Category Archives: News from the Campus

Day 26 – Monday, 5 August 2019 – International Mocktail Night

Final debate preparations

Model UN debate class is wrapping up their research in expectation of tomorrow’s big debate. They’ll be discussing AI and its impact on the society – both the good and the bad.
To effectively prepare, they have been learning key phrases used in high-level debates as well as formal procedures which are used in real UN debates. Good luck!

See what Mateusz from Poland says about Model UN

Get Ahead – Tennis

After three lessons of tennis with professional coaches, improvements are more than apparent. Students are showing lots of ambition!

Get Ahead – Creative Writing

Creative writing is perfect for students who wish to learn how to express themselves through storytelling. It’s not easy to master, but the class is working hard in getting their stories perfected.

We’re excited to see what Iveta will come up with!

Getting sporty

With so much learning to do, some time to relax comes in very handy. Today, students could play volleyball or grab a stick and see what unihockey is like.

Now, where did that ball go?
Thats what you call a good serve!

International Mocktail Night

Two weeks after International Night, More Than English students and staff got another chance to “taste” the variety of countries represented at summer school. This time, students made mocktails, after lots of experimentation and team effort.

Learning about other nationalities in the most fun way possible

Day 25 – Sunday, 4 August 2019 – Birmingham & Mountain Walk

It’s time for another half-day excursion, this time with students choosing between a relaxed trip to Birmingham or an adventurous mountain walk.

University and job interview prep

We call it Core English, but students learn so much more than just English in our classrooms. Today, some of the students dressed up and participated in simulated competency based job interviews. Being one of life’s most useful skills, we were happy to see how well they managed to present themselves, as well as how successful they were in using special *phrases and specific examples to prove that they possessed the required competencies for the courses and positions.

Examples of interview *phrases:

Phrases that express what you did, and what you learnt this

  • I further discovered that…
  • I ‘x…ed’ enabling me to develop my ‘y…’ skills / understanding of ‘z…’
  • These three weeks enabled me to…
  • Taking part in ‘x…’ showed me that…
  • Being … was profoundly enlightening
  • taking part in ‘x…’  developed my…
  • ‘x…’ helped me to see
The interview panel – ready to grill candidates
Success in interviews: practice, passion and preparation

Mountain walk

A true challenge even for the fittest among us. Students walked along a mountain-top and enjoyed the fresh air, all the while being surrounded by mesmerising nature.
However, sometimes, even the best laid mountain adventure plans don’t go to plan. So when heavy rain hit the mountain, we shortened the walk, abandoned the mountain and added in a visit to Stokesay Castle and Ludlow too. Always overcome obstacles!

No better way to do some exercise!

Birmingham

Those who wanted a more laid-back trip could explore England’s second biggest city, Birmingham. After a nice walk through the city, they could continue to discover the secrets of the city’s centre or enjoy some shopping time.

Disclaimer: don’t try petting a bull yourself

Mocktail prep

One delicious dinner later, students were ready to prepare for one of our favourite activities – International Mocktail Night! Making drinks isn’t as easy as it may seem, but with some research and careful thinking, we’re sure that greatness will come!

Using our English in new ways

Day 24 – Saturday, 3 August 2019 – Quiz Night

A Discussion panel in the classroom

Researching the facts first.

Speaking in the classroom should not have to rely solely on students answering questions posed by the teacher. Teenagers can speak for themselves and if they are guided and given the proper “ammo” they can run their own panel discussion and talk things out, based on research and facts. Using role-play, students could end up standing up for a view opposite to their own which leads to something very important: they can understand and empathize with the opposition. Such a valuable lesson, especially in today’s polarized political environment, marred by tribalism.

Panel discussion.

Quiz Night

The amount of preparation for quiz night is tremendous. It is definitely one of the highlights of summer school. Every time it ends with kids laughing and cheering out of joy, you know it was worth every minute.

Well-organized in an understatement.

What is the country with the most natural lakes? Where is the smallest bone in your body? How many languages are spoken in Asia? No, you don’t get to ask Siri or Google. Actually, all smartphones are collected before the show even begins. So, gather around a table with the rest of your house mates and get ready for Quiz Night.

Geography, video games, sports, film pantomime, charades, famous people and general knowledge. If your team is diverse enough, you stand a very good chance of winning, but you don’t only have to be knowledgable, you also have to be quick.

Bonus meta-questions give extra points.

At the end of each round, there was a music question to get the players to listen and then dance to the song. Besides, moving and getting the blood flowing helps you think better, right? Oh, and bonus points for the best dancing…

Earning those bonus points.

All three teams (houses) were amazing and the two forerunners had only one point difference. They all deserve a big round of applause.

And the winners were…

Finally, no-one even wondered where their phone was all this time. By keeping teenagers engaged in well-designed and fun activities, we can tap on their creativity and team spirit, without the need for technology.


The BIG quiz: the full story

Day 23 – Friday, 2 August 2019 – Cushions

It’s the last week of summer school, but there is still plenty of learning to do, activities to do and excursions to go on.

Learn English, but not only English

Core English lessons help students develop their language skills through a variety of engaging ways, many of which greatly benefit their personal skills too.
For example, they take part in class debates and discussions on complex issues such as international politics, gender equality and ethical tourism. Such activities are especially important in today’s age of rampant misinformation – it has never been more important for teenagers to learn how to think critically.

Another 21st century skill our teachers make sure students work on is creative thinking. At first, such a way of thinking may seem almost redundant in an ever growing market of STEM jobs, however that is exactly where creative thinking is most needed. If they want to help push the world forward, young people will need new ideas and ways to approach global issues.

We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.

Albert Einsted (adapted)

Lunch time!

Our chefs started off the week by revisiting the epitome of British dishes, fish and chips. With a nice desert, some vegan and vegetarian options, it made for a fantastic afternoon meal – just what we needed to tackle on the rest of our busy day.

fish and chips
We know you’d love some too!

Get Ahead introductions

Today, students meet their expert teachers and get right into their preferred activities.
Whether they chose something they’re already good at or decided to try something new, they will certainly learn a lot and get a perfect environment to improve their skills.

Model United Nations class is working on preparing their big debate
David from Poland taking a swing at golf

Evening is time to relax and have fun

At Club Time, students always have a choice of different activities. Today, they could get sporty and play rounders, a classical English game, or get creative and make lovely cushions.

It feels great when you make something on your own
Bowling – a great time to get to know your friends better

A fantastic day to kick off the week, don’t you think? Let’s get some rest and do it all over again tomorrow.

Day 22 – Thursday, 1 August 2019 – Harry P. & the Horses

As week three comes to a close, we say goodbye to some of our students, but also welcome some new ones.

Departures

No doubt we’re all sad to have to wave goodbye, but at the same time, we can’t help it but be delighted to see how many friends students have made in only a couple of weeks. Friends might fly away home to the other side of the world – yet that won’t mean an end to their companionship. Our returning students regularly tell us about how they keep in touch with friends they met here – even if it was years ago!

The deeper the sorrow, the sweeter the joy
Have a safe flight home!

Arrivals

A fresh week also means that some new students join our team. We wish them a great stay here and plenty of learning English!

For other students, Thursday is a more relaxed day when they can recharge and get ready for another week of learning to use their English in new ways.

A nice walk to Ludlow

Some chose to visit Ludlow, the quintessential English town, just 5 minutes’ drive from the campus. Ludlow Castle was built by the Norman (French) invasion force led by William the Conqueror that conquered England in 1066.

The stunning walk to Ludlow is 20 minutes through fields and forest

The secrets of Harry Potter

Lovers of this book and movie franchise got an opportunity to step behind the scenes and learn more about their favourite characters. They even saw authentic props and rooms that the movies were filmed in!

Study like Granger, eat like Weasley, live like Potter!

Horses aren’t just beautiful to look at

Horse riding is a perfect way to truly and completely connect with nature. Under the careful eye of a professional guide, students went on a ride through the forest.

What students really loved was the fact that the ride was not in paddock, not on a road: our trek was through forest tracks deep in the forest. A real adventure!

See for yourself what horse riding is like

Ready for another great week? Let’s do it!

Day 21 – Wednesday, 31 July 2019 – London, Warwick Castle & Stratford

London

Because the early bird catches the worm and in this case, the worm was the largest city in the United Kingdom and the 27th largest in the world, we got up early today. We were heading to London.

London calling.

One group went to the British Museum and spent a couple of hours immersed in history, witnessing artefacts of worldwide heritage, such as the Rosetta Stone, the Parthenon Marbles and the Egyptian mummies.

Andrei (Romania), Benedict, Charlie and Victor (Germany) after a quick history lesson about the Parthenon.

The other group went on a boat ride from the Tower of London to Westminster and then went on a walking tour towards Piccadilly Circus. Eventually, the two groups met and headed to Buckingham Palace.

We used our weather control system to make sure our photos were brilliant that day.

Warwick Castle & Stratford

At the same time, another group of students stepped back in history and explored the marvellous Warwick Castle. On the nearly 1000-year-old site, they went into a scary dungeon to experience a lesser known side of history. For a more classic story, they saw a live reenactment of an important piece of England’s past – the Wars of the Roses. Live actors, horses, and special effects served as a great reminder of how captivating history can be.

Did you know that both William the Conqueror and Winston Churchill lived in the castle? We wonder if they were roommates…

Archery, bird shows, exhibitions… There were plenty of things to do and see at Warwick, but our students had another important historical place to visit…

Stratford upon Avon

In the city’s centre, one house stands apart from all the rest. In fact, it stands apart from every other house in the world. It is where William Shakespeare was born. It is hard not to be in awe knowing that you are standing just a few feet (almost three times less in metres) away from where the greatest writer in the entire history of English literature took his first steps.

“We know what we are, but know not what we may be.” – Hamlet

Such moments make us wonder where our students will be when they grow up – just how proud we’ll feel when we hear how they’re tackling the world’s toughest challenges. We can’t wait to read all about it in the future, when it is all history.

Header photo by Christopher Chadarevian, More Than English alumnus.

Day 20 – Tuesday, 30 July 2019 – Drama & Speeches

Today was a big day for More Than English because the students had yet another opportunity to show their work to the rest of us. Showing your work – no matter how good it is – is important if you want to promote resilience and the growth mindset. And we do!

Drama performance

First meeting for Laura’s Drama and Theatre Get Ahead group.

The Drama and Theatre Get Ahead option is ideal for those students who like doing creative work and also like to work in a group and perform on stage for an audience.

This year’s play was about what it means to be a president and had a lot to teach our students about power and responsibility.

This year’s drama group performing at Regal Theatre in Tenbury Wells.

Speeches

First meeting for Tom’s Speech Making Get Ahead group.

The Speech Making Get Ahead option is for those teenagers who want to become change-makers and spread their ideas for a better world.

This year’s theme was Respect and our three speakers talked about respecting our bodies, our fellow human beings and the environment.

Corina (Romania), Alix (France) and Miruna (Romania) delivering their speeches.

Day 19 – Monday, 29 July 2019 – Variety show & photo challenge

Can you imagine a better school?

What if somebody asked you to come up with a better school? The C-level students were given this opportunity in class and they came up with ideas to improve the school experience. They also did surveys to get opinions from other classes, where the needs and learning goals are different. When it comes to education reform, we should definitely involve the number one stakeholders: The students themselves.

Let’s make school better.

What is unihockey?

At More Than English, teenagers are encouraged to try something new. One of the clubs available to them is the sport Unihockey. It is also known as Swiss floorball, which is a variety of floorball, a floor hockey game. It can be quite challenging, that’s why it’s so popular at summer school.

Let’s play

Variety show

The variety show is a chance for students to do or perform something in front of the entire More Than English campus community. From sports and gymnastics to music and photography.

Alejandro (Spain) doing a slam dunk.

How do you define music? Can you play music using just your hands and a few plastic cups?

Apparently, you can and it can be really good too.

Photo challenge finalists

  • Photo by Moritz
  • Photo by Moritz
  • Photo by Jerzy
  • Photo by Mikulas
  • Photo by Jerzy
  • Photo by Mikulas
  • Photo by Eloi
  • Photo by Jerzy
  • Photo by Mikulas
  • Photo by Moritz
  • Photo by Jakub
  • Photo by Iveta
  • Photo by Eloi
  • Photo by Jakub
  • Photo by Iveta
  • Photo by Eloi
  • Photo by Jakub
  • Photo by Iveta
Eloi (3rd and 2nd place) and Moritz (1st place)

Day 18 – Sunday, 28 July 2019 – Jungle Adventure

On Mondays, students take a break from Get Ahead classes and pick a half-day excursion option. Today we went on an exciting jungle adventure. But not before working on our English!

English beyond the classroom

Come with us on a brief snapshot of what’s going on in Core English this morning:

  • Presentations; discussions; listening to what other people say; responding to what other people say; analysing stories; developing writing skills
Core English snapshot

We’ve said it before. We’ll say it again. Never underestimate teenagers and never underestimate what they can do with their English. In this next video B2 teacher Ian explains how his class are learning about Crisis Mapping. To be more specific, your teenagers are learning how they can use their English in the real world to map and manage crises:

A fun way to work on personal skills

Our students love spending time outdoors. Especially when they can have a lot of fun doing so – for example by playing paintball or climbing up high ropes.

The jungle adventure is a perfect example of something that is a constant in summer school experience: students going out of their comfort zone. Students trying something they never imagined themselves doing. Students embracing new challenges.

Paintball isn’t just mindless fun – it helps students learn how to master teamwork. If they didn’t work together, their chances of winning a match would be slim.

The jungle adventure (Music: bensound.com)

A nice recharge

Running around, jumping, tactical thinking… All the jungle adventures made students very tired. Seeing the delicious food waiting for them made them quite cheerful! Tonight they had a rare, but tasty snack: pizza.

…And as every one of our students are individuals (there are no groups at More Than English) – our team of chefs made an individual pizza for every student too. Quite a feat, you’ll agree.

Pizza
Yes, it’s pizza!

More outside time

After dinner, literally just across the road from the campus, students entered the magical world of Mortimer Forest. They strode uphill surrounded by trees that were hundreds of years old. Makes you think…

Not too far from the summit of Climbing Jack, we asked students if they would like to stop and return back or push on to the summit. We were so impressed when the vast majority elected to go for the top. We were also impressed by how far the less experienced walkers had reached. Well done everyone!

We finished of the day with a nice gathering around the campfire with hot chocolate and marshmallows. What a long day it’s been! What an EPIC day it’s been. Let’s go to bed now and get some rest.

Forest walk
A gorgeous sunset in the forest

Day 17 – Saturday, 27 July 2019

With Saturday came a change in the weather. Last couple of days were very hot, so students didn’t mind the refreshing lower temperatures.

Enjoying lunch

Lunch isn’t just about getting your energy back up. We want students to enjoy their food and maybe try something new.
There are always multiple options available, including those for special dietary requirements. 
So, did we manage to make lunch something students look forward to? No better way to find out than to ask them. Watch the video to see what they said.

Speak up

Communication is a very important skill for young people to develop. Not only does it help their self-esteem, but it’s also useful when making small talk, meeting new people and, one day, having a successful job interview.
Students in the speech making Get Ahead class are working hard to better their speaking competence.
Before they can start inspiring others, it’s important for them to learn from the best. They listened to some of Barack Obama’s best speeches and analysed a great piece from Dr. West, a famous social critic.

I am deeply suspicious of smartness. Let the phones be smart, let us be wise.

Dr. Cornell West
Watching and learning

Go pro with Get Ahead sport

Being excellent at sports isn’t something that you’re born with. Good, maybe. But not excellent.
It takes practice, and most importantly, expert coaching to really be the best. Today, our golf students worked on their swing technique under the careful eye of PGA coach Dan.

It’ll be a long walk to get that ball back… Good job, Moritz!

A student favourite

There’s nothing more fun than bouncing around on the ground and running into your friends without anyone getting hurt. That’s exactly what bubble football is for.
Take a look at some highlights in the video below.

(Music: bensound.com)