"I enjoyed going to the ICT block to research things for my Trinity topic. I liked my teachers and I thank them for helping me learn a lot of new things."
Serena Midolini, Italy
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Ours is the only summer school in the country to concentrate exclusively on preparing students for the Trinity College examinations in Spoken English.
At our Bradfield, Epsom, Sevenoaks and Tonbridge centres, our programme offers 25 lessons of 40 minutes a week (16 hours 40 minutes).
At Rugby, we offer a more intensive course of 30 lessons a week (20 hours).
Our students' success in this examination is something we take great pride in.
Last year, the pass rate was 97% with more than half the students achieving merit or distinction.
When you arrive at Heathrow airport, you'll be met by our staff and taken to your chosen centre by private coach. At the end of the course, we'll take you back to Heathrow and see you safely through the check-in procedures. A taxi transfer service can also be arranged at an additional cost.
Your first task will be to take an oral English test. This will determine the level at which you'll prepare for the Trinity examination.
From here on, your progress will be monitored closely by your teachers and your Director of Studies. They'll do their best to make sure that, whatever the length of your course - 2, 3, or 4 weeks - you'll be ready to take the exam at the end of it.
Trinity College London has been assessing abilities in listening and speaking English for over fifty years. Its examinations are internationally recognised.
All our courses prepare students for the examination. At our Bradfield and Epsom centres, you study for the examination at grades 1-9 (beginner to upper intermediate); at Tonbridge, grades 1-10 (beginner to advanced); at Sevenoaks, grades 1-11. These grades are aligned to levels pre A1-C1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
Average size of classes is 13-14 students, maximum 15.
The examination is entirely based on your conversational ability and, from the word go, you'll be carefully coached towards achieving the required level.
You'll have five lessons each morning, five days a week. In lessons 1-3, you'll focus on conversational and interactive language tasks. In lessons 4-5, the emphasis is on topics required by Trinity for their examination (subjects like global warming, fashion, festivals, music, shopping and travel).
Whichever teaching programme you choose, you'll practise one-to-one interviews so that, by the time the examination comes around, you'll be perfectly comfortable and confident.
At Rugby, the course is designed to speed up the accuracy and fluency of your English so that you can take the Trinity examination at a higher and more challenging level. (We prepare for grades 1-10, aligned to pre A1-C1 of the CEFR.) In addition to morning classes, you'll have lessons on two afternoons a week. Classes will be smaller with an average of 9 students, maximum 10. You'll also have the use of additional language aids such as DVDs and ICT.
We're as selective about our teachers as we are about our schools. We insist on them being friendly, fun to work with and easy to relate to.
They're all native English speakers and are expected to hold internationally recognised teaching qualifications - as required by the British Council. Usually, they're in their twenties or early thirties and will already have had teaching experience in language schools abroad.
In each class at Bradfield, Epsom and Tonbridge, you'll have the chance to make friends with English boys and girls of a similar age as yourself.
You'll find they're as keen to mix with other nationalities as you are. And they'll be with you throughout the day - happy to help with your English in class and to join in your afternoon activities.
There is never any shortage of things to do outside the classroom.
In the afternoons, teachers and specialist staff will organise a whole host of activities for you.
If you're keen on sport, there's volleyball, tennis, badminton, basketball, squash, table-tennis, football, softball, swimming and water polo. And, depending on your centre, there's also wall-climbing, rifle-shooting, video-making and trampolining.
If you prefer to do something more creative, all our centres have classes in arts and crafts, photography, dance, aerobics and other skills.
Then in the evening, you'll find there are all sorts of entertainments, ranging from discos to karaoke, talent shows to sports competitions, film shows to themed barbecues.
With all this going on, you'll find yourself improving your English without even thinking about it.
This is where you'll really appreciate our schools' locations. You will go on excursions to places like Canterbury, Cambridge, Windsor, Oxford and Brighton.
You'll also enjoy regular excursions into London. These usually include an educational tour of the great museums (British, Natural History, Science or the National Gallery) combined with the opportunity to do some shopping in Oxford Street, Covent Garden or Knightsbridge.
Depending on your centre too, there'll be some splendid sightseeing with a ride on the London Eye or a tour on an open-top bus.
All five Young Learner centres are residential. A typical boarding house would have 40-50 students staying there and you'll sleep in a single or twin room, or in a larger room with 3-6 beds. Mixing and making friends in these surroundings comes very easily.
Accommodation is full board (breakfast, lunch and dinner) and there is a free laundry service for your machine-washable clothes.
Each boarding house is supervised by an experienced Housemaster or Housemistress who is responsible for your personal safety and welfare.
They're on call 24 hours a day helping to organise every aspect of your visit; looking after your pocket money, flight details and passport; ready with support and encouragement whenever you need it. You won't have to worry about a thing.
There's one adult in residence for every six students. It's reassuring to note too, that most of our senior staff work in UK boarding schools throughout the year. Many of them come back to work with us summer after summer.
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"I have made a lot of nice friends here and we have enjoyed the English lessons and sports. I have learnt a lot of English."
Yan Ting Cheung, Hong Kong
"I really enjoyed my English lessons"
Ana Hoshino, Brazil
A typical day
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08.45
09.05
11.05
11.30
12.50 |
Morning meeting
Lessons 1 - 3
Break
Lessons 4 - 5
Lessons end |
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14.15-15.00
15.15-16.00
16.15-17.00 |
Organised sports
and recreation activities |
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| 19.30 |
Evening social
programme begins |
| 22.00-22.45 |
Bedtime depending on age |
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"The staff and teachers were very friendly and active"
Alexander Dubrovin, Russia
"I played a lot of sports and I made lots of friends. When I come back to my country, I'll miss England"
Ki Hyun Hong , Korea
"The staff were excellent. My housemistress helped me when I had a problem, always speaking kindly. I will come back next year!"
Valeria Lipkina, Belarus
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