Standard Junior Day Course (Ages 13-17) - No Accommodation, Weekday Lunches

"Excelent EC Cambridge Camp, for improving English and Human Experience"

1) Academically Alex's English has definitively improved. We now never speak in Chinese, and he himself noticed that I used more difficult sentences when I address him. This is because I see he understands much more. He has started reading an English book and save the vocabulary he does not know. He is valiantly considering the TOEFL for later on. I have been impressed by what he told me from the teaching methods: very lively, with very interesting subjects (example: moot presidential elections, etc). It will influence my own teaching this coming year in the University here! The main text book, "Total English" is very good. The teachers (except one on his last week, very interesting and lively). He regretted a little to be surounded by foreigners whose accent was often not good, but he compensated this by speaking a lot with the "social leaders". I believe this is something to be taken into account by the Organizers: give as big speaking role to the "leaders". (They should have another title than "social leaders" which sounds old, heavy, not inspiring. 2) Humanly: The fact that his companions (as he...) were all foreigners, clearly compensated for itself by the cultural richness it brought in: Alex enjoyed meeting the Italians, the Norwegians, Polish, etc.! This is a great and very usefull aspect of this camp. He has acquired a knowledge of all European characteristics by observing and living with his classmates and others. He has become international, no more the small Taiwan island guy. He, for sure, had gone abroad several times; but this was his first personal encounter with such diversity of others! And he has fall in love with Europe! Now I have to mull University there for him, which is fine. These links with his companions seem to be more than just a brief encounter: now through Facebook (bravo Chris!) they are C H A T T I N G in English, writing at high speed to exchange views and jokes! This is a very very good exercise to learn "English composition"! It should be maximized somehow in the curriculum, maybe. As we also in the pictures of Chris, these kids were happy and having a good time. We are very confucianist in Taiwan and I was afraid that some bad apple may spoil things there. Alex confirmed they were some rough guys (from Easter Europe especially) and they did not spoil anyone. Even, a group of Italians with whom Alex sympathized more, took to a catholic Sunday mass and told him they bow in front of their parents!!! Interesting, and I did not expect that from Italians! (My wrong prejudice) and don't expect that much from my son... 3) Facilities: Room are very comfortable and large. It's also important. The trips to London and Oxford were good. Same for the parties and entertainment part of the program. One little glitch: between activities, slow time they did not know what to do. Maybe this is a subjective impression, although several of his friends felt the same but in any case I think this should be easy to correct. So, overall, I would rate it 95/100!

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