At Tutor Japan we love and recommend summer programs or summer schools to our clients. You might wonder, why is that? What makes summer programs so special and what are the benefits? Let’s dive into it!
What are Summer Programs and Summer Schools?
“Summer Program” and “Summer School” both refer to short-term study options for students, usually ranging from 1 week up to 4 weeks. As the name suggests, these study options take place during summer, with July being the most popular month! The name might slight differ depending on the institution that is offering the course. Generally, you can expect Summer Schools to have a stronger academic focus, whereas Summer Programs offer many social and enrichment activities while still providing language classes. Summer Schools can also offer a broader range of scholarly subjects, such as STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) or Art. On the other hand, a Summer Program can also just target improving skills, for example by combining language learning with sports training.
Summer Programs / Summer Schools can be organized directly from an education institution (such as a boarding school or a language school) or an independent organization that rents facilities only during the program dates to offer its own courses and curriculum. Many boarding schools in the UK fall under the latter option: a boarding school rents out its space to an independent organization.
What do Summer Programs/Summer Schools include?
A typical program structure involves lessons in the morning, afternoon social activities, and evening group activities. Moreover, on weekends day trips and excursions are planned for the students to discover their host country and explore the culture. Usually when booking a program you can choose whether to enrol as a residential student, meaning you’ll stay at the program facilities as a “boarding student”, or you can choose to participate as a “day student” as your accommodation will not be included in the price. Residential students have their meals and accommodation included and most programs also provide airport pickup services to ensure that the students arrive safely at the location.
Many programs that offer language courses also award students with a certificate by the end of the program. This can be useful when considering transferring to a different school or potentially abroad for further study opportunities. Some summer programs and summer schools for students aged 15+ also include reference letters and preparation for university entry.
The image below shows a sample timetable from our partner Malvern College Summer School in the UK. Children choose modules (English, creative arts, STEM, outdoor pursuits, sports, and performing arts) to design their own summer experience.
Benefits of Summer Programs
Joining a Summer Program or a Summer School has many benefits.
Firstly, joining a program, especially an overseas program, provides students with hands-on opportunities to use their English skills. Some programs will have students from up to 80 different countries participate, therefore, everyone communicates using English. Additionally, students will meet many people from all over the world and they can make new friends. Thus, by the end of the program, children will have improved their English and intercultural communication skills.
Moreover, students will learn a lot during their short time at a Summer Program. Some parents have even stated that their child has gone through a transformation from a shy person towards a grown and outspoken one. By interacting with different people throughout the program, students gain confidence in themselves and in their abilities. Moreover, all programs offer enrichment and social activities. These can range from various types of sports (soccer, basketball, rugby, golf, badminton, tennis) to art and crafting (including cooking) to activities such as outdoor pursuits, horse riding, drama and theater, music, and more. The enrichment programs provide students with so many opportunities to try new things and expand their horizons. This results in your child discovering new interests and hobbies and picking up new skills that they can apply in their daily life.
Lastly, the option to choose between residential and day programs can smoothly complement a family’s travel plans. Residential programs are suitable for slightly older children and those generally interested in boarding schools. Students have the opportunity to experience life as a boarder for a brief time and imagine if pursuing study abroad options in the future is for them. Day programs on the other hands are a fantastic option if a family travels abroad for a week or two and the child would like to participate in activities that are tailored to their age and skillset. This also allows for children to make beautiful memories and spend time making friends. Children will not be bored and they will not be lonely.
Our Summer Program Service
When you come to Tutor Japan to ask us about summer programs, here’s how we can help:
- Tutor Japan will search for different programs based on your needs and requests. Firstly, we will check what our current partner institutions offer. If needed, we will look beyond our partner database to find the most suitable program option for you and your family.
- Next Tutor Japan helps register your child for the program. We can register your child for you or help you navigate language barriers if you prefer to register by yourself.
- Lastly, Tutor Japan continues to communicate between you and the program institution to ensure all your concerns have been addressed. This can also include questions regarding the airport pickup service and allergies for example.
Our Partners
We have built partnerships with Summer Boarding Courses (SBC), Mander Portman Woodward (MPW), and SKOLA who are solely focused on programs in the UK. Our partners at Sportech Academy and Quality English offer programs in Italy and other English-speaking regions.
Our Summer Program and Summer School partners operate in the following locations:
- Canada
- Ireland
- Italy
- Malta
- New Zealand
- South Africa
- The UK
- The US
If you are interested in summer programs, please reach out to us via email, LINE, WhatsApp, or Instagram! Let your child have an unforgettable summer abroad!
