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For our new annual programme we are continuing with the similar levels to our summer school and we are making Saturday our specialised Young Learner day.
Why have we made these changes?
We want happy, motivated kids in our classes and we know that age has a significant impact on learning and confidence. We have found increasing problems placing our young learners into the correct level and age grouping. We have decided to try to better mirror schools in Jordan.The teacher will be able to meet the needs of the class.
Primary 1 and 2 6-10 year olds
Saturday 9.30-11.30
Lower Secondary 1 11-13 year olds
Saturday 12.00-14.30
Upper Secondary 14-16 year olds
Saturday 15.30-18.00
Primary courses 6-10 year olds
Your child will explore the world through English with stories, rhymes, songs, DVDs and more. We will build English language and literacy skills, integrating phonics and pronunciation throughout the levels.
Lower Secondary courses 11-13 year olds
Your child will collaborate, create and express themselves in English through interactive, communicative activities such as role plays, which emphasise spoken fluency and boost confidence. Through project work your child will activate and consolidate English learned in class and develop collaborative learning skills.
Upper Secondary courses 14-16 year olds
Your child will lay the foundations for their future success, developing the four skills, improving confidence when expressing their opinions in English. The exploration of the real world will involve and stimulate them to use their English, tapping into their world through universal topics, music and film.
How do we group your children?
Your child will be placed according to their level and age. Children who are of a more similar age learn better. We are taking into account their wider cognitive and physical development as well as their level of English. We have done this because children feel more comfortable studying with children of a similar age and this helps them feel more confident about speaking English in the classroom with their classmates and teacher. It will also allow the teacher to focus on providing lessons that are more suited to your child’s level of cognitive development and interests.
Our annual programme
Of course, your child can join us for one term and your child will benefit from one term of English with us, but this will not be enough for your child to reach a significantly higher level. Children do not learn in a straight line and each child is different, but generally 100 hours would be around the number of hours a child would need to reach the next level. We have moved away from a modular approach because we could see that children were not getting the full benefit out of their courses by dipping in and out. A whole academic year of study supports their school studies and allows our teaching team to really get to know your child
Our specialised Young Learner day
We feel that having Young Learners divided by age and ability is the best way to manage your child’s learning. By having our Young Learner day divided into age groups, we are able to make sure that we can cater to each age group’s needs better both inside and outside the classroom. Each Young Learner course will have a short break and our Young learner Assistants will be better able to look after the needs of each group appropriately. However, we welcome your feedback on our Young Learner Product and we will consider your opinions with a view to improving our service to you.
Our methodology and teachers
British Council teachers are trained to follow a communicative approach to language teaching and learning. This involves pair work, group work and project work, and promotes ‘learning through doing’. Our teachers make the best use of classroom time using their expertise to vary the pace in response to learners. They use a lot of kinaesthetic activities so our young learners don’t simply sit and watch the teacher. They get up and move around. Our team uses stories, film clips and songs to maintain children’s interest. We use a lot of games and competitions to find interesting and motivating ways to practise. We have also taken an innovative approach to assessment. We use a combination of continuous assessment based on your child’s efforts in class, as well as mini tests. Children get involved in assessment, assessing their own progress and their peers. In this way the teacher can adapt their lessons and homework activities to suit the child’s needs. Our teachers can also offer learning strategy advice and suggest websites where your child can find relevant and stimulating activities to do at home.
Songs
Songs are a great way to become accustomed to the sounds and rhythm s of a language. These rhythms and sounds are also easier to remember. They can also tell stories, show typical slang, introduce or revise vocabulary and allow us to focus on pronunciation. Songs and music are often central to a young person’s life, especially today where most teens will have music on their phone to listen to at any time. Songs can also create the right mood in the classroom and young learners often find it easier to relax and talk with some music.
Games
Games are a great way to get young learners to repeat and revise grammar, vocabulary, listening skills, reading, and more. It helps learners build confidence, build friendships and rapport and have fun while learning. All of this after a tough day or week at school.
Our teachers come from all over the world. All of our teachers have a CELTA certificate or equivalent, most have a specialist Young Learner qualification, some have the Diploma or are studying for it at the moment. On top of that we run teacher training sessions every term, all year. Further, to guarantee quality in the classroom, we observe all of our teachers at least twice a year.
Course books
All of our Young Learners courses have a course book. We choose carefully from the best publications available and pick the best activities to engage your child. The course book is a useful tool for home study and review of lessons.
Your child’s health and safety
We take your child’s safety as seriously as you do. We have first aid trained staff and all of our staff our Child Protection trained. If your child has any medical issue, we need to know in case of an emergency. Plus, if your child has a learning difficulty, such as dyslexia, we can guide your child’s learning much better and try to offer special support. Please complete the medical box on the form. These issues could range from asthma, allergies, diabetes, epilepsy, dyslexia, learning difficulties, attention deficit etc... if you are not sure what we need to know you may ask to speak to our Senior Teacher YL for guidance. All of this information remains confidential.
Registration details
Term dates: from 12 October to 7 September
Placement test booking: 17 September to 5 October
Placement testing: from 23 September to 5 October
Course fees: JOD 150 (6-10 years old) ,JOD 175( 11-16 years old)
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