Royal Ascot

Royal Ascot is situated in the beautiful rolling countryside of Berkshire.  The small town is home to the world famous racecourse and just 15 minutes from Royal Windsor.  London is a 40 -minute coach or train journey form Ascot.

St Mary’s school, Ascot is set in 44 acres of private woodland and forest on the edge of the small town itself. This is a quiet country setting away from the hustle and bustle of city life. The school was founded in 1885 and boasts some impressive architecture from this period. St Mary’s is the most prestigious Catholic girl’s boarding school in England. During summer time the school becomes exclusive to UIC for our summer programmes.

St George’s school, Ascot is set in 35 acres of open fields and gardens with extensive views over Ascot and Royal Berkshire. The school is situated on Ascot High Street. The school was founded in 1895 and boasts impressive architecture and historical features. St George’s is an Anglican girl’s boarding school throughout the year. During summer time the school becomes exclusive to UIC for our summer programmes.

Some of the facilities at the schools

• Variety of beautiful, tastefully decorated accommodation
• Tennis courts , playing fields and floodlit astroturf playing surface
• Sports centre/gymnasium/squash courts
• High tech computer facilities
• Indoor swimming pool ( St Mary’s) Outdoor swimming pool ( St George’s)
• Well equipped and spacious classrooms
• Student TV and video/DVD lounge
• Free email access
• Acres of open fields, woodland and forest
• Large, bright and exquisite dining room
• Theatre Arts centre

The Overall Programme.

The overall programme can be broken down into four basic areas: English classes, afternoon activities, evening entertainment and excursions. However, a good course should take into consideration the care and welfare of the individual from the moment of arrival until departure. All UIC teachers respect this as a main priority area.

The aim of our programme is to enable students to see new sights, hear new sounds, taste new food, make new friends and learn new ideas. It is a brief period but our intention is to fill it with new and rich experiences that will be remembered for a long time!

To succeed in our aim we give very individual attention to students, encouraging natural use of English and constantly exposing students to English both inside and outside the classroom. We integrate the language content learnt in the classroom into the rest of the programme.

This needs careful planning and very dedicated teachers for this to happen. That is why we spend a whole year planning our programmes, carefully choosing our teachers, developing our materials and selecting our sites. We can say with great confidence and real assurance students will get maximum benefit from their stay.

The Teachers

All UIC staff are carefully chosen. The most important aspects we look for are qualifications, experience with children and young learners and a huge personality. There is a rigorous interview process and some of the very best teachers of young learners are chosen. All our staff members have worked in many countries outside the UK and are therefore culturally sensitive and have good language understanding and awareness. The majority of our staff are first aid trained and have welfare skills and training. All our activity staff are trained specialists and therefore have many sports coaching and refereeing qualifications as well as being expert in two or more sports. We also have specialist music & drama, art & craft and computer teachers. Many of our teachers and activity staff have worked on UIC courses before and are very familiar with our ethos. The organisational structure shown earlier is a very carefully thought-through system that ensures maximum safety and care of students during the course.

The lessons

Once the students have been placed in the correct classes their progress is monitored on a daily basis and weekly assessments are also written. On student departure day a full written report is given and a leaving certificate. There are 15 hours of English lessons per week. The content of the course is challenging and fun. We are currently researching new course books for the summer programme of 2010. We also have our own materials which are again designed with young learners and the summer experience in mind.

Many years of experience in the field of teaching English to young people on summer vacation courses has enabled us to know and understand the needs of the students Young people develop so much confidence when they realise they can communicate in English with native English speakers and other foreign students on the programme. We spend the remaining part of the programme on project work and preparation for the full-day excursions. This is a very practical approach with emphasis on oral communication. Students often go outside the classroom and into the local community to practise their use of English. Their confidence grows because they are using the language in a natural and everyday setting. Each week a different project is focused on. This weekly change helps motivate students and enables a wide range of vocabulary to be acquired. The last day of the week the groups present their projects for the whole school. Awards and prizes are given for different categories.

The Activity Programme

This includes the afternoon and evening entertainment. It consists of a balance of organised events and ‘options’ involving all students. There will be choice of activities for students. From experience we understand young people like choice, not all like sports and some like to have free time. In our afternoon and evening programme we have taken all these things into consideration. Student free-time is supervised in as much as a member of staff is on duty but students have their own space in which they can socialise, listen to music and generally relax. Student free-time is timetabled and can be an option only when it is timetabled. Attendance at afternoon and evening activities is compulsory but because of the wide range of choice and the fact that there is always such a good social atmosphere, students are always happy to be there.

The afternoon is split into two sessions and at least 6 of the following activities for example would be offered; a wide range of indoor and outdoor sports (see timetable) music, computing ,drama and dance, shopping, local river and country walks, arts and crafts including painting, drawing and papier-mâché work, local excursions and supervised free-time.

In the evening it is more relaxing with some sports on offer, but other recreational activities such as barbecues, cabarets, discos, videos, cinema, evening night walks, casino nights, shows and competitions. There is always something for everyone to enjoy.

Throughout all the afternoon and evening activities there are at least 20 qualified and experienced staff on duty. During the two afternoon sessions there is a drinks break.

The activity programme is compulsory but there is a wide range of choice and degree of flexibility within the programmes.

The Excursions Programme

The day visits take into account the historical and cultural aspects of the city and the educational value and use of the English language during this day are regarded as very important. For each visit there is a preparation period to ensure the students have an understanding of the area and the background before the visit. Follow up work is also done.

All students are issued with a substantial packed lunch. Also they have an identity card with the mobile telephone number of the teacher in charge of the excursion. The ratio of student to teacher on excursions is maximum 8 students to one teacher and less whenever possible. There are very strict rules and guidelines given to students before leaving the college about behaviour and safety during the excursion. We have an excursion co-ordinator who is specifically responsible for arranging excursions and who ensures the visits and academic timetable compliment each other.

ASCOT

Catering

At both our schools the meals are offered on a self – service basis. The restaurants are modern, bright and beautifully decorated and user-friendly.

Continental and English breakfasts are offered each morning. For lunch there is a choice of meals which includes a vegetarian choice and a salad bar. A three-course meal, again with a choice of menu, is offered in the evening.

UIC YOUNG LEARNER RESIDENTAIL PROGRAMME

Typical Daily Timetable

08.00   Breakfast

09.00   Academic assembly

09.15   English classes

11.00   Juice break

11.20   English classes

13.00   Lunch

14.00   Activity assembly

14.15   Activities/sports/clubs/recreation

15.30   Juice break

17.00   Supervised freetime in accommodation

17.45   Evening Meal

18.30 Supervised free time in accommodation: Student meetings

19.30   Evening activities and entertainment

21.00   End of activities

Bedtime

(Times vary according to the age of the students)

Students are supervised throughout the day and evening

Date and cost

Time and date: 3 weeks, July 12 to August 2.

Total Estimated Cost per student: £2,800 or $ 4200 for 3 weeks (Subject to change based on actual Airfare cost)