Fun, informative and packed with things to see and do, our Summer English Language Course at ELC Chester is the perfect mix of study and leisure time for children aged between 13 and 16 years of age.
A programme usually combines English lessons in the mornings and exciting leisure and cultural activities in the afternoons with excursions further afield at the weekends, taking place in the summer months (usually July and August). This kind, of course, is popular with teenagers because it creates a safe space in which to meet new friends from around the world.
Our course, run at another venue in Chester close to the city centre, offers you fun, enjoyable and challenging opportunities to increase your confidence in English and learn about the culture and customs of other nations.
The course is for individual teenagers and mini groups so every student is treated as an individual.
The morning lessons focus on actively improving communication in spoken English. The afternoon excursion/activity programme creates the perfect environment to develop language, social and sporting skills.
The social programme is one of the outstanding features of the course and is an integral part of the whole language learning experience. It includes:
Please note that when you book this course, you will be given the option to choose an airport transfer. Unless you are travelling as a parent or guardian of your under-18 child or children, please select the Meet and Greet service option on arrival and departure.
The meet and greet airport transfer option is compulsory for under-16s travelling independently, and it is strongly recommended for 16- and 17-year-olds.
Our Summer English course for teenagers is perfect for children aged between 13 and 16 years of age who wish to improve their English language communication skills in both academic and real world settings.
Our course requires students to have CEFR ability between levels A1 to C1. If you are not sure of your level, you can test your English level.
The Summer Course for Teenagers is a vacation course with lessons in the mornings and activities & excursions in the afternoons and weekends. You study in a separate centre with students aged 12 to 16. General English is a more intensive course, with lessons all day (except for Friday afternoons) at our adult centre. We recommend this course if academic development is a priority for you.
In 2024 our Summer Course for Teenagers runs between 01 July and 09 August. 13 to 16 year olds can book a minimum of 2 weeks and a maximum of 4 weeks. If you are 16 years of age or older you can also book our General English 16+ Course.
We seek to provide a safe and welcoming learning environment for all students. We do have a special responsibility for students aged 16 and 17 and vulnerable adults. In British law, 16 & 17 year-olds are children so various laws apply to ensure that they are protected whilst in the UK. As a parent or guardian, you do need to be comfortable with your son or daughter mixing with older students.
As the parent or guardian of older teenagers, you will need to decide if you are going to allow your teenager to go out from their homestay in the evenings. This is something you can discuss together and tell us what you would like to happen.
All aspects of your child’s experience in the UK has been analysed in advance, and elements like the activities and excursions we offer are carefully risk-assessed. We have many years of practice in making sure activities and excursions in particular are very well organised. We have procedures and processes in place to ensure we anticipate and avoid problems before they arise, but also, if something does happen, we have agreed plans and actions to take to keep everyone as safe as possible.
Yes, they need to be home for dinner by 6pm, Mondays to Fridays.
Yes, your child will meet us on a formal basis once a week to go through their progress and to make sure everything is going well for them in their English classes. We are available for them informally as well, Monday to Friday, to check their welfare.
You will be given a 24-hour emergency contact number and the main school number.
Manchester Airport and Liverpool Airport are the closest to Chester, at 45 and 35 minutes’ drive respectively. We can organise an airport transfer for you from these airports to your accommodation in Chester. Or alternatively you can use public transport. Some students also choose to travel to Heathrow Airport in London. This is only recommended for experienced travellers as you will then have to take the Underground to central London and then a direct train to Chester (CTR).
If you are sending your under-18 child or children to study English with us in Chester, and they are flying into Manchester or Liverpool airport, the meet and greet airport transfer option is compulsory for under-16s travelling independently, and it is strongly recommended for 16- and 17-year-olds when they arrive and leave England. This ensures they will be collected from arrivals by the driver for added safety.
In the rare event that your child has an accident or is taken ill, we’ll use the information you provide in the Safeguarding Form to allow us to get emergency access (e.g. dental or medical and surgical treatment) as considered necessary by the medical authorities present. The same form also tells us which activities your son or daughter can or cannot take part in.
A curfew is the time by which your child should be back home in their chosen accommodation. For student aged 16 and 17 on adult courses, the curfew is 11.00 pm every day. For students on the Summer Course for Teenagers it is 8 pm every day. Please do not ask us to make these curfew times later.
We will talk to your son/daughter on arrival and go through the policies we have so they know what rules we have. We will also inform their host of what has been agreed. If there is a problem with your child breaking any major rules or regularly not following the agreed terms, we will contact you so that you know and to discuss a solution.
Don’t worry, we know what it’s like as a parent sending your teenager overseas, maybe for the first time. And if you’re the one travelling, you might be a bit anxious as well as excited.
We’ve been organising these summer programmes for teenagers in Chester for many years, and we do everything we can to keep you safe, so you can relax, learn lots of English, make many friends and see the amazing things that England has to offer. We can’t wait to welcome you to our school, but if you have questions for us before you book, please use the chat function, or send us a message. See you soon!