Foreign languages are very useful in the modern world, but, probably, everyone remembers from school that learning them is not always interesting and easy. Nowadays, the task of learning English and other popular languages for children has been greatly simplified thanks to modern technology, as well as thanks to the presence of special language camps where you can relax and at the same time improve your level in a relaxed manner.
Features and Benefits
In fact, a children's language camp is not so different from any other camp - it is also located in some picturesque place: by the sea, in the forest, far from noisy and polluted cities. All vacationers here are divided into groups by age, the daily routine is no different from other similar organizations. But the children who have returned from here already have a much better command of the language in which this organization specializes.
How does this happen? Ideally, it doesn't look like a school at all. Optimally performed language camps should be international. This can be expressed both in the overseas location of the organization and in the international composition of staff or vacationers. In other words, a situation is specially created when, once on vacation, the child cannot communicate with anyone without using a foreign language.
Of course, for such tests it is necessary to have some kind of preliminary vocabulary, but often a person, even having a good vocabulary, still cannot speak - the lack of practice affects.
In such an institution, practice will definitely be, and often one week of stay here gives much more than a whole semester of the school curriculum.
An additional plus - if the kid finds friends here and begins to communicate with them on the Internet after his return, because then his level will continue to improve in the future.
Language camps also include those where the staff and holidaymakers in general are from the same country, but at the same time, classes in a specialized language have been introduced into the daily routine, which can be taught by both a native speaker of that same language and just a good teacher who has spent a significant time in the country the origin of this language.
Here the result will be somewhat less noticeable in terms of improving knowledge, but even so there will be other benefits - after all, we are talking about a camp, that is, a place from which children return rested and full of energy. In other words, in such an organization, one can also see a solid positive - the child rested, and even learned a little.
Types
Children's language camps, being a separate type of camps, are themselves also divided into several types. There are three different methods for classifying them:
- By rest time. The most common type is of course summer, when all children have long vacations and the weather conditions are perfect for going somewhere. Nevertheless, many organizations of this type work all year round, or at least accept applicants for all vacations throughout the year - in autumn, winter and spring.
- By location. It's not even about the country in which the camp is located, but more about the natural conditions around. In the end, as we said, this is not a school, here the main activity is aimed at recreation, so there must be something that will provoke children to leave the buildings more often. In our country, it is traditionally the most prestigious to go to the sea; many domestic language camps are located just in a picturesque forest. Some foreign organizations offer a useful vacation in the mountains, with all the advantages of such a location.
- Alone, or is it with your parents? Most often, the camp is perceived as a vacation for a child without parents, in the circle of their peers, but there are also family-type language recreation centers. There are comparatively few of those who would focus directly on learning the language, but they are still there.
Holidays abroad: reasons and benefits
It should be understood that, based on the description of a typical language camp, almost any recreation center becomes a language camp if it is located somewhere abroad. There will be all the conditions to practice using something other than Russian, unless the administration went from the opposite direction and recruited personnel specially speaking Russian for the greater convenience of children. Despite the fact that a trip abroad will definitely leave a lot of impressions, introduce you to a new culture and unusual natural conditions, and, most likely, pleasantly surprise you with the service - you can also improve your foreign language!
Of course, learning English is the easiest thing to do.
The highest stable demand is for camps in England and the USA - countries that traditionally speak English, and also have a rich, world-famous culture, a huge number of fans of which will certainly be found among our kids.
For those who want to go to the warm sea coast, camps in Malta will certainly be interesting - here English is also one of the two official languages, and the Mediterranean Sea in itself can be an excellent reason to come.
Children from St. Petersburg and the surrounding regions can relax in Finland just as well - although English does not have an official status here, almost everyone speaks it at a good level, and the nature here is very good.
Of course, it is better to study French in France, and German in Germany, Austria or Switzerland.
Perhaps, there is no need to specifically describe the tourist attractions of these states - everyone has heard about them, and each of these countries annually receives tens of millions of guests from all over the world.
Learning Spanish in our country it is less popular, but Spain is worth considering, especially since in the same Benidorm, a small town near Barcelona, there are international centers famous throughout Europe, where children from England, Germany and other countries also rest, so there is an opportunity practice several languages at once.
Language organizations in Poland are also of some interest. (relatively low prices, learning English, German, and, as a bonus, Polish) and China (completely unusual experience, radically different culture and local language, good English practice and relatively close proximity to the regions of the Far East).
You should not exclude from the list of noteworthy language camps in the nearest countries - Ukraine and Belarus. In particular, CELYN ABC CAMP, located near the village of Novye Sanzhary, Poltava region, has become widely known - children get here only after being tested by a real teacher from Britain, and the organization itself makes sure that the main language of everyday communication between vacationers is English.
Camps in Russia
In our huge country, there are also camps where you can study, if not any foreign languages, then at least English during your vacation. Let's highlight some of the most popular ones.
In the suburbs, this is VSK Country. More precisely, this is the name of the hotel, and even that is already located in the Vladimir region, but the capital is only 95 kilometers away, and most importantly, one of the best language camps in Russia is also located here. The entertainment part consists of a large number of clubs of interest - from a rock studio to a journalism club and an equestrian club.
The organization invites foreign teachers, the program is designed both for beginners aged 7-9 years and for those teenagers who plan to take international exams. There are a number of languages to choose from: English, German, French, Spanish and even more rare Italian, Chinese and Japanese.
One of the best institutions in the Leningrad Region is the "School of Spies"... The recreation center, located on the shore of Lake Ladoga, places great emphasis on classes, which are scheduled for 4 hours a day.
At the same time, everything is carried out in a playful way, and this camp can equally be attributed to thematic, since there is really a lot of "spy" here, including communication with people who do not understand Russian at all.
A similar tactic is used by Global Dialogue - Hilton, located in Anapa, on the Black Sea coast, only here the main theme changes from shift to shift. The boring everyday life of a pirate or detective is complemented by an excellent pastime on the beach far in the south of our country, and the educational effect is strengthened due to the fact that communication is allowed here exclusively in English.
Also worthy of attention is the language center "Britannia", located in Perm and founded in due time by an Englishman - today you can learn the language here, become a participant in various international programs and even officially pass the Cambridge exams.
Subtleties of choice
When deciding on the choice of a specific organization, take into account two factors at once - the learning factor and the rest factor.
As for learning, here you should not always chase the maximum - start at least from the level of language that your child already has. For example, if he has an initial level of knowledge of English, it’s too early to send him abroad - it’s not a fact that there will be Russian speakers, and if there are, there will be few of them, and the child will be bored and lonely, because in a couple of weeks he will not speak from scratch ...
For the entry-level, choose training centers in Russia, for the intermediate - those organizations where it is customary to speak English, and choose foreign ones only to improve an already good level.
As for recreation, here start from the preferences of the child and your capabilities - it can be something close to home or a camp abroad, a recreation center on the sea, in the mountains or just in the forest.
