Every year, England welcomes foreigners who want to learn or improve their English.
Enthusiasm and expectations run high, and the organizers of the so-called summer schools go to great lengths to meet the needs of their demanding guests.
This year, the group that put their trust in me, and whose group leader I was, set off with a little apprehension and nervous excitement. Only one of the children was going to such a camp for the third time and was full of enthusiasm and happy anticipation. We said goodbye to the parents and set off.
The organizers met us at the airport and provided us with the excellent facilities of their campus.
For two weeks, language classes alternated with excursions to the sights of London, Oxford, Winchester, Salisbury and Southampton, and with active sports, art and creative activities.
Both children and leaders were impressed by the way the camp organizers and teachers took each child from whatever level of English they had and effortlessly developed their language potential through practical activities, games and free conversation.
We saw many things – the London Eye, the Tower of London, Trafalgar Square, Stonehenge, and Christ Church College in Oxford, where many scenes from the Harry Potter films were shot.
We heard many descriptions and explanations, asked many questions and enriched ourselves. We made many friends, opened up to others and were sad to say goodbye.
For me, though, the most striking thing was one of the children admitting: "I started thinking and dreaming in English." Well, not everyone did, but there's always another summer, when we'll be expecting new participants in this wonderful and unforgettable experience – English Summer School for Juniors.