Category Archives: News from the Campus

Dance your fears away

Today I will write about my Get Ahead option dance and my difficulties with it. Surely you ask will ask: ‘what difficulties?’

I just wanted to try hip hop and salsa because I used to dance ballet and now I wanted to try some different types of dance. It was a lot of fun for me, and within four days we had learned three dances with different dance types.

However, I had a shock on Thursday when I was reminded that we had a dance show on Friday. In the beginning, I was not bothered at all, but the closer the show came, the more restless I became. When it was almost time for the show I wanted to give up, but we were already on the way to the theatre so I realised that it was already too late. Suddenly it was all too much and I started to cry.

Quickly lots of people came around me and comforted me. But sometimes we have to find our own way through difficult times. The only think that could cheer me up in that moment was the thought that I would most likely never see anyone again. A short time after that the dance teacher approached me and allowed me to perform only one dance. I thought about it for a long time and finally I decided to dance! It was a good decision because after the show I was very proud of myself and I felt relieved. Furthermore, I had fun 🙂

So the lesson is, follow your  dreams, believe in yourself and don’t give up!

Amelie (13) from Hamburg, Germany

Interested to know more? 

Meet Laura, our professional dance teacher

Read about our ‘Get Ahead’ Performing Arts options

 

King Kong – The Final Marshmallow

Once upon a time, in a world far from home,  teenagers from Brazil, Mongolia, Lithuania, Russia, the Ukraine, Poland, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Germany, Spain, Switzerland, France, Lebanon, Romania and Italy went on a journey of discovery in the woods.

They were well prepared taking with them hot chocolate to drink and marshmallows to eat. Using their survival skills (and with a little help from a pirate who they met in the woods) they made a camp fire in next to no time. The children stuck the marshmallows onto long sticks and held them like fishing rods over the flames until they went crispy and brown.  The sweet smell of warm marshmallows filled the clearing like a cloud fills the sky.

As the fire burnt brighter, the group relaxed. The brighter the fire burnt, the darker the shadows became and the closer the children felt. Imogen, a girl with green, blue, blonde hair from  a strange country called England started to sing. All of the teenagers joined in and they sang songs for hours long after the sun had set. Our international gang felt very happy.

The owls twooted. The foxes yelped. And the bats flitted in and out of the trees.

Suddenly, from behind the thick bamboo bushes there was a rumbling and a thumping. Leaves of bamboo shook. Branches cracked. Children stared in horror. Then suddenly  a giant gorilla jumped into the clearing, thumping his chest and roared “Give me the marshmallows!”

The children froze. Their feet stuck to the ground like lead weights. The gorilla came so close and breathed so strongly that even though they were wearing a lot of hair gel, all of their hairstyles were messed up! Terrified, no one had the courage to speak. No one apart from two young boys called Somar and Thomas. Slowly, the two boys, holding their arms outstretched, offered the bag of marshmallows to the gorilla.

The gorilla looked surprised to be offered sweets. He put his giant hand in the bag and it split open. The ground was sprinkled with marshmallows and the gorilla ate them all. He looked very happy. He smiled. He grinned. The young boys started to laugh and the gorilla laughed too.

So now the gang was made of children from Brazil, Mongolia, Lithuania, Russia, the Ukraine, Poland, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Germany, Spain, Switzerland, France, Lebanon, Romania and Italy together with one pirate, an English girl with blue, green and blonde hair and one very happy gorilla.

Teenage Global Citizens

 

Reaching the hand of friendship around the world

Which good causes are you most interested in?

Is it the protection of the environment? Is it helping the poorest in society? Is it medical research? Is it something completely different?

Part of becoming a global citizen is understanding the problems of  people on the other side of the world. Every country around the world has its problems. Last month, when we were in Brazil, we took the opportunity to ask Brazilian students to write reports advising us which Brazilian ‘good cause’ they thought most needed the support of More Than English students this summer.

The winning report was by Maria Luiza Oliveira Neves advocating support for  Instituto Nossa Senhora de Fatima (INSF). Read her report below. Which good cause does she suggest?

Report 

To: the Head teacher
From: Maria Luiza Oliveira Neves
Subject: good causes in Brazil
Date: 27-03-2017

Background:

The purpose of this report is to discuss about two good causes in Brazil and help the head teacher choose one to raise money for.

Fighting for the future

The world known favelas in Brazil are a set of poorly built dwellings that do not have full access to security and sewage treatment. There are millions of children without the proper education they need. In order to change that, the institution ‘’INSF - Instituto Nossa Senhora de Fátima’’ works on the development of children’s participation in society, through socio-educational activities, such as choir singing, theatre, sports and computer classes. In addition to that, they try to restore and strengthen family ties as well as rescue citizenship. However, to do so, INSF needs all the financial help they can get, to afford the educators, pedagogical professionals, supplies and cleaning materials. They are a non-profit religious institute trying their best to change a, believed to be, inevitable severe fate of these infants. Donating to this cause would definitely have a positive impact on the course of hundreds of children’s lives, taking them out of complete misery and giving them a priceless gift: hope.

Defending life

As for the reality of the people who have a drug addiction in Brazil, there is a non-profit social institute called ‘’ManassĂ©s’’, the main goal of which is to recover young people from the underworld of drugs. The residents go through a process of rehabilitation, recovery and social reinstatement, with safe methods for treatment. It is outrageous the amount of consequences the use of narcotics can bring, specially for those who are not economically stable in society. Knowing that, ManassĂ©s works with a 2-phased treatment, during approximately 9 months, and group activities. In terms of financial hurdles, they depend entirely on donations, so donating to this institute would bring back the lost lives of so many young people who are just starting their journey on this world. Supporting this cause means supporting the idea of finally having a society where the drugs are not sought to solve problems and we would all prosper in better conditions of life.

Summary and recommendation

Faced with two big issues, like the poverty inserted in Brazilian families and drug addiction situations, it is left an ultimate final question: which one would need more help, which one we should donate for? The answer to that is that both of them are equally urgent and equally needs attention, as well as compassion. However, seeing it from another perspective shows that children neglected from education would probably attract more donations. Narcotic addictions are, indeed, a chain of problems that can not be ignored, but providing education is the first step to accomplish a future fair and developed society. I would recommend choosing INSF to donate money for because of what they are doing to the future of these children and the future of our country – possibly our world.
Questions
Why we chose Maria’s report

The reason that Maria’s  report was so persuasive was a combination of the level of detail and the emotional engagement of the reader caused by use of short emotive phrases. A great example of this is when Maria summarised her reasons for supporting Instituto Nossa Senhora de Fatima (INSF) by saying that it would give “a priceless gift: hope.”  Maria’s report got our attention through excellent presentation of facts and through an appeal to our emotions.

More good causes

Here are some of the other things we learnt from other Brazilian teenagers about good causes in Brazil:

In her report, Victoria Lima wrote about the water crisis in Northern Brazil and a consequent 60% reduction in the number of crops planted.

Juliana Soares Borba put forward an argument that the key issue to tackle is extreme poverty focusing especially on the homeless.

Geovanna Vasconcelos focused on health provision, but challenged the idea that lack of money is the cause of problems blaming corruption instead.

Julia Vasconcelos identified Brazil’s rich inheritance in natural resources and raw materials and lamented the waste of potential that results when homeless children do not receive the education they deserve.

Linked to this, Tom Alvin described a mobile programme designed to help children called the Criança Esperança Programme and advocated support for SOS Children’s Villages which fosters orphan children.

Lunna Rayna outlined the work of Bola Pra Frente which uses the power of sport to teach children and teenagers who are exposed to criminality to become contributing citizens. However, she threw her support behind the 100% Animais Institute which supports animals that have been trafficked or deprived of their natural habitat.

Joao Felipe revealed the work of a wonderful charity called Casa do Amor which provides a stimulating environment for the elderly. Finally though, he gave priority to IMIP, a cancer hospital with limited funds.

Aleanna Lira underlined the importance of education in addressing inequality and warned against ignoring problems which left unsolved will “snowball”.

Social justice

If you are a teacher interested in whether English teaching and social justice should be combined, we highly recommend this lecture by the JJ Wilson at this April’s IATEFL Conference in Glasgow.

Special thanks to some very special teachers in Brazil

  • Renata Campos
  • Marilson
  • Israel Maciel

 

 

Young people can change the world

Sowing the seeds of change in Brazil

A big benefit of going on summer school is that students learn to become more responsible. They have to represent their country. With help from House Parents, they have to learn to live away from home. Plus, meeting students from around 15 other countries they start to understand more about the wider world.

This year on summer school students on the More Than English Speech Making programme learnt how to write speeches by analysing the language and structure of some famous speech makers such as Barack Obama and Martin Luther King. After that they wrote and delivered amazing speeches persuading the other students to donate money to help child refugees.

Claire from More Than English with legendary Brazilian English teacher Marilson

Who will our international summer school community raise money for this year? Claire from More Than English has just arrived back from a trip to Brazil where she asked students in schools to write a report describing two charities in Brazil, assessing how a donation could have an impact and recommending one. Let’s see which charity we’ll be raising money for in July 2017.

Education experts at BMI

Most students book their summer school place through an education agency. We’d like to thank all the agents that we met at BMI in São Paulo. It is wonderful to meet partners dedicated to high quality service and helping students choose the right school for them.

 

 

Back in Brazil with ‘Growth Mindset’ students

One year ago Claire and David went to the British Consulate in Brazil to talk with students and teachers about ‘Growth Mindset’. This is the idea that although it is true that people are born with differences in ability, these differences are not the biggest influence on how much we achieve in our lives. People are not born as geniuses. To become very good at something, perhaps to become the best in the world, you need 3 things:

Practice: 10,000 hours of purposeful practice

> You need a lot of practice. In fact, all the people who are the best in the world at anything (from chess, to playing an instrument, to tennis) have done 10,000 hours of focused practice. They are not born the best. They become the best.

Motivation: intrinsic motivation

> To be good at something you have to want to be good at it.  “Intrinsic motivation” is motivation from inside yourself. Another kind of motivation is “extrinsic motivation”. This is motivation from outside, for example, somebody else telling you that you must do something. To be very successful, you have to discover what will ‘fire up’ your intrinsic motivation.

 Feedback: quality of feedback

The best learners make more mistakes. For example, good language learners are not afraid to try using new grammatical structures and make a mistake. Good ice skaters are not afraid to try a difficult new move and to fall on the ice. However, at the same time, to improve, you need a good teacher who will help you see your mistakes and learn how to fix them and learn ‘new moves’.

Intelligence can change

If you have a Growth Mindset you believe that ability and intelligence can change. If you have a Fixed Mindset you believe that our abilities cannot change.

Think of the brain like a muscle. The more you use it, the more it grows.

Maybe the most important lesson that Growth Mindset has for teachers is that teachers should praise their students for their effort not for their grades. If a teacher says to a student “You got a grade ‘A’ – you are a genius” why will the student want to takes risks to improve? They already have been called a ‘genius’. Why would they want to risk losing that label by making a mistake? However, studies show that if a teacher praises students for effort not ability, they will take more risks and they will learn more.

Growth Mindset on summer school

What we say to students at More Than English is that the important thing is not how good you are at something right now. The important thing is how good you are going to be in the future. One of the best things about summer school at More Than English is that students are in an English speaking environment all day from 0730 until 2230 with teachers there to correct them, so they get lots of practice and the help they need to improve. At More Than English students  use their English to make friends with young people from 15 other countries. They use their English to new learn things from Film Making to Debating skills to Cooking. They use their English to discover the best places in the UK from Liverpool to London. Our students are able to see that English is a real tool that will unlock many doors. So, our hope is that when they go home, they return with the intrinsic motivation to learn more.

Maria, and Diego with Diego’s mother Daniela and Claire from More Than English in Brazil

In July 2016 Diego and Maria from Brazil listened to our seminar about Growth Mindset and decided to visit our summer school. Last week we saw them both again in Brazil. We’d like to say congratulations to you both for working so hard this year to make your dreams come true. Now you are inspiring us! Thank you Maria and Diego.

If you are interested in summer school for your child, here is what Diego’s mother Daniela says about More Than English:

"I would do it all over again, and for parents that are not sure yet about sending your kids, you all should do it. Get involved and you also be part of this wonderful experience. Thank you all More than English."
Claire and Maria

Maria -15 (Brazil) 

“If there’s one thing that I’ve learned at More Than English and it’s something that I’m taking with me for my life, it is that I can do anything!”

 

Congratulations!

Work hard, play hard

Bubble football, excursions to London, cinema trips with friends, of course summer school is a lot of fun. However, with study options from Film to Business, with visiting speakers, and with challenges from speech making to football competitions, summer school is also an important opportunity to learn a lot.

Ambitious students

However, the design of our programme is not the only reason that you will learn a lot at More Than English. The other reason is the amazing students that we welcome to our school. When you live and learn with motivated, and ambitious friends who want to learn English as much as you do, you learn quickly.

Achievements

We’d like to stay congratulations to these students for their incredible achievements:

Congratulations to Diego from Brazil for getting a place at university to study Law!

 

 

Congratulations to Carolina from Mexico for getting a place at a prestigious high school in the United States.

 

Congratulations to Elsa on getting the highest grade possible in English at your school in Latvia this year.

You too!

And if you are looking at these examples of success thinking “that will never be me” – “I can’t do that”. Think again. What’s important at school and in life, isn’t where you are now. It’s where you are going to be. If you work hard, listen to advice from teachers and learn from your mistakes, you can reach your goals too.

As Diego said in one of his essays:

“Everyone can achieve a really high level of proficiency at something through effort.”

Your stories

Ex-students: let us know what you are doing at school or university this year. We’d love to hear your stories too!

 

Best Mix of Nationalities

“I have been to many summer schools and I can assure you that this one has the best mix of nationalities so far.”  Maria – Spain

Nationality mix

Young people learn English so that they can communicate with other people all around the world on holiday, at university, and in their future careers. For better immersion in English and for a richer cultural experience, at More Than English summer school, we  make sure that our nationality mix is fantastic.

Last summer, we welcomed students from 13 countries: Spain, Poland, Italy, Czech Republic, France, Lithuania, Croatia, Latvia, Ukraine, Thailand, Brazil, Mexico and the UK. Ready for 2017, we’re pleased to receive bookings from two more countries: Switzerland and Germany.
“One of the good things about MTE is the mix of nationalities – there are students from all over the world! I liked it a lot”  Nicola – Italy

 

This amazing nationality mix means a better summer school experience in every way.

  • Students speak more English in the classroom.
  • Students speak more English during activities and excursions.
  • Students speak more English in the residences.
  • Students speak more English all day long!

In fact, because we have so many nationalities at More Than English, students have to speak in English!

More Than English is designed for individuals, not groups. That means students do not travel with a Group Leader from their own country. Our students experience studying independently. When they need something, they do not ask an adult from their own country. Instead, they ask a More Than English staff member using English.  Being  ‘individuals’ also means that our students spend no time speaking in their own language with friends from their own town or school from back home.

“In my class I got to know 7 different nationalities. Without them, it wouldn’t have been the same, so I really want to thank all of them for making my classes more fun and more exciting.” Laura – Brazil
So what’s the disadvantage?

There is only one problem with the diversity of nationalities you will find at More Than English. We only accept a limited number of speakers of each language. That means, to guarantee a place, you need to book early!

Why not design your course today using our online Course Builder? Or contact us to check availability info@morethanenglish.co.uk.

Other articles you might be interested in:
10 questions to ask when you are choosing a summer school
Immersion – our secret formula!
Choosing a summer school: ‘Group’ or ‘Individual programme’? 

 

Prague > Barcelona

Two amazing countries. Two amazing cities.

School owners David and Claire have just returned to the UK after meeting agency partners, parents and students in Prague and Barcelona.

Claire Norwood from More Than English said: “It was a great chance to share ideas, listen to advice and  ‘catch up with’ students from last summer!”

We’d like to say a big ‘thank you’ to everybody who made us feel so welcome in The Czech Republic and Spain.

Friendships that last

But More Than English staff are not the only people travelling and seeing amazing new countries. During summer school Carla from Spain and Klara (centre) from The Czech Republic practised their English a lot together and became very close friends.

What do friends do? They visit each other. After summer school Klara visited Carla in Barcelona for a week, which just shows that summer school is the first step on a much longer journey.

The biggest education conference in the world!

Truly international

How does meeting education experts from all over the world make you feel? Energised! Inspired! Claire Norwood and David Meddows from More Than English have returned back to the UK after attending ‘ICEF Berlin’ probably the world’s biggest education fair.

More Than English directors David and Claire had meetings with experts in education from: Italy, Peru, Brazil, Portugal, Czech Republic, Spain, Russia, Germany, Turkey, Israel, Lebanon, Georgia, Bulgaria, Romania, Poland, Finland, Bahrain and Latvia. 2444 people attended the three day event.

So what are the education experts talking about?

Pathways

Education specialists from different countries spoke about how important it is for courses to be part of a big plan. For students, every course must be a ‘stepping stone’ or a bridge to the next step.

This means that on summer school students need to learn to use their English in new ways by studying new subjects. They need to learn academic skills such as speech making and presentation skills. Very importantly also, teenagers need to learn how to work in international teams and gain confidence away from home so that when they are 18, they are ready and prepared to study successfully in any country they choose.

It’s personal

In the past, summer school students travelled in big groups with their friends. These days more and more parents understand that summer schools designed for individuals offer a much better immersion experience. Plus, of course, students need more specialised study options so they can follow their personal ambitions.

However, it’s not just the lessons that are important. Schools must look after every student as a VIP guest, offer amazing activities and answer parents’ questions very quickly.

 

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David and Claire from More Than English

We are going to Berlin!

More Than English will be in Berlin 30th October to 1st November 2016 at ‘ICEF Berlin’ arguably the world’s biggest and most prestigious education fair where schools, universities and education experts meet.

Summer school directors Claire Norwood and David Meddows will be meeting partners to exchange ideas and find new ways of working together to get the best outcomes for our students. Attending the event are education experts from 98 countries.

Claire Norwood, Director of Sales and Marketing, says: “What I love about working in international education is sharing ideas and experiences with other people from all over the world. It is always exciting.”

Citizens of the world

For young students 11-16, attending summer school at More Than English is the start of a wonderful journey. It’s where their love of foreign travel deepens. For many, it’s where they have their first experience of going abroad for total cultural and linguistic immersion on a programme designed for individuals. For all, it’s a journey that will give them a new perspective. As one Mexican parent said about her daughter’s experience on summer school this year: “it was so good for my daughter to realise that  in the end all teenagers have the same concerns and the same dreams no matter which part of the world they are from.”

Once we gain an international perspective, that’s a gift that stays with us for life. That is why David and Claire are very much looking forward to the start of their meetings in Berlin!