How to optimize the summer with an intensive English course
Summer has officially begun and if you haven't made any plans yet, now is the time. It's the best time to let go of the stress accumulated during the year, take stock of the situation and review some projects that you have set aside. With so much time on your hands, why not focus on perfecting your English? Intensive courses are organized during this season and students should use this opportunity to raise their language skills to the highest level.
Instead of letting the summer go by in an unfruitful way, longer days, good weather and new perspectives can be the ideal conditions to dedicate yourself to this project. Vacations provide the perfect setting for focused study. When there are fewer distractions and you are away from your daily commitments and routines, you can spend more time practicing and studying.
Summer English courses can help you improve your speaking, writing, listening or reading skills. Furthermore, they often offer a welcoming environment that allows you to interact with other students with the same goals and enthusiasm for English, a great opportunity to meet new people and make friends. Working together with others can foster progress and provide opportunities for fruitful exercises and discussions. If you're not convinced, check out some good reasons why you should consider summer English courses below.
How an intensive English course works
The intensive English courses organized in the summer serve to improve the language level in a very short time, which is why they are one of the preferred choices by students. Since the lessons are daily and full time, they begin after the summer closure of the schools, when one is free from other commitments. The students who participate in these programs are of various types and ages, and can include those who do it for study purposes, for professional reasons or for travel. They can also be beginners, intermediate or advanced, as there are options for each level and skills are usually tested at the beginning through a test. While there are many different types of English summer courses, they generally have a program aimed at developing the main areas of learning, such as listening, speaking and writing. Sometimes they also offer additional modules that cater to individual needs and interests, delving into some specific learning areas.
Which students is it for?
Being organized according to age, level and objectives, the target audience to which these courses are addressed is very varied. Not only is the choice wide, but various courses are organized throughout the year which allow students to enroll at the most favorable moment. However, summer English courses are the ones that attract the most students, especially those who have to pass university entrance tests or specific exams. These courses are also dedicated to people who need to reach a certain level for their career or to move abroad. The needs and objectives can therefore be different and push schools to plan programs that are flexible enough to respond to this demand.
How to choose intensive English courses
With such a varied offer, you may find yourself disoriented as to which course is best suited to your needs, but there are some aspects that can direct you towards the right choice. For example, you may consider enrolling in one of these programs abroad, as in a sort of English holiday. Even before choosing the school, in this case it is better to give priority to choosing the place to stay, starting with the country, and then evaluating whether it is in the city or in the village. The type of stay is another factor to evaluate. Some students prefer to stay in colleges, while others are more interested in having a full immersion experience as guests of a local family. Based on the solution closest to your interests, the field narrows and you can evaluate schools with integrated residences, or other types of courses. Another factor to consider is class size. A large number of students increases the chance of making friends and makes the experience less monotonous, while small classes have the advantage of providing more assistance and focused learning. The most scrupulous could also check if the school is certified by an external body. This last aspect indicates that the quality of teaching has passed the controls of an independent institution, which is synonymous with quality. However, even in other schools, the teachers chosen are almost always native speakers and possess the highest qualifications in teaching English. Finally, if you only want to improve some skills, it is advisable to check if there are specific courses. This is the case for those who have already had this experience in the past and are interested in refining skills rather than in general learning.
Summer English courses abroad
Whatever the goal, enrolling in a summer English course is an excellent strategy to improve your level in the shortest possible time and benefit from the calm atmosphere of the summer. If that's what you have in mind, you can add other benefits by going on an English language stay, an authentic immersion experience that can increase the intensity of your exposure to the language and, consequently, the benefits for your learning. As we have seen, in this case the choice of destination will influence the choices of available courses. Ireland is one of the most popular destinations, especially among students who prefer to stay with a host family. Its inhabitants are famous for their warm welcome and Hebe offers a wide selection of families throughout the area ready to host those who come in large numbers every year to learn the language. It is also one of the primary choices for students seeking intensive lessons, thanks to the wide variety of programs offered and the excellent quality of teaching. The charming villages, lively cities and magnificent landscapes are also the perfect setting for an unforgettable study holiday. Ireland has what it takes to offer outstanding language immersion, and it's no surprise that students from around the world travel to this country to further their studies and learn about its rich culture.