Conventionally, summer courses in the USA can be divided into traditional linguistic (from language schools), linguistic and academic (from private boarding schools); or those organized on their basis by other companies (for example, exchange organizations). In addition, camps of various orientations operate in the summer: sports, acting, training young cinematographers or programmers, etc. It is also important that if you really want, you can find a summer program in practically any state, which, given the geography of the USA, increases their attractiveness.
Traditional summer linguistic courses at language schools generally accept teenagers aged 14 and older. As an example, we can cite programs offered by the group 'Language and Leisure' (LAL). They own a school in Florida that teaches adult students year-round and teenagers only in summer. It is no coincidence that NASA built its spaceport here. Due to the large number of sunny days per year, Florida is called the 'Sunshine State' of the country. The city of Fort Lauderdale, where the school is located, also has its own nickname. For the canals connecting inland waterways with the Atlantic, it is called nothing less than the American Venice. This small, charming town with a population of 150,000, with its clean beaches and transparent water where you can see the hulls of sunken ships, attracts a large number of water sports and diving enthusiasts in the summer.
In addition to the program organized directly in Fort Lauderdale, the school also offers summer courses at Lynn University in Boca Raton, a 30-minute drive from the main school.
Students can choose a 16- or 20-lesson per week course with accommodation in a student hotel or host family. Summer courses run from June 18 to August 17. The cost of two weeks of tuition, accommodation, meals, various activities and excursions, including trips to the famous Sea World park or Disney, ranges from $1,407 to $1,479.
The American company Foreign Links Around the Globe (FLAG) organizes exchange programs. It offers summer vacations at the American boarding school Grand River Academy. This is one of the oldest private schools in the USA, located near the small town of Austinburg, Ohio. Last year it turned 175 years old. Since it is a boys' school, excellent conditions for sports have been created here. In the summer, the school is open to American students preparing for the SAT, as well as foreigners studying English here. If desired and with a high level of language proficiency, foreign students can also join Americans and study academic subjects together. The age of students is 15-17. Three weeks at Grand River Academy will cost $2,000. To take the SAT preparation course, six weeks are needed. The cost of the program in this case will be $4,100.
As an example of summer courses directly from a private boarding school, we can cite the courses organized by Cushing Academy. This school was founded in the town of Ashburnham, Massachusetts, back in 1865 with funds from a Boston merchant born here. Like most American private schools, Cushing Academy, in addition to academic knowledge, provides excellent opportunities for sports. The school campus has its own indoor ice rink operating year-round, a well-equipped obstacle course for mountaineering, football and baseball fields, tennis courts, and an indoor gym where students play volleyball, basketball, and work out on exercise machines.
In 2007, summer courses at Cushing Academy run from June 30 to August 9. However, to get into them, one had to sign up back in November of last year. Latecomers are placed on a waiting list.
Students are offered a choice of the following: studying academic subjects, college preparation, art studio classes, and English language learning. The first option is divided into blocks: scientific research, fine literature, mathematics, English as a second language. College preparation involves in-depth study of certain subjects. Art courses offer a choice of painting and illustration, photography, jewelry making, or portfolio preparation. In the afternoon and evening, camp residents face a difficult choice of additional activities. These include academic subjects, dramatic arts, music, painting, various sports: aerobics, basketball, golf, fitness, swimming, football, tennis, volleyball, etc.
Most programs are intended for children aged 12 and up. The cost ranges from $2,750 (for the art course) to $5,650 (full academic course).
There are a huge number of summer camps in the States - for every taste and age. For example, in California, the organization 'Pali' offers 21 programs for teenagers aged 10-16. Among them are extreme adventures, secret agent camp, institute of espionage masters, commando unit, Hollywood stunt double unit, water sports, horseback riding, circus, dance academy, film academy, culinary institute, journalism academy, etc. Camps run all summer and cost $2,995 for two weeks.
Education Unlimited takes a rather original approach to organizing summer camps. It has chosen the most famous US universities as program venues. At Stanford University in San Francisco, five programs are organized: A+ Summer Achievement Programs, Sally Ride Science Camps, Computer Camps, Video Production Camp, and the Public Speaking Institute. Except for the first program, the remaining four camps operate on the campus of the University of California (Berkeley), along with the College Admission Prep Camp, Prep Camp Excel, Emerging Writers Institute, California Actors Workshop, and a program introducing university life in Berkeley (Summer Focus).
The organizers use not only the campuses of these two universities, but also locations at the University of California in Los Angeles, the University of San Diego, Tufts University near Boston, and Endicott College near Massachusetts.
The A+ Summer Achievement program is divided by school grade groups. Students in grades 7-8 (13-14 years old), grades 9-10 (15-16 years old), and grades 11-12 (17-18 years old) study separately. The main goal of this camp is to develop students' logical critical thinking skills and essay writing skills necessary for successful college study. The thirteen-day educational course includes classes on time management, choosing major and minor courses in college, creating presentations, shorthand, and speed reading. The camp operates at the beginning of August and costs from $1,585 to $2,985 depending on the age group.
The science camp for girls was created specifically to introduce them to science. It is named after Sally Ride, the first American female astronaut, who founded her own science foundation with which the camp maintains close ties. The main scientific disciplines at the camp are astronomy, ocean exploration, and robotics. Supporting the principle of early education, girls are accepted from the age of ten. The program runs throughout the summer, moving from one university to another. Cost: from $985 to $1,985.
The acting school varies by age group (for middle school and high school students) and intensity of classes. In this camp, students learn acting techniques for stage or film. The school conducts master classes in declamation, stage movement, and improvisation. They teach theater theory from Shakespeare to commedia dell'arte. Additionally, students visit various local theaters. However, while in the first two programs classes end with students delivering prepared monologues, in the intensive school the first lessons begin with monologues and training ends with a role-playing performance.
The school operates throughout July and costs from $2,250 to $3,950.
SAT preparation programs are the most popular among those offered by Education Unlimited. They include classes in subjects chosen for the exams, as well as a separate essay writing course. This is an original course prepared by a PhD from Yale University.
These preparatory programs are divided into regular ones, taught at Berkeley (12 days in June-July) and San Diego (12 days in July-August) costing $3,250, and intensive ones held at Berkeley, Los Angeles, and Tufts. The latter are conducted jointly with Kaplan, an organization specializing in teaching various language, academic, and logic tests, such as TOEFL, LSAT, GMAT, GRE. For 18 days of classes, you will have to pay $4,850.
Computer camps from Education Unlimited attract not only those who dream of becoming programmers after school, but also those who simply want to deepen their computer literacy. They teach practical computer skills and also try to instill creative thinking. The main focus of this year's computer camps is Java programming and web design, comprehensive website promotion, creating JavaScript, as well as Dreamweaver and Macromedia Flash programs. A week of camp costs $1,495.
To help applicants choose a university, the company organizes a tour of colleges on the US East Coast. The trip starts in Boston and ends in Washington. In a week, high school students can see the renowned Harvard, Yale, MIT, New York University, Columbia University, and Brown University. During the tour, they have the opportunity to ask questions directly to university representatives. The price of the trip is $2,335.
The Emerging Writers Institute only accepts high school students. Over two weeks, they are taught to write short prose works, compose poems, write plays, and write documentary reports. Program price: $2,790.
The Prep Camp Excel is designed for motivated ninth and tenth graders who want to succeed in their remaining time before high school graduation. The main emphasis is on essay writing, preparation for the verbal and math sections of the SAT, and practical skills for successful study. Cost per week: $1,795.
Институт ораторского искусства научит ребят навыкам общения - это и обучение правильному произношению, изложение своих мыслей в письменной форме, умение вступать в диалоговое пространство, а также самопрезентациям. В рамках данной программы был также разработан курс «Американский правовой опыт», позволяющий слушателям изучать речи самых известных адвокатов страны и строить на этой основе собственные. В зависимости от возраста школьников и местоположения за участие в недельной программе придется заплатить от $1.450 до $2.790.
Программа, знакомящая с университетской жизнью в Беркли, - это серьезный шестинедельный курс, рассчитанный на талантливых старшеклассников, желающих «примерить» на себя университетскую жизнь в одном из самых знаменитых вузов мира. Они должны выбрать 3-4 предмета, за которые им начислят настоящие академические кредиты. Дополнительно предлагают подготовку к сдаче SAT, написанию эссе или креативному сочинительству. Зарубежные школьники должны заплатить за такой лагерь $7.230 при выборе трех предметов и $7.560 при выборе четырех.
Кинопроизводственный лагерь дает ребятам возможность почувствовать себя настоящим киношником. В течение недели они будут снимать, руководить, освещать и монтировать. Их научат работе с титрами, графикой, музыкой, компьютерными эффектами и анимацией. Цена за удовольствие окунуться в мир кино - от $1.675 до $3.350.
Конечно, этот лагерь дает лишь общее впечатление о мире кино, тогда как летние лагеря, устраиваемые для детей Нью-йоркской киноакадемией (New York Film Academy) можно назвать полупрофессиональными. Десяти- тринадцатилетние школьники могут изучать изготовление фильмов и актерское мастерство, а те, кто постарше - прибавить к этому списку 3-D анимацию и написание сценариев. Курсы длятся от одной до 12 недель и проходят как в США (киношкола и студия в Нью-Йорке, студия Юниверсал в Голливуде, на базе Гарвардского университета, Диснеевская студия MGM во Флориде), так и в Париже, Флоренции и Лондоне. Соответственно и стоимость обучения зависит как от его длительности, местоположения центра, так и от возраста участников. Например, трехнедельная программа по кинопроизводству в нью-йоркской школе Далтон обойдется в $4.400, а курс актерского мастерства той же длительности в Лондоне - в $3.000.
По материалам ЦМК «Парта».