short-term educational programs (camps)
Over the years, we have organized many highly successful short-term educational programs during the summer and Chinese New Year vacations. These programs not only provide participants rich cultural, academic, and English lessons, they often change lives! Many students have returned home to be more diligent in their studies, kinder to family and friends, and more positive in their lives.
How do we accomplish such success? We accomplish it by involving dedicated and experienced faculty, counselors, and youth mentors. In all our camps, international students stay with selected loving American families where they learn about American culture in an intimate and practical setting. We also involve many American youths as buddies or young mentors to work closely with the international students on different projects. In this case, the American youths will learn important leadership and cultural skills while the international students will learn to communicate in English in a very down-to-earth manner. Such collaborative projects may include performance for the community, a sports competition, a comedy skit, a wilderness pioneering experience, some problem-based leadership training, and so on.
We also offer a wide-range of camps in different locations in Utah and California. Following are a few examples:
How do we accomplish such success? We accomplish it by involving dedicated and experienced faculty, counselors, and youth mentors. In all our camps, international students stay with selected loving American families where they learn about American culture in an intimate and practical setting. We also involve many American youths as buddies or young mentors to work closely with the international students on different projects. In this case, the American youths will learn important leadership and cultural skills while the international students will learn to communicate in English in a very down-to-earth manner. Such collaborative projects may include performance for the community, a sports competition, a comedy skit, a wilderness pioneering experience, some problem-based leadership training, and so on.
We also offer a wide-range of camps in different locations in Utah and California. Following are a few examples:
ESL Camps
These camps focus on rigorous ESL (English as a Second Language) training. Students have ESL classes every morning on various practical topics. In the afternoon, they will go to real-world settings where they can apply what they have just learned. For example, a lesson on shopping may include questions to ask, typical vocabularies, best place to find bargains, proper etiquette when shopping in America, etc. Then, students will have an opportunity to go to their favorite outlet mall to shop and apply what they have learned. Another example is a lesson on U.S. government followed by a visit to the state capitol and discussion with a local government leader. Other lessons may include U.S. sports, cooking, local geology, pioneer holiday, and so on. Students will also have many excursions and activities such as visiting the water park, amusement park, etc.
Performance-based Camps
The stage can be a very powerful venue for international students to learn a language and cultural because they are forced (but not in a threatening way) to get out of their comfort zone and collaborate with a native English speaker to put together a performance. In this process, they learn about public speaking, posture, proper pronunciation (or no one will understand them), and some popular American songs. Students in these camps develop incredible bonds with their American buddies because they work so closely. This approach has a strong theoretical base in drama & music for language acquisition, emotional foundation in language learning, multiple intelligences, and AVK (Audio, Visual, and Kinesthetic) Learning. In fact, Dr. Peter Chan and Ms. Mindy Young gave a stirring presentation on what they called Theatrical Approach to Language Learning at the TESOL International Convention and Language Expo in 2013. Close to a hundred academics from all over the world packed their conference room. Ms. Young again presented this important language pedagogy at TEDx in 2014.
These camps focus on rigorous ESL (English as a Second Language) training. Students have ESL classes every morning on various practical topics. In the afternoon, they will go to real-world settings where they can apply what they have just learned. For example, a lesson on shopping may include questions to ask, typical vocabularies, best place to find bargains, proper etiquette when shopping in America, etc. Then, students will have an opportunity to go to their favorite outlet mall to shop and apply what they have learned. Another example is a lesson on U.S. government followed by a visit to the state capitol and discussion with a local government leader. Other lessons may include U.S. sports, cooking, local geology, pioneer holiday, and so on. Students will also have many excursions and activities such as visiting the water park, amusement park, etc.
Performance-based Camps
The stage can be a very powerful venue for international students to learn a language and cultural because they are forced (but not in a threatening way) to get out of their comfort zone and collaborate with a native English speaker to put together a performance. In this process, they learn about public speaking, posture, proper pronunciation (or no one will understand them), and some popular American songs. Students in these camps develop incredible bonds with their American buddies because they work so closely. This approach has a strong theoretical base in drama & music for language acquisition, emotional foundation in language learning, multiple intelligences, and AVK (Audio, Visual, and Kinesthetic) Learning. In fact, Dr. Peter Chan and Ms. Mindy Young gave a stirring presentation on what they called Theatrical Approach to Language Learning at the TESOL International Convention and Language Expo in 2013. Close to a hundred academics from all over the world packed their conference room. Ms. Young again presented this important language pedagogy at TEDx in 2014.
Leadership Camps
Camps that focus on leadership development use a variety of methods to help students understand the principles of and practice leadership. Past participants have found such experiences to be inspiring, uplifting, and unique from all other educational experiences that they have had. We use experienced trainers who are able to motive them and help them understand how they can apply these principles in real life.
Wilderness Camps
International students love the wilderness camps in America because they are so different than their living environments back home. They get to not only enjoy the pristine nature of America's national parks but learn various games, artifacts, and survival skills that will help them appreciate nature and the simplicity of life. Free from cell phones and other electronic distractions, many of them learn to communicate and enjoy the simple human interaction for the first time in their lives. They also learn to do chores that are necessary to provide the daily necessities.
Camps that focus on leadership development use a variety of methods to help students understand the principles of and practice leadership. Past participants have found such experiences to be inspiring, uplifting, and unique from all other educational experiences that they have had. We use experienced trainers who are able to motive them and help them understand how they can apply these principles in real life.
Wilderness Camps
International students love the wilderness camps in America because they are so different than their living environments back home. They get to not only enjoy the pristine nature of America's national parks but learn various games, artifacts, and survival skills that will help them appreciate nature and the simplicity of life. Free from cell phones and other electronic distractions, many of them learn to communicate and enjoy the simple human interaction for the first time in their lives. They also learn to do chores that are necessary to provide the daily necessities.
Cowboy dance in the wild
Customized Camps
We are capable of customizing camps to cater to the needs of different groups. They can also be modified to fit the needs of elementary, secondary, or college learners. For corporate learning experiences, we work closely with our clients to customize the entire experience and invite world-renowned experts to train adult learners.
Please CONTACT US today to learn more about our camps!
We are capable of customizing camps to cater to the needs of different groups. They can also be modified to fit the needs of elementary, secondary, or college learners. For corporate learning experiences, we work closely with our clients to customize the entire experience and invite world-renowned experts to train adult learners.
Please CONTACT US today to learn more about our camps!