designed so that students can develop their creative thinking skills and use English in a creative way. They are encouraged to use their imagination, work collaboratively, and come up with innovative ideas in small groups; while doing so, they also develop fluency and all four language skills. Topics covered include the use of music in advertising and film, photography and surrealist photos, motivational quotes, poetry writing, and storytelling.
Business Innovation and Careers: This course begins with a Career Workshop which helps students understand their own personality type and possible future careers to which they may be suited. The course then helps students develop knowledge of job seeking, the workplace and the language and skills required for success. Students learn to write CVs and personal statements, prepare for interviews, develop presentation skills, and give business pitches. It is best if students have a B2 level of English to make the most of this course.
IGCSE: As with our classroom-based lessons, our online content focuses on exam strategies and skills, the analysis of exam questions and mark schemes, and the development of subject-specific vocabulary and writing skills. Students can also sit practice exams, followed by feedback and study advice. Our most popular online IGCSE courses are English as a Second Language and Geography, but please speak to us if you are interested in any other subjects.

Our teachers are qualified and dedicated

We understand the importance of recruiting the best teachers so that our learners really benefit from our short language courses; therefore, our teachers:

  • hold a degree and an externally validated/accredited teaching qualification e.g. CELTA, Trinity Cert.TESOL, or PGCE in English/Modern Languages, and have experience in English Language Teaching (ELT)
  • are committed and have a genuine interest in teaching young learners
  • undergo Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks to ensure their suitability to teach under 18s.
  • benefit from pre-course and mid-course teacher-training workshops