Holiday School of English
29. January 2025At the end of August, the Language Centre organised three-week summer language courses tailored for students in Years 6 to 9 and secondary school students.
Participants fine-tuned their skills for further English studies, overcame their fear of speaking, and practised grammar and vocabulary through communicative activities in pairs and small groups.
“This year marked the third edition of our courses. Each year, we aim to bring something new to the programme. This time, we invited a native speaker.
The Summer School is definitely not just ordinary tutoring,” organisers explained.
“We aim to make English engaging by incorporating games and competitions,” explained Dr Jana Semotamová, the course coordinator and lecturer at university language courses. The youngest participants covered topics like holidays and summer, discussing hobbies, favourite music and films, sports, food, technology, and animals.
Older children explored similar subjects, engaging in discussions, sharing opinions and feelings, and discovering something interesting with each topic. The travel theme introduced them to artefacts from exotic destinations, such as a Mayan calendar from Mexico’s Chichén Itzá, plastic currency from Indonesia, a rain stick from Peru, a scorpion preserved in alcohol from Myanmar, a Malay dagger, and animal figurines like a jaguar, armadillo, and manatee from Guatemala.
On the topic of food, participants learned about eating habits across continents. They sampled traditional dishes like Indian dhal spiced with garam masala and the fluffy Pavlova dessert from New Zealand. Their virtual travels introduced them to guinea pig from Peru (described as a mix between rabbit and chicken), crunchy insects from Thailand, and various types of fish and exotic fruits unavailable in the Czech Republic.
Games, competitions, and activities focused on communication and teamwork were a central part of the programme. The children tested their new knowledge in a game of Jeopardy!. Although the group consisted of pupils from different years of primary school and their level was slightly different, they formed a great team and supported each other.
Participants picked up fun facts, such as the difference between marmalade and jam and the origin of the word marmalade. They learned distinctions between lunch and dinner, explored the concept of a full English breakfast, and discovered the meaning of the word breakfast.
From sports activities, they tried golf and created mind maps about their favourite sports. Under the guidance of an Indian cricket player, they experienced real cricket in the park, which was both a sporting and cultural highlight.
Secondary school students discussed the evolution of modern technologies and their impact on our lives and future. They expanded their vocabulary with English idioms related to food, explored spooky expressions through storytelling, and examined cultural differences, learning how traditions and customs shape interactions with other cultures.
“The summer course provided a fantastic opportunity to develop language skills, cultural awareness, and foster friendships. We’re already brainstorming fresh ideas for next year’s Summer English programme to ensure that even returning participants won’t have a dull moment,” added Jana Semotamová.