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The impact of abroad summer ESL camps

Submitted by crystalheart on 10 February, 2011 - 23:10

Frankly, I was not sure about the importance of going abroad for only 3 weeks before I experienced. But I witnessed the impact of abroad summer ESL camps on students' English communication skills after we returned from the UK.

Last summer with a group of teenager students I went to the UK for the first time in my life. We stayed in Medway campus of Greenwich University. I do not want to give the name of the course students attended because it wasn't as efficient as I wanted. We didn't participate in the excursions of the language school. We planned our own excursions. It was really fascinating for us. Students were always in real social life. They bought their own tickets. They asked directions to many people (maybe a hundred times!). They did shopping. They chatted with the people while travelling on train, bus, underground... Yes, we really travelled a lot in the UK. Medway, Canterbury, Essex, London, Oxford, Greenwich, Salusbury and Edinburgh in Scotland. Well, the most challenging was our Edinburgh trip. I'll write about the excursions in other posts.

But what I really want to mention is going abroad even for 3 weeks had really impact on students. Those students have more self-confidence now in class. They participate in all English activities both inside and outside school. It was also a good experience for me too. I really wonder what other teachers think about it!???

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solmaz21

Going abroad

Submitted on 11 February, 2011 - 07:53

I surely agree with all of the points you have mentioned. My only experience in abroad was to United States. It is excellent to be in a place where English is used in daily life. I wish very much the same for my students. UK or US, whichever possible, it is a great opportunity to have some motivation and encouragement to keep up English studies.

I wish there was a program for all of ELT students and they could go abroad. If young teachers go abroad, the horizons of the coming generations will be wider than today's.

bluering

I support summer courses

Submitted on 11 February, 2011 - 10:53

First of all, I should confess that I am jealous you. I think you work in a private school.Unfortunately, we do not have such opportunities in state schools :(( Anyway, I definetely believe the positive effects of attending a summer camp. Although many people argue that what someone can learn in 2-3 weeks, the things one can learn are really vauable. First of all, it a life experience and in terms of language learning, I think, it is good even the students can use very limited language they learnt at school. It gives them a chance to practice the language and learn the daily usages. If I worked in a private school, I would go for it and try to persuade the administration to hold such trips in the future years, too.

CoffeeAddict

Absolutely!

Submitted on 11 February, 2011 - 14:41

A Summer Language Course abroad is a very good idea for all of the reasons you mentioned. However, when we recommend them to students we have to be careful. Not all of the companies are of a good quality or very professional. I know of only one company that ı wouldn't mind sending my kids with. It is EF http://www.ef.com/

Cheers!

:-) CoffeeAddict

muruvvet

Great experience

Submitted on 11 February, 2011 - 23:23

Hi,

Sorry not use your name but I really support what you have made for your students. Creating a real environment is so difficult here as we are Turk and they know us. However when they are abroad the roles change they have to use the second lang.

Last year I had a splendid experience with my 15 students in Univ. of Dundee, Scotland. I really recommend everyone to see Edinburgh and Dundee. Scottish English was not a problem for them even they tried their best to communicate not only with natives but also the students from Italy and Spain. Unforgettable memories for students....The effect of the summer course was not limited with language skills but also they treat their family better than last. they had lots friends from different nationalities. If you are interested I can give the name Greenwich Viaggi which has not a representative in Turkey.Even it was my first trip with students abroad we were back safe and sound.