My Summer School Experience: Teaching at Headington Oxford

We speak to Emma, a returning teacher at our Headington Oxford Summer School, about her experience. We ask what it’s like to teach at Summer School, why she loves working at Headington Oxford, and her top tips for students joining us this summer!

What is your role at Summer Boarding Courses?

I am returning to Headington Oxford Summer School for my second summer as an EFL Teacher. My primary responsibility is to plan and deliver engaging, educational and exciting English lessons. We teach in a communicative way to international classes that have a maximum of 15 students aged between 13-16.

Unlike other summer schools, my responsibilities don’t end with the morning lessons. In the afternoons and evenings, I get the chance to spend time with the students and let off some steam doing activities with them! This involves many fun activities such as arts and crafts, sports and drama, as well as excursions to great destinations such as Bath and London.

Can you tell us a bit more about what you teach at summer school?

I teach the General English syllabus.

General English

Students study three hours of English language lessons, five days per week. Every lesson has a specific skill set; be it to learn grammar, writing, reading, listening, vocabulary or, of course, speaking.

In addition, the second lesson helps prepare students for the demands of the real world; including university and job interviews, with the ‘Time To Shine’ programme, which give students the chance to prepare and perform 5-6 minute group presentations about real-world issues.

Presentations

Last Summer, students talked about a wide range of issues including; taking care of the environment, ending poverty, ending homophobia and taking care of homeless animals. They perform these presentations in front of the other summer school students and teachers each week.

One group from each class goes forward into a ‘grand final’, where the winning group is allowed to choose a charity to donate the prize money to. They also get to receive certain privileges e.g. getting to jump the queue for lunch in the canteen!

Intensive English Writing

Last year, I also taught an Intensive English Writing class twice a week as part of the English Plus syllabus. I loved this, and there’s nothing like seeing a piece of writing that a student has created with your help!

What do you think makes summer school a unique educational environment?

Quite simply, if you want to, you can learn more about the world and yourself in 2-5 weeks than other people can learn in a lifetime.

You will discover yourself and others

When you are thrown into an international summer school environment with 200 other students from 72 different countries, you have no choice but to find new ways of communicating and seeing people. You see your own culture through different eyes and you may find any myths you had about other cultures being debunked before your eyes.

You will discover your strengths and passions

Every day you are given opportunities to discover a new hobby or a talent you never thought you had, thanks to our abundant activity programme.

You will build upon your social and life skills

For some people, it may be the first time they have attended a summer camp, travelled abroad or even shared a room with another person. There’s no better education about respecting other people’s boundaries than a debate about what time to put the night light out so you can get some much needed sleep! Summer school helps you become the person you will be for the rest of your life.