English as a Second Language

These courses are based on both age and language proficiency. Each course is designed so that the student can follow the program for either 2 or 4 weeks. The courses are theme based and will aid the student in their development within the use of the English Language.

ESL Beginners/Intermediate 7-10yrs

Session 1: 7 - 18 July 2008
Session 2: 21 July - 1 August 2008
Time: 9 am to 12:30 pm

The 7-10 year old Beginner ESL summer school is designed for students who have had less than approximately 18 months of English and Intermediate course for those who have had 18 months or more. As we understand that each child learns language at his or her own pace, the teacher will evaluate your child on the first day of class to ensure that they have been placed in the correct level. Both the Beginner and the Intermediate ESL 7-10 courses are built around the theme of My World. In the first week students will learn vocabulary and grammar to talk about themselves and their family. By the end of the second week, students should have a good knowledge of Singapore, and be able to plan a trip around the island. In the third week the students will become experts on their own cultural traditions and teach their classmates about them. Finally, in the fourth week, the students will study factual information about Space.

In each theme there are a variety of speaking, listening, reading, writing and vocabulary activities that are designed to improve your child’s English level. Each week students will work towards an oral or written presentation on the theme they have been studying. During each lesson, the morning session will usually be devoted to learning vocabulary and grammar related to the theme. Students will then have a twenty-minute break, and in the following session they will have the chance to practice what they have learned in the morning. Before each class starts, there will be a short review game/ activity where the students will review vocabulary that was taught the previous day. There will also be story telling where the children can listen to stories for pleasure. Games and other fun activities will be played, and not much homework will be given. The Intermediate course will contain more challenging texts, and writing activities, however the themes being studied in each class are the same. The children will, however, go on all field trips together.


ESL Beginners 11-13yrs

Session 1: 7 - 18 July 2008
Session 2: 21 July - 1 August 2008
Time: 9 am to 12:30 pm

The 11-13 year old Beginner ESL summer school is designed for students who have had less than approximately 18 months of English and Intermediate course for those who have had 18 months or more. As we know that each student learns language at his or her own pace, the teacher will evaluate your child on the first day of class to ensure that they have been placed in the correct level.

The 11-13 Beginner course is built around the theme of The World Around Us. In the first two weeks the students will study the topic of Food and in the second two weeks the students will study about Entertainment. In each theme there are a variety of speaking, listening, reading, writing and vocabulary activities that are designed to improve your child’s English level. In the first session on Food, students will practice their speaking skills by participating in restaurant role-plays, write opinion paragraphs, watch a video on unusual food and read authentic menus. In the second session on Entertainment, students will listen to a story on hobbies, write a movie review and magazine article review, read a magazine article and present their favorite musician.

The morning session is usually devoted to learning new vocabulary and grammar. Students will then have a twenty-minute break, and then they will have the chance to practice what they have learned. Before each class starts, there will be a short review game/ activity where the students will review vocabulary that was taught the previous day. There will be an excursion which is related to the educational objectives of the course.


ESL Intermediate 11-13yrs

Session 1: 7 - 18 July 2008
Session 2: 21 July - 1 August 2008
Time: 9 am to 12:30 pm

The Summer School ESL program for 11 to 13-year-olds is aimed to improve and enrich students’ overall use of the English language. The program is built around carefully chosen themes designed to motivate learners. There will be a new theme each session. In the first two weeks the students will study the topic of We are Global Citizens and in the second two weeks the students will study about Caring for the Earth.

The program develops language and social skills through a wide variety of activities, which include: reading tasks and comprehension, vocabulary building, grammar, writing assignments, discussion and oral presentations, and reading and listening to stories and poetry. If students could be further challenged, there would be a light emphasis on project work and research skills.

With a communicative approach to teaching, students are involved in speaking activities, meaningful writing tasks, and reading for both pleasure and information. Since the emphasis is on communication, students will often work together in pairs and groups.

The program is aimed to provide students a motivating, rewarding and enjoyable educational experience.


ESL 14-18yrs

Session 1: 7 - 18 July 2008
Session 2: 21 July - 1 August 2008
Time: 9 am to 12:30 pm

The 14-18 year old ESL summer school is an English course designed for students who are studying English at an intermediate to upper intermediate level. It is suitable for students who need to use English on a day to day basis in their educational settings. Students who are new to English will find this course challenging, and should be prepared to put in extra work outside of class. Throughout the course there is an emphasis on writing as the students being taught different essay styles and text types.

Students will be expected to improve their reading and vocabulary skills through a variety of texts, articles, short stories and essays. There is also a very strong emphasis on spoken and listening skills. Students will be expected to speak English in class, discuss issues and do presentations in front of an audience.

There are two themes in this course. In the first session students will be studying English through the theme of Sports and Pastimes. Through this theme the students will be expected to complete a daily writing task. Some example writing pieces which they will be expected to produce are: An argumentative essay, a magazine article, an information brochure, and a research project.

In the second session, students will study Unsolved Mysteries Around the World. Again, students will be expected to write daily, some example assignments are: A newspaper article, a report, and an interview. Each lesson is divided into two sessions, with a twenty minute break in between. Depending on the day, students can do reading, writing, listening and speaking skills in either the morning or afternoon sessions.

It is expected that students complete all homework, be expected to prepare for class, and study for quizzes. It would be beneficial if students had access to a computer at home. There will be an excursion which is related to the instructional objectives of the summer school course.