There are three distinct categories that Summer Language Programs seem to fall into: Domestic programs; International Language Immersion Programs without a home stay; and International Language Programs with a home stay. All language programs tend to have longer dates since it is unlikely that your child will learn enough in a week or two.
The domestic language programs tend to be geared toward a slightly younger crowd, who aren’t quite ready to venture internationally. They have structured classes in a dorm setting at a boarding school or college campus. A few traditional camps have language (ex. Canadian camps that include French).
Most of the international programs combine language learning with wilderness, adventure and/or community service and provide lots of opportunities for kids to practice their language skills with locals. A few language programs combine sports like soccer with language and cultural exposure. Some have more structured classroom time than others. If they don’t include a home stay, students often live together in hotels, hostels, tents or community centers. A few international boarding schools run language programs in the summer that have classroom time and camp activities in a boarding school setting.
The Immersion programs that include a home stay are for teenagers who are typically independent and willing to go outside their comfort zones to really experience immersion. These programs are very careful to find good families for the children to live with. Sometimes a child is in a host home by himself with his host family and other times with a friend from the program. Often these children learn the most during their summers.
To figure out which language program is the right fit for your child, you should discuss it with a camp advisor from Tips on Trips and Camps who can help you compare the various summer programs and answer questions about the differences between them.
Archives for May 2012
Summer Camps and the College Admissions Process
It’s the first of May, the day when high school seniors have to commit to a college. It’s a day of relief for most students, they’ve made their choice and can now enjoy the remainder of senior year. The college process for our family was very enjoyable. We loved travelling around and visiting 23 schools in all… from Upstate New York, down to South Carolina, and out to Ohio.
My daughter, Anna, has been very fortunate to partake in some fabulous summer camps during these last years. At camp she was able to pursue her interests in the arts, starting with an art focused camp in Maine, progressing to a summer art program at a boarding school in Vermont, and ending up with a pre-college program at an art school outside of Boston. She loved being with other like-minded students who were also incredibly creative. She gained a better understanding of the art world, and this has helped to guide her in finding a college with a strong arts and communication department. Thanks to her summer program experiences, what began as a hobby has become a passion. A number of the figure drawings she did during the summer helped to strengthen the portfolio that she submitted to college art departments and admissions offices. Last summer’s graphic design and illustration courses gave Anna insight to a field that she would like to continue in college and beyond.
Not only has my daughter been able to pursue her art interests during summer camps, but she has also become a more independent and free thinking young lady. Being away from home, making her own decisions, and owning those decisions, has helped Anna to mature and become a more confidant person. The benefits of living with peers from different backgrounds, whether in a tent, a cabin, or a dorm are evident. I have no doubt that Anna’s transition to dorm living in college will be much easier than if she had never been away from home and not had the experiences of dealing with roommates and house mates on a day-to-day basis. These last five summers, Anna has had the opportunity to live with peers from the states of Maine, Vermont, Missouri, Illinois, California as well as countries as far away as Turkey, Italy, Thailand and Saudi Arabia to name a few. With facebook and skype it’s easy for her to keep in touch with the diverse group of friends she has made during summer camp.
Wherever your child’s interests lie, whether it be cooking, computers, medicine, law, foreign languages, dance, or graphic design, they can be explored in enrichment programs designed especially for teenagers. And who knows? Maybe your child’s interests will become a passion that will help them to gain a clearer understanding of what they might want to pursue in college and beyond
