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Comparing primary school education around the world
Primary education provides children with the skills they need to progress through life. As every parent knows, some schools are better able to provide children with a solid foundation in maths, science and reading than others.
While comparisons between schools of the same country used to be sufficient, an increasingly globalised world means that comparisons between different countries’ educational systems are becoming more frequent.
Primary maths
Asian schools typically offer their primary school students the best education in mathematics, with Singapore, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Japan leading the world. In Europe, Northern Ireland is the top performing education system for maths, followed by Belgium, Finland, England and Russia.
In terms of maths, US academics say that England has shown one of the biggest improvements between 1996 and 2011. This may be attributed in part to institutions such as the IB School and its Primary Years programme.
Systems such as this succeed by instilling children with a positive attitude to learning and by emphasising their intellectual, physical, personal and social development.
Primary science
Korea provides the world’s best system for teaching primary science, followed by Singapore, Finland Japan and Russia. The next five best are Taiwan, the US, the Czech Republic, Hong Kong and Hungary. England ranks as 15th – probably due to its wide ranging performance.
While inner city schools often struggle with low resources and therefore motivation, better funded institutions provide a reliably high standard of education. For those seeking an international school, London has a number of good options, such as the IC School.
Primary reading
The top five countries for reading are Hong Kong, Russia, Finland, Singapore and Northern Ireland. If the number of pupils reaching the highest levels of ability is taken into account, Northern Ireland ranks in third place.
The next five best primary education systems for reading are the US, Denmark, Croatia, Taiwan, and Ireland. England comes is ranked 11th.
Overall scoring
For reading, maths and science, the world’s leading primary education providers are Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan. In the west, the best overall systems are Finland and Russia.
In these countries, teachers are well-respected and viewed as valuable assets. But while individual countries’ governments should be praised for any long-term investment in education, this isn’t the whole story.
Success also depends on the availability of learning resources and support at home. For example, in Finland, the parents, the community, and the culture itself support reading. The combined affect is that students are genuinely interested in learning how to read.
Resource box:
Maps of World
Top ten countries with lowest primary education.
TIMMS & PIRLS International Study Centre
TIMMS and PIRLS 2011 achievement results in reading, mathematics and science.
Lego Learning Institute & Danish University of Education
International trends in primary school education.
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Asia's skyscrapers, Part 1
Asia is growing tall. If you are a casual architecture enthusiastic who is planning on a trip to the United States to check out their state-of-the-art buildings, you may want to give it a second thought after reading this post.
As avid architecture fans know, right now Asia is the place to be when it comes to tall structures. Not only do they dominate the list of tallest skyscrapers in the world, but they also boast the 2 tallest non-skyscrapers structures. If we ignored the United States on this list, it is revealed that the top 31 tallest skyscrapers in the world are located in Asia.
On one side of the planet, we have the Middle East oil giants like the United Arab Emirates or Saudi Arabia. The top 2 tallest skyscrapers in the world belong to this region. The income brought in by all this oil has in turn prompted these countries to invest in renewing and improving their cities' infrastructure. In doing so, these cities will become staple tourist destinations or financial capitals.
However, on the other side of the world, we have the Four Asian Tigers and China. These countries have maintained one of the highest growth rates in the world for a couple of decades now, and the results are starting to show. China, Hong Kong and Taiwan have a special eye for tall buildings- Taiwan's Taipei 101 is a perfect example of this.
If these statistics haven't made you feel even the slightest bit of vertigo, then stay tuned for the second part of this post, where we will talk about the future of tall buildings. (Hint: Asia is going to stay at the forefront in the upcoming years.)
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Five reasons to plan a trip to Nepal
Nepal is a unique destination for trekking, rafting, mountain-climbing or just relaxing and enjoying the sights. With eight out of the ten highest mountains in the world, Nepal is a great destination for adventurers and sight-seers alike.
There’s plenty to see and do across this colourful country, including many opportunities to live and volunteer in the bustling cities and quiet villages. Gain a fantastic experience you’ll remember for a lifetime by planning a trip to Nepal.
You’ll be visiting living history
Because Nepal is land-locked, it’s seen little outside influence over the last few decades. Trade has to survive on foot power, with porters having to haul heavy loads through mountains and from city to city. In this way, little has changed for centuries.
In Kathmandu, narrow passageways filled with local traders make up colourful neighbourhoods which seem to have jumped straight from history.
The ancient royal capitals of Patan and Baktapur are also well worth exploring, as is all of the greater Kathmandu valley. A visit to Nepal is a visit to a variety of different time periods all in one trip.
You can see every type of landscape
Covering only 230km, Nepal goes from 71m in its southern regions to 8,850m at the very top of mount Everest. Within this country, you can see every type of environment imaginable.
The plains are home to wild animals such as rhinoceroses and elephants, while the forests contain lush plants and flowers for walkers. There are also stunning beaches, amazing cities and eight of the world’s highest mountains. What more could you ask for?
You’ll have the chance to make a difference
Nepal has plenty of volunteering projects available through companies such as Projects Abroad for anyone looking to make a difference in the developing world. Choose from teaching, care, medicine and much more and make the most of your adventure abroad.
A volunteer in Nepal will be able to live with a host family, giving them a real taste of what it’s like to live as a local. You’ll also have plenty of time spare to explore this amazing country and combine new experiences with a fantastic holiday break.
You’ll get to try some amazing food
In Nepal, there’s a dish for every traveller as the country has seen its fair share of visitors over the last 50 years. The culture of food in Nepal is varied, as Mongol traders from Tibet would typically meet with those from the Indian plains in years past to exchange spices, recipes and local produce.
From tourist haunts to local joints, there’s more than enough to provide for every taste.
You’ll get to see the world’s largest mountain range
The Himalayas are a truly breath-taking sight and visible from almost everywhere in Nepal. If you fancy a challenge, there are plenty of tours which will get you up close but they’re still a joy to behold from anywhere in the country.
The Great Himalaya trail encompasses a network of treks and trails across the mountains to form one of the longest and highest walking trails in the world. Walking the mountain range is one of the earth’s true adventures and you’ll be amazed by the breathtaking landscape.
A land of intrigue and mystery, Nepal has been called one of the top places to see before you die – so what are you waiting for? Historic sights, amazing landscapes and vibrant cities await in the country which is a constant source of inspiration for global sight-seers.
Resource box
Tourism in Nepal
Information from Wikipedia.
Tourist information for Nepal
A wealth of information regarding different regions of Nepal.
Lonely Planet guide to Nepal
Information for travellers to Nepal.
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The best European winter places
Except when the weather is crisp cold with a blue sky, the UK isn't really one of most appealing places to spend the winter. Most of the days are wet and grey and the snow is rarer every year. The good news is that there are countries a flight away where the winter is synonymous of wonderful landscapes, snow and great skies. A city break in one of them will make your winter less depressing and bland.
Ski resort, countryside or city
Whatever you want to do, whether it is skiing, walking in the countryside or simply visiting a city, Europe offers something for everyone in winter. Of course, the scandinavian countries are the best for lovers of snowy landscapes. While the sun doesn't get out too much in Lapland, the northern swedish city of Abisko is best for cross-country skiing and seeing the aurora borealis.
The Eastern European countries become fairytale-like when covered in snow, especially cities like Prague and Krakow. After a wander through the old towns to see their castles, towers and spires, you can get a warm and welcoming cup of coffee or hot chocolate in the brasseries.
The Alps are of course the best place for ski lovers, with many resorts in France, Switzerland or Italy. There, you will rediscover that snow can be fun and not only something grey and threatening that lay on roads and pavements. The atmosphere of the resorts is unique and warm and you will quickly forget the cold with a cheese fondue and a glass of local white wine.
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5 dating customs that’d never catch on in Britain
Here in the UK most of our dating customs have faded out over the years but across the globe dating rituals have an important role when people are choosing a suitable marriage partner. Here are five continental dating customs that’d never catch on in Britain!
1. Turkey
When you travel through certain parts of Turkey you might notice empty milk bottles sitting on the beams of some of the roofs of the houses. An old dating custom that some Turkish people still use is to place these empty bottles there as a sign that their daughter is ready for marriage.
Any eligible bachelor who manages to knock the bottle off is allowed to ask for the girl’s hand in marriage. Her father will then look at his financial situation and give his answer based on whether or not he thinks the suitor could provide for his daughter and imminent grandchildren after the wedding!
2. France
A scary dating custom in France that you might want to be aware of is that as a general rule three kisses shared between two people means they are in a relationship! Not even three long passionate kisses – three pecks on the lips and that’s it, you’re together!
In French culture showing affection is taken very seriously and often is only used when people want to show exclusivity. If you are thinking about hooking up with a French person then take things slow!
Meeting European singles through online dating might be best because you can make sure you build a connection before you lock lips and become forced into a relationship! Follow eHarmony on Twitter for more information.
3. Japan
In Japan a person’s blood type is seen as an accurate prediction of their personality and future prospects. Blood type A signals creativity while type B suggests someone who is easy-going. Type AB is thought to suggest a split personality – not a good thing to reveal when you are trying to date!
This means that, much like the use of horoscopes here in the UK, blood type is an important factor when Japanese singles are thinking about dating. Yet far more people trust in this custom than we trust in astrology and many may refuse to even attempt dating someone outside of their blood type!
4. Iran
Dating is actually illegal in Iran. Boys and girls are kept separate throughout school until they have reached a suitable age for marriage. Their parents will then introduce them to a partner who it is believed they will be suited to. I don’t know about you but I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t trust my parents to find me a suitable spouse!
5. China
In China and many other Asian countries it is customary for a newlywed couple to live with one set of parents for a while after they are married. This often leads to problems between the families as they argue over which parents will be chosen. Living with the in-laws. . . sounds like a recipe for disaster to me!
Sometimes you may feel nostalgic for a time when British men were courteous gentlemen and the women were shy and retiring ladies, but after looking at some of these continental dating customs I for one am thankful that we have let go of most of our old dating rituals and are free to make our own choices!
Poll:
Which dating custom freaks you out the most?
Resource box
Men’s Health
Men’s Health discusses which tradition British dating customs should still be used today
Factmonster
Factmonster describes some of the dating customs around the world
Health Guidance
Health Guidance discusses how dating differs across the globe
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5 tips for using technology to help your child to learn
Nowadays, children are au fait with all aspects of technology so they’ll naturally be using computers, mobile devices and the internet as part of their school work. If you aren’t used to using these devices, here are some tips for how to integrate technology with your child’s academic work, successfully.
Internet security
First of all, make sure any device that your child is using (such as a laptop or iPad) has the appropriate anti-virus and internet security software installed on it. Protecting your child from websites which are not appropriate for them is easy to do and won’t take long. It really is essential if your child uses these aids every day.
Blocking programmes can disallow websites on the basis of profanity or explicit content and make sure that your child is safe online.
Choose websites together
In order to really get involved with your child’s learning, it might be a good idea to sit down with them and come up with a list of useful websites for them to use. For example, if your child is attending an international school such as IC School (www.icschool.co.uk), there are plenty of websites which can help them learn a new language quickly.
Search the web together and come up with some websites which you can then look into in more detail.
Use other techniques too
While the internet can be enormously helpful in allowing your child to find facts and information they may not otherwise have found, technology should only be part of the learning process. Social interactions, teaching organisational skills and setting aside time for study are all important facets in helping your child to learn. Whether they’re studying for GCSEs or working for an IB Middle Years Programme, your child shouldn’t be spending hours in front of a computer by themselves.
Explain copyright and plagiarism
There’s a lot of information available online and explaining copyright issues to your child is important. Let your child know that they cannot copy and paste information directly from the web and claim it as their own work. Not only are the legal implications important but your child may not take pride in their work if they lean too heavily on these sources of information.
Encourage learning above all else
Your child will be able to use computers and the internet to create amazing pieces of work, but be wary of letting them spend too much time on elaborate design. It’s easy to let fancy software get in the way of learning – let them know that, while you’re impressed with their skills, it’s the learning that matters.
There are plenty of creative ways to use technology in helping your child to learn. If you’re not all that confident, try practising your own skills before lending a hand to your son or daughter.
http://polldaddy.com/poll/6771148
Useful links
Improve your child’s study habits
Advice from The Complete Idiot’s Guide online
How to help your child study
Article from eHow.com
BBC Schools
Educational articles from the BBC
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A snowy walk in the forest..
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The world goes round so quickly. Days become nights, as nights become days. One thing we can say is there's nothing more naturally beautiful than seeing it come to an end.
Driving Home by D_Bahmann on Flickr.
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The beauty of Switzerland
A lot of people forget about the natural beauty of this country which is wrapped around by numerous European countries: France, Germany Italy & Austria.
Home to the Swiss Alps (AKA Central Alps), the country has such diverse landscapes. It's a great place to hike, if climbing hills is your kinda thing.
Bachalpsee - near Grindelwald
Valley of Dreams - Interlaken
Seealpsee
Sanetsch Pass
The Matterhorn
This is just 5 examples of Switzerland's natural beauty.
Why not book a flight and get over there and see it for yourself?
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Japanese Culture and Traditions – at the Dinner Table
So you’re sitting with a Japanese family with your noodles in front of you, smelling beautiful with the steam floating up.. But you don’t just dig in to it- that would be extremely disrespectful to the Japanese culture. Here are a few things you’ll need to know if you ever find yourself in this kind of situation.
First thing’s first; most meals will begin with the phrase, “itadakimasu” which literally means “I humbly receive”- it’s like saying grace or something like “bon appétit” to show you’re thankful for the food that has been prepared for you.
You will see many people lifting bowls of soup or rice closer to their mouths so that they don’t spill food when using chopsticks. This is perfectly acceptable in the Japanese culture and not frowned upon. One thing that could be considered disrespectful is when the dish is not finished- you should eat everything that’s given to show your gratitude.
Although it’s very important to chew your food with your mouth closed, it’s encouraged to slurp most noodles (but not western-style noodle like pasta), as it demonstrates that you are enjoying the meal! Miso soups would also normally be drunk directly from the bowl.
If you were to pour soy sauce directly onto plain white rice or sushi, it would be like spreading ketchup on plain bread in the west- it’s just not normal. Sauces like this would be in a small bowl in which you could dip your food into.
Older traditions would say that eating whilst walking or eating in public is a no-go, although the younger generation may have become a little more flexible with this certain tradition.
So these would be the basics of Japanese dinner etiquette. You would enjoy adapting to this culture because the food is really good! You’d be able to understand the country so much more with the locals on your side after you’ve demonstrated that you understand their culture and traditions.
So why not give it a try? You could even throw your own Japanese dinner party for a bit of practise.. “Itadakimasu!”
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5 beautiful places to visit in East Anglia
With everything from beach holidays to rural escapes, East Anglia is a great place in which to take a break. Numerous attractions can be found across the area, with many exciting things to see and do. Here are just a few.
Leigh-on-Sea, Essex
Leigh-on-Sea is a picturesque town, situated west of Southend. Based on a traditional fishing village, many of the buildings in this beautiful town date from medieval times. Numerous fishing and cockling fleets still operate in the village, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors a year.
There’s plenty to see and do in Leigh-on-Sea, with nature reserves, pubs and restaurants, open spaces and a wide variety of wildlife. Many festivals are held in the town every year, so keep an eye on the calendar when planning your visit.
Holkham Hall, Norfolk
Surrounded by acres of parkland, Holkham Hall is in the perfect location for a lovely day out. You can take in the rich wildlife in the grounds or visit the nearby North Norfolk coast with its stunning beach.
The magnificent Palladian Mansion and Bygones Museum are well worth a visit for history lovers. You can also pay a visit to the 18th century walled gardens, which are currently being restored. This top tourist site has something for everyone.
Wrest Park, Bedfordshire
After spending decades behind closed gates, Wrest Park has been revived by English Heritage and now stands as one of Britain’s largest ‘secret gardens’.
90 acres of lush green countryside surround a beautiful French-style mansion – the perfect spot for locals and tourists alike. The recently-restored Italian Garden and Rose Garden are also well worth a visit.
The Waterside, Rollesby
Nestled amongst the stunning surroundings of the Rollesby Broad, The Waterside is an amazing place to visit for wildlife enthusiasts. The tranquil landscape can be explored on a relaxing boat tour, or you can hire your own row boat and enjoy a pre-packed lunch while you soak up the surroundings.
There is also a specially designed bird hide, where you can spot some of the many species which inhabit the Broad all year round. The high quality restaurant provides a great way to round off the day.
Bawdsey Manor, Suffolk
Built in the 1890s, Bawdsey Manor is a large and beautiful house set in 150 acres of historic parkland. It has seen its fair share of famous inhabitants over the years and the guided tours, which are available at the site, come highly recommended.
The Manor Estate has spectacular views over the River Deben Estuary and the gardens are a lovely place to explore on a sunny day. Take a look at the 4 acre walled garden, which has been providing fruit, vegetables and flowers to the local community for many years.
Alexanders International School (www.alexandersschool.com) is on the Bawdsey Manor Estate, surrounded by the picturesque landscape of the grounds. Visit the website for more information.
If you’re planning a trip to East Anglia, you can find out more about the best places to visit online. From stately homes to seaside venues, there’s bound to be somewhere you’ll enjoy.
Useful Links
Visit East Anglia
Tourist information for the area
East Anglian Daily Times
News for the East Anglia region
Traveline East Anglia
Information on journeys in the South, East and Midlands, UK
#east anglia#bawdsey manor#Rollesby#Suffolk#Bedfordshire#Wrest Park#Holkham Hall#Norfolk#Leigh-on-Sea#Essex
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Top 5 Bizarrely Shaped Buildings
The idea of buildings shaped like baskets, books and cubes can be difficult to grasp, but these bizarre buildings are very real and make for a thrilling visit. Here’s a countdown to the top 5 bizarre buildings from around the world.
5. Ripley’s Believe it or Not! Museum - Ontario, Canada
Like a scene from a movie, the museum’s exterior is a perfectly constructed Empire State Building falling down to one side with King Kong perched at the top. The Ripley’s Believe it or Not! Museum in Niagara Falls is the second oldest Ripley’s museum that belongs to a number of Ripley’s attractions worldwide. Called the Odditorium due to the abundance of odd mind-boggling facts and artefacts it preserves, it proudly holds on to the reputation for being Niagara’s best museum.
Image courtesy of igougo
4. Basket Building - Ohio, USA
Ever imagined working in a building that resembles your company’s product? This weird notion is a reality for the Longaberger Basket Company employees. The company operates from a huge replica of one of their popular shopping baskets. The massive construction was first conceptualised by Longaberger himself. Not surprising, his colleagues didn’t take him seriously until it was fully built and ready for occupancy. The seven storey building is a magnificent sight at night and during the winter, the basket’s handles heat up to prevent ice and snow collecting on them.
3. Kubuswoningen – Rotterdam, Netherlands
These creative cube-shaped houses are the work of Dutch architect Piet Blom. He envisioned each cube-like structure to be a tree in a village, transforming it into a very abstract forest. Each cube house has three floors that abide by the expectations of a conventional house with a foyer, living room and bedrooms. This project cost approximately €20m to build. Although all 38 cube houses are inhabited, provisions for a tour of the cubes are available.
Image courtesy of Arroww
2. Community Bookshelf, Kansas City
Bringing a new dynamic to being lost in a book, the Kansas City Library’s parking garage lets you walk along the spines of colossal ‘books’ standing together that make up the parking garage walls. On the giant bookshelf, each book is 9 ft in width and approximately 25 ft high. Dubbed Community Bookshelf,the titles of the well-known books displayed were chosen from suggestions made by Kansas City readers which was then selected by the Kansas City Public Library Board of Trustees.
1. Krzywy Domek - Sopot, Poland
It’s completely acceptable to blink in disbelief when you take in the outlandishness and beauty of Krzywy Domek. Directly translated from Polish as crooked house, Krzywy Domek’s shape was inspired by fairy tale drawings. The irregularity can make one feel nostalgic with its fable-like appearance. Krzywy Domek is filled with the norms of everyday life - from shopping, to business support activity and a vivacious nightlife. Seeing as its activities attract a diverse group of people, it’s easy to feel at home in the crooked house.
Image courtesy of JANBUR at the PolishlanguageWikipedia
This article was written by Saajida Akabor, who writes for Essential Travel - providers of airportparking.
#bizarrely shaped buildings#essential travel#Ripley’s Believe it or Not! Museum#Basket Building#Kubuswoningen#Community Bookshelf#Krzywy Domek#airport parking#Sopot Poland#Kansas City#Rotterdam Netherlands#Ohio USA#Ontario Canada
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A Worldwide Date
There are some truly beautiful locations on this planet. If you love to travel and explore, you probably find it quite hard to settle. But why’s that stopping you from going on dates? You could meet somebody who’s similar; if you’re travelling around the globe and trying to meet new people and build relationships, take a look at some of the most romantic destinations around the World:
Venice, Italy
The city oozes romance all over; take a ride for two on a gondola and slowly glide through the city on water.
Be prepared though; the gondolas for two cost between $100- $150 for 30 minutes.
Central Park, New York City
Central Park gives busy New Yorkers some freedom and means of escape from the city that never sleeps. You can go for a walk on a summer’s day, have a picnic and have a little peace and quiet in such a wonderful city.
Paris, France
This had to be included. There aren’t many more romantic cities than Paris. Whether you’re going to the Eiffel Tower or just having lunch in a café, the city is beautiful, elegant and romantic; it won’t fail to disappoint.
St Lucia, Caribbean
The warm sea water is a great place to start; go swimming surrounded by beautiful views, or if you’re feeling energetic you could hike the mountain peaks and look over St Lucia. You could take an hour-long tram ride and cruise above the Rain Forest. The warm weather and tropical plants are refreshing & exotic! You could swim with dolphins in the ocean or watch the sunset on the beach – St Lucia promises a very romantic getaway.
If you find it difficult to actually find someone to enjoy these travelling to these destinations with, I recommend visiting the eHarmony UK Twitter profile who post lots of advice on how to find the right person. Online dating can be a completely different game to going out and meeting people, but eHarmony shares safety tips on online dating that are definitely worth looking up so you know how to meet people safely.
There’s someone out there to enjoy these places with, and there are thousands of other romantic destinations to enjoy with someone or find somebody. So what are you waiting for? You’ve got a World to explore!
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Gaining work experience in International Law
Looking for work experience is an exciting time. You are probably looking for a good company or project to be a part of because you have decided what your next step on the career ladder will be. Work experience is a fantastic way to immerse yourself in the day to day role that you aspire to, and in many cases to get a foot in the door with a company you’d like to work for or to gain some valuable skills for your CV. Even though most work experience placements involve the successful candidates working for free, it is still very competitive to find and obtain a work experience placement in the UK, particularly in popular industries such as fashion, marketing and law.
Some law companies in the UK can have hundreds of applications for their graduate training schemes even if only one position is available. When you are fighting it out to be seen for an interview, having extra work experience and skills on your CV will help you to stand out from the crowd.
Finding a Law Internship
Rather than jumping straight in to a graduate training scheme that might involve working long hours and carrying out intensive training, a law internship could be the perfect start to any graduates career. Law internships are also great for anyone considering studying law at university that wants to gain some experience prior to their study. To find a law internship, searching for local solicitors on the web is one place to start, and emailing over CVs and cover letters can help, or even calling the offices. But not all companies like unsolicited approaches and response rate tends to be low which can certainly be a little disheartening if you have spent a lot of time searching for and contacting companies.
To guarantee yourself a place on an internship, there are companies that provide volunteer placements overseas. The idea of such placements is that you can enjoy some time away in another country, and help developing communities whilst you gain valuable knowledge and experience by working with a local law firm that has been chosen specifically for its ability to support interns. What’s more, with some companies, interns working on a project abroad will have accommodation included for the duration of their work experience.
What to expect on an International Law Internship
The countries where international law internships are most popular tend to be those that are currently fighting for new human rights laws, such as Cambodia, Senegal and Morocco. Interns are invited to attend court hearings, prepare paper work, educate civilians about their rights and be a part of the law office environment, working a full day.
As well as hard work and professionalism, internships are a great way to meet new people and experience a new culture. Most interns make great friends from their placements and stay in touch with those they have worked with in the past, perhaps making a return visit on a more sociable level.
Resource Box
What is an internship?
United Nations Human Rights
Amnesty International
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The World is Beautiful
I could wake up to this view any day of the week!
A morning view in Tuscany..
What a lot of us forget is that we're surrounded by beauty; there are beautiful people who smile on a bad day, birds that sing every morning and nature that still lives on and grows.
Try not to get caught up with all the stresses and worries you may face.
Remember where you are - you live on a planet full of life! Make sure you live yours and appreciate the fact that you're here.
You never know when your time's up, so make the most of it; smile, sing, discover and explore.. There's always more beautiful things in our World to find!
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The most popular activities at English summer camps
Among the visitors who come to the UK every year are young students from all over the world. They come to improve their English at the many summer camps available across the country.
For many students looking for a summer school England is an obvious choice, and London provides a unique draw. Summer camps usually operate during the months of June, July and August, and children aged from 3 to 17 years old attend them, with those of a younger age attending special parent-and-child programmes. The summer camps can last from one week to the whole summer depending on the needs and requirements of individual learners.
The main aim of these camps is for students to improve their English, but the approach adopted is different to that of a traditional school. Here, English is taught through a range of structured fun activities and excursions to museums, galleries and famous historical sites.
Many summer camps, such as those offered by the SKOLA schools, allow students to study English Plus courses, which combine English study with a sporting, craft or artistic pursuit.
The most popular activities, visits and attractions over the summer are:
Activities
The mix of English and football is a match made in heaven for the young boys. Increasingly, girls are also opting to improve their individual and team skills with the help of a qualified coach. Other sports that are popular to combine with English include swimming, horse riding and tennis.
The art classes offered are becoming dominated by multimedia art and digital photography rather than the traditional pursuits of drawing and painting, which appears to be a definite sign of the times. Dance, too, is also gradually moving away from more formal styles, with students interested in mastering street dance or salsa moves.
Experiences
Ranking top of many students wish list this year is the desire to grab some of the Olympic action. During the summer Games, London is to be filled with Olympic parties, festivities and open-air events that are free for all to participate in.
When they are not dreaming of going for gold, there are plenty of other places for young students to be heading for. The London Eye remains a perennial favourite with many. Its views of London’s iconic skyline and proximity to the London Aquarium help make this one day out that can spark plenty of English conversation. Shakespeare’s Globe and the Science Museum provide a nice mix of historical arts and cutting edge science to discover, and a walking tour of the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben can be combined with a leisurely cruise down the Thames.
Fun day out
With so many activities to try, so much English to learn and so many experiences to have, it is perhaps no surprise that for many children an English summer camp is the event of their summer.
What really makes the experience, however, is the simple value of finding and keeping new friends from all over the world.
Resource box
The 2012 London Olympics
Find out more about what’s on where at the official website of the Olympics
London’s attractions
Discover the very best of London with this official guide to the city
Learn English
Free resources from the British Council to help children learn English
Photo credits (1,2)
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London: a place to learn
London is often called the capital of Europe. Considering it is the largest city in Europe with the biggest multicultural community this is not so strange. Next to that, this city is also an international trade hub where business thrives every day. No day is the same in this city of fashion, culture, design and business.
But did you know that London is also a great place to learn a new skill such as a new language for example? Whether you want to re-fresh your knowledge of Spanish or start a new language such as Japanese it can be a lot of fun to enhance your linguistic skills.
Why you should consider..
Just picture yourself living in the centre of town, enjoying the hustle and bustle of the big smoke. During ten weeks you will enjoy city life with all its charms. Rummage the Sunday markets, discover hidden lanes and indulge yourself in the nightlife. London is a great place to live and it only gets better once you get to know the city like a local.
What will you be doing..
During the day you will enhance your language skills in a small group of twelve pupils. You will study the grammar, spelling and pronunciation, which you put in to practice straight away during group projects. The classes are often very interactive and they include lessons about the culture and heritage of behind the language as well.
Why London..
Apart from all the great things London has to offer, there is another reason why you should consider a language course in London. There is no city within the UK that hosts such a large community of people from different backgrounds. So when you are out in the pub you might actually meet someone from Japan, Italy or Spain who would gladly speak to you in their native language. This automatically enables you to put your academic knowledge in to practice and will strengthen your determination to master your language of choice.
What will I do after my course..
Make new friends during your stay in London and travel around the UK for while after you have finished your course. You will most probably meet a lot of international students that would like to travel around the country, which is a great opportunity to explore Great Britain further. Good old Blighty has more to offer than you can think of and somehow, international people always know where to go.
So instead of booking an expensive holiday this year immerse yourself in a new city and a new language. There are many schools that offer private language courses in London such as UIC London. Have a look around the internet before picking a particular one and also think of the language you want to study. Make sure you pick a course that also immerses you in the culture behind the language. If you enjoy reading about Eastern culture or you have a passion for Japanese food it might be a good idea to choose a course in Japanese because you are more likely to use the language afterwards. How nice would it be if you could visit Japan next year and speak the language?
So when you are trying to figure out your next holiday destination think about the UK and about starting one of the many language private courses London. You will not only learn a great new skill, you will also get to know a lot of new people to travel and explore London with.
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