What Is Summer School? | ILC English Blog

Summer school is all about having fun, learning English, making new friends and having an adventure, and the UK is the best place to do it. At an English summer school you study, make friends from other countries and visit interesting places, all in a safe environment with strong safeguarding to look after young people.

Lessons

Good summer schools are a perfect mix of fun and learning. Lessons are usually in the morning and focus on communication, with topics teenagers want to talk about: clothes, music, money, the environment, holidays and festivals. Expect songs, video clips, lively materials, group work, role-plays and presentations with classmates from many countries.

Activities

In the afternoons there are lots of activities: sport such as football and tennis, cultural activities like drumming and museum visits, creative activities such as painting and T-shirt design, and social activities like karaoke, team building and films.

Excursions

Trips are a big part of summer school. You'll visit interesting places near your centre and famous cities such as London and Cambridge, where you can see the sights, go shopping and explore with your new friends. In the evenings there are often discos and parties.

Homestay or residential?

There are two main types of summer school programme:

• Homestay: you live with a local host family, eat with them and get to know them, which is a great way to improve your English.
• Residential: you live on the campus of a boarding school, usually with large grounds and lots of facilities, sharing rooms with other students.

Both have their advantages and both are great fun. Explore ILC's English summer schools in the UK, or read our guide for parents on how to choose an English summer camp.