Teens Language & Adventures Camp - Santa Barbara, California. USA

We have been using the most up-to-date English teaching methods and providing high quality English courses since 1978. Our approach to English language learning utilizes the communicative English teaching method, a way of teaching that employs a number of holistic techniques to English grammar, English vocabulary, spoken English, English listening, and English reading and writing. Our holistic techniques prioritize the ability to use these English skills in real-world situations.

OUR TEACHERS

All teachers are native speakers of American English and have a university degree and specialized training in Teaching English as a Second Language. Teachers create highly-structured lesson plans that provide warm-up exercises, an explanation of the lesson objectives, some form of student production, and a listing of the activities used to reach the objective. Teachers allow students to “discover” the objective, to give them ample opportunity to practice the objective, and then provide an assessment in order to ascertain that the objective has been understood and met. All teachers have had experience studying a second language and many have spent time living abroad. In addition to being highly qualified academically, teachers are warm, friendly, and supportive to all students.

THE COMMUNICATIVE TEACHING METHOD

Our communicative teaching method is focused on improving communicative competence in English by using techniques where the teacher acts as a facilitator in the classroom, while encouraging students to use the English language as often as possible.

ENGLISH GRAMMAR

We recognize that English grammar is often a challenge for English language learners. Verb tenses, such as simple present, present continuous, simple past, past continuous, simple future, future continuous, and future perfect continuous can be difficult for English language learners to comprehend and to effectively use in real-world situations. Grammar concepts that are introduced through the techniques of discovery tend to be more effective than English grammar concepts that are introduced through more traditional teaching techniques.While our teaching method utilizes resources such as grammar texts and other material to learn basic grammar, we feel that enacting real-life scenarios is the most effective way to teach and reinforce English grammar.

English grammar teaching techniques also use grammar exercises that mimic uses of the English language in real-world situations. Our techniques differentiate between formal and informal English so that students feel comfortable switching between the two uses with ease. We focus on refining a student’s structural English skills, and over time increasing his/her confidence using English in social situations. We prefer teaching techniques that are consistent with our method, whereby lessons teach and reinforce English grammar rules by enacting real-life scenarios.

ENGLISH VOCABULARY

English vocabulary is an important part of learning and understanding the English language. English language learners are inundated with English vocabulary every day in the real world through movies, media, and daily life. A student’s vocabulary grows over time and compiling vocabulary lists from resources like books or other texts and materials is a great way to strengthen vocabulary.

It is a teacher’s job to make sure that students learn and understand this vocabulary. Teachers can reinforce new vocabulary through a number of comprehension exercises of any unfamiliar words. These exercises may also assist students with the learning and retention of these new words, by using teaching techniques such as vocabulary exercises, word searches, quizzes, and games.

SPOKEN ENGLISH

Our spoken English teaching techniques stress real-world communication and English conversation versus rote memorization. Because our communicative method is a student-centered approach, the teacher must work as a facilitator in an effort to help students develop English speaking skills for a range of purposes. Our teaching techniques are focused on increasing speaking English in classroom, as well as the pronunciation of words, and utilizing new vocabulary as much as possible. The classroom maximizes dialogue through a variety of techniques, including class discussions, presentations, small group discussions, pair work, group work, special projects, and task-oriented assignments.

ENGLISH-ONLY POLICY

The school has an English-only policy so that students are be encouraged to speak English throughout the day. Because of the importance of spoken English in real-world situations, it is important that English learners feel comfortable speaking English. Our conversation lessons have elements of all English skills, but our main goal is for the student to learn to express him/her self in spoken English with proper grammar, an accurate vocabulary and superior pronunciation. A good lesson uses teaching techniques that provide many opportunities for classroom dialogue.

ENGLISH LISTENING COMPREHENSION

English listening teaching techniques include class participation, demonstration, and collaboration. It is important for English learners to be able to speak with confidence and use the correct grammar structures so that they are understood correctly, but it’s also crucial that they understand what they are hearing so that they are able to respond appropriately. We use a wide variety of techniques and exercises that can help students improve and perfect English listening skills. These techniques include listening to audio in English, listening to native English speakers in person, watching videos with native English speakers, reviewing English vocabulary from previous lessons, watching and/or listening to news programs in English, responding to questions in English, and reviewing English grammar concepts.

Number of levels: up to 12

English level evaluation with multi-level placement: Placement testing includes a grammar section, a writing section, and an interview with the Director of Courses. The three separate components of the test allow us to make accurate placements for each of the student’s classes.

Grammar Structure and Usage

• Teaches students the rules of grammar usage through communicative teaching methods.
• Gives students the opportunity to practice using grammar in both speaking and writing.

Conversation, Listening, Vocabulary and Pronunciation

• Gives students practice speaking in English and listening to and understanding English spoken by native speakers.
• Provides students with feedback and special exercises to help improve pronunciation.

Students may choose from up to three different Activities Programs for their afternoon activity at no additional cost. Students may choose up to one program each week. Students must choose their selection at enrollment to ensure availability

CLASSIC PROGRAM

In the Classic Program, students will enjoy the diversity that each city offers through participating in a variety of cultural, sports, sightseeing, and shopping activities.

Activities:

• State Street shopping
• Ty Warner Sea Center
• Santa Barbara Museum of Art
• Santa Barbara Zoo
• Sports at Sands Beach
• East Beach
• Swimming
• Red Tile Walking Tour
• Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History
• The REEF (aquarium)

OUTDOOR EXPLORER PROGRAM

Santa Barbara is world-famous for its natural beauty, incredible beaches, and majestic mountains. Outdoor Explorers will take advantage of opportunities to hike, kayak, swim, and immerse themselves in the vibrant, lush, and pristine Santa Barbara outdoors.

Activities:

• Biking
• Hiking
• Kayaking
• Horseback-riding
• Volleyball
• Beach games

SURF EXPLORER PROGRAM

Surf Explorers will learn to surf in the waters off the coast of Santa Barbara that are famous for their mild temperatures and great waves. Surfing activities include professional surf instruction, boogie-boarding and other exciting outdoor activities. Requires a supplemental fee.

Activities:

• Surfing
• Boogie-boarding
• Guided horseback-riding
• Inspiration Point Hike

Number of levels: up to 12

English level evaluation with multi-level placement: Placement testing includes a grammar section, a writing section, and an interview with the Director of Courses. The three separate components of the test allow us to make accurate placements for each of the student’s classes.

Grammar Structure and Usage

• Teaches students the rules of grammar usage through communicative teaching methods.
• Gives students the opportunity to practice using grammar in both speaking and writing.

Conversation, Listening, Vocabulary and Pronunciation

• Gives students practice speaking in English and listening to and understanding English spoken by native speakers.
• Provides students with feedback and special exercises to help improve pronunciation.

• Ty Warner Sea Center
• Sports
• State Street shopping
• Santa Barbara Zoo
• Beach
• Historical Museum
• Nature hike
• Beach volleyball
• Santa Barbara Mission
• Santa Barbara Art Museum

All Evening and Saturday activities are with host family.

Sunday Excursions

• Universal Studios
• Los Angeles
• Channel Islands – Kayaking adventure
• Beach Party
• Six Flags Amusement Park
• Disneyland (Saturday optional with additional cost)
• Santa Barbara/Camarillo Outlets
• Beach Party
• Disneyland (Saturday optional with additional cost)