English Language Lessons

Hours per week:

15 hours per week core English lessons

Maximum class size:

Maximum 16 students per class

Course focus:

Our General English courses focus on developing communicative skills which are immediately applicable in the real-world environment. Balancing accuracy and fluency, students can expect a focus on grammar, vocabulary, functional language and skills appropriate for their level.

Project based work is focused on developing various aspects of speaking sub-skills as well as areas such as creative and critical thinking. Students work in a team to create or develop products and presentations, conduct and participate in interviews, undertake and report on surveys. Sub-skills developed may include turn-taking, negotiation, problem solving and decision making and leading a team, to name but a few.

Heathfield International Summer School Curriculum

Our Curriculum is designed for students to get the most out of their English lessons, to provide a cohesive structure of study and so that all students get the same experience from their stay in Heathfield. The Curriculum is based on the following goals for our students:

1. We want them to learn as much about Britain as they can during their time here.
2. We want them to develop the language skills necessary to negotiate situations and problems in English during their stay.
3. We want them to improve the English they already have and improve their language proficiency.
4. We want to build their confidence, not only as speakers of English, but as young people.

Course materials:

Our teachers use a wide variety of resources for their lessons and projects, with a real emphasis on authentic materials. We use a selection of course books which can form the basis of structured lessons, but also much of our ethos is empowering our skilled teachers to produce authentic materials that are relevant to today’s climate and current affairs.

Placement:

Placement assessments take place the day after a student’s arrival, normally on a Sunday. Their English level, spoken and written, will be assessed by the teachers to decide the best class level for their needs. We accept students from elementary level (A2) up to and including proficiency level (C2), of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). Once all written and speaking assessments have been undertaken, our Director of Studies then forms the groups based on the results.

Trips:

are an important part of the education programme and students learn all about the places they visit and write about their trips and other activities in their Course Diaries, which they bring home for their parents to read.

Heathfield Diary:

All our international girls will keep a Course Diary about their stay in England. Their class teacher will take these in and correct it for them each week in order to help the girls improve their written English. Every week the class teacher will award a certificate for the best two diaries of the group. There’s even a prize for the best diary in the school!

English Language Learning

English using set course books and authentic materials. Classes include: