Arsenal Football Development: English Language Classes Option
Exsportise’s English language program is designed to provide students with the tools to improve their everyday use of spoken English.
At Exsportise, they aim to improve students’ receptive (reading/listening) and productive (writing/speaking) language skills with a strong focus on oral communication and fluency. Exsportise provides effective English language progression by combining English tuition with soccer training. The Soccer and English Program offers 15 hours of English tuition per week alongside 15 hours of soccer coaching allowing distinct improvement in both areas.
The English program is managed by Exsportise Directors of Studies who have tailored it to the needs of Exsportise students. All coaching and tuition is in English so the course specifically focuses on providing students with the tools they will need to get the most out of their camp experience. English teachers teach in a communicative, open and friendly way. They plan and deliver interesting lessons using relevant and current topics that encourage active and authentic participation from all students.
Those opting for the soccer only Academy Program will not receive formal English tuition but will be encouraged to use and improve their English through their day to day activities while students in the Soccer and English courses will combine soccer training with their English language classes.
Daily Tuition and Small Classes
Students will receive three hours of English tuition each weekday. Classes generally have 10 to 12 students. Maximum class size is 14 students. Each morning or afternoon will consist of 3 x 60 minute lessons with a 15 minute break in between the lessons. English lessons are carefully designed to complement each other to work on all of the students’ language skills, improve their accuracy, extend their vocabulary and increase their fluency.
The Study Program
Exsportise teachers aim to help students feel at ease, join in and make friends. Lessons are interactive, engaging, fun and reactive to the needs of the students. Attention will be paid to pronunciation and fluency throughout. Each three hour session will include:
- Grammar / Lexis: To improve students’ accuracy when producing spoken and written language by improving their grammar and extending their vocabulary. This section gives students the confidence to speak.
- Communication Skills: Focus on improving the four main receptive and productive competencies of reading/listening and writing/speaking using topics that are interesting and relevant to our students.
- CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning) / Project: Active project-based lessons designed to enable students to work together to achieve a common goal, whilst developing their 21st Century Skills (creativity, collaboration and communication) and fluency. This section makes the teaching particularly real and engaging for our students with relevant content, including English and British culture, and includes presentation skills to increase confidence.
Important: Please note that students will need at least one year of English tuition before joining the English classes. This program does not accommodate complete beginners who have no knowledge of English.
Practical Use and Continuous Learning
At Exsportise, English learning is not limited to the classroom. English is heard, spoken and practiced during soccer training and recreational activities so students will have many opportunities to put into practice what they have learned in the classroom during their soccer trainings and by spending time with people from other nationalities throughout camp. Camp activities are conducted in English and the multinational environment means that students will primarily communicate in English throughout their stay. By being able to do something which they enjoy and by sharing a common interest with other children, they will naturally use and practice their spoken English. The use of English is encouraged by staff at every opportunity to immerse students in the language.
Placement Tests and Level Descriptions
Students will be placed in appropriate level groups for maximum learning outcome. English placement test takes place on the first Monday morning and enables the Director of Studies to create the classes according to students’ level and age. Under the Common European Framework, the camp offers levels A2 to C1 which covers the Basic to the Proficient User.
Please see below for a breakdown of the individual levels and what students of each level are able to do:
A2 students can:
- understand straightforward information within a known area such as very basic personal and family information, shopping, local area, etc.
- complete forms and write short simple letters or postcards linked to personal information
- express simple opinions or needs in a familiar situation
B1 students can:
- understand points about family, work, school, or leisure-related topics
- write letters or make notes on topics of personal interest
- describe experiences, events, dreams, plans, or opinions in a limited way
B2 students can:
- understand the main idea of a complicated text such as a technical piece within a familiar area
- follow a conversation on a familiar topic or keep up a conversation on quite a wide range of topics
- make notes while someone is talking or write a detailed letter on a wide range of subjects
C1 students can:
- understand a wide range of longer and more difficult texts or conversations
- effectively use the language for social and academic situations
- create well-structured and detailed texts on complicated topics
Evaluation and Certification
Students’ understanding and progress are monitored by the teachers during the week and every Friday there is a short assessment to make sure students are improving. The results of this assessment are reviewed by the academic management team in case any adjustments are required for the following week. Students will leave Exsportise Summer School with a course attendance certificate, a certificate to confirm their current English level and an academic report from their Core English teacher.
Course Details
- 15 hours of English language tuition per week – 3 hours per day
- 15 hours of soccer per week – 3 hours per day
- Placement test on first Monday at camp
- Focus on spoken English confidence and practical everyday use
- Mixed nationalities
- Ability appropriate groups: A2-C1
- Weekly assessment and progress tracking
- End of course certificate
- Accredited by the BRITISH COUNCIL for the teaching of English
- A Centre of Excellence
- Maximum class size of 14 students
Exsportise Approach to English Learning
Confidence is the key to success in any language and constant use of that language is the key to that confidence. At Exsportise they believe that learning is greatly enhanced by consistent every day use and Exsportise offers this opportunity by:
- offering a carefully controlled multi-national environment where English is the language of communication – in essence, English happens everywhere!
- creating a fun and relaxed environment where English learning happens automatically – at the end of the week, students have had so much fun they haven’t realized they are learning English
- providing the opportunity to participate in an activity which will provide a different dynamic and a common interest with one’s fellow students through that activity
Participants will arrive with a level of understanding. They will depart with confidence in producing and using English in every day life.
The Exsportise ethos is learning by experiencing so depending on an individual’s level of English and language goals, students can choose from the following options:
Soccer Only Camp Day:
- 6 hours per day (Monday thru Friday) of coaching led by an Arsenal Football Development Coach (morning (3h) and afternoon (3h) for Soccer Only Camp) OR
Soccer and English Language Classes Camp Day:
- 3 hours of English per day as Foreign Language (EFL) (morning or afternoon for Soccer and English classes option) AND
- 3 hours per day (Monday thru Friday) of coaching led by an Arsenal Football Development Coach (morning or afternoon)
Cambridge English Assessment Optional Extra
Exsportise students will take the Cambridge Placement test online before they arrive at camp. However, campers staying for two consecutive weeks will also have the opportunity to sit the Cambridge Assessment English Linguaskill reading and listening test (60 – 75 mins) while at camp for an additional £ 60. This is a reading and listening test of 60 to 75 minutes in duration which distinguishes between language levels A1 – C1+. Students receive a score on the Cambridge Scale for each of the language skills and a Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) band per skill as well as an average score and overall CEFR band. Many UK boarding schools use this test for screening applicant students. Please note that the Cambridge Assessment English Linguaskill test is only available for English language campers who are staying for two consecutive weeks.
The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) is an international standard for describing language ability. It describes language ability on a six-point scale, from A1 for beginners, up to C2 for those who have mastered a language. It is recognized worldwide.
Progress Assessment, End of Course Certificate, and Report
Teachers monitor, review and assess students’ progress by way of a short progress test at the end of each week. Furthermore, English language students will receive an end of course certificate confirming their attendance including the CEFR level of the course as well as a brief academic report.
Exsportise is British Council accredited. The only private language school specialising in sport and English ever to have become an EL Gazette ‘Centre of Excellence’. The premier provider of English Language + Sport/Music/Dance in the UK
Arsenal Football Development in exclusive partnership with Exsportise Summer Schools in the UK