Summer Camp

[Buki]

My immediate superior asked me to help her organize a 5-day extensive summer English camp for our vocational certificate students on the first week of March. The purpose for this camp, is to prepare the students for their job training on April. I would like to ask some suggestions of what activities that the three facilitators should undertake and what important points should I (organizer) consider doing during the five days.

The main focus will be on English for Retail, Tourism and Hospitality.

I have had organizing experiences back in the past, but I never had experience of this kind.

I would greatly appreciate any suggestion!

Thanks again.

[Buki]

bump

[crabstix]

My immediate superior asked me to help her organize a 5-day extensive summer English camp for our vocational certificate students on the first week of March. The purpose for this camp, is to prepare the students for their job training on April. I would like to ask some suggestions of what activities that the three facilitators should undertake and what important points should I (organizer) consider doing during the five days.

The main focus will be on English for Retail, Tourism and Hospitality.

I have had organizing experiences back in the past, but I never had experience of this kind.

I would greatly appreciate any suggestion!

Thanks again.

How many teachers will be helping you? What facilities are available at the venue? (dvd players, whiteboards? computers?) How many students will be attending? I'm sure it can be done if you have the right people and right equipment and materials.

[bradthai]

role play.

either written sheets handed out or elicited role play scenarios.

response/reaction to various situations.

the use of informal and formal language.

????????????????????????

used these with rajas on an english camp. went down well with the students and the management.

remember. in most cases, even college, fun seems to be the measuring stick when it comes to measuring the performance of the organiser.

[PeaceBlondie]

I haven't been to one, but I understand that 'camps' are fun vacation times, holidays, sanuk, more than they are full time educational times such as a symposium, seminar, lecture series, etc. You've got to keep it fun.

[Buki]

Thanks for all your suggestions.

My boss told me that we will be doing the camp at Pattaya. I really don't know her reasons for choosing Pattaya. Maybe because there are a lot of foreigners there and its a good place for the students to practice what they will learn from the camp.

We will be bringing about 60 students to the camp and all of them are vocational certificate students majoring in foreign languages. My boss is quite a slave driver and a very serious thai teacher; she definitely wants an extensive and serious camp, though I will not discount the "fun" factor out of the activities. We have 3 facilitators coming and each facilitator will handle 20 students per day.

This camp is not really like the summer camps for kids, this is actually like an English boot camp in preparation for their OJT this summer. But I would really like to inject some "bonfire" activities for them to relax a little bit and enjoy the night together (is that a good idea?)

Anyways, if you guys have more suggestions, I would really appreciate it. thanks again.

[otherstuff1957]

OK here are some quick suggestions:

1. Make a schedule and try to stick to it.

2. Do an evening show: possibly divide each group in half and have each 1/2 group perform an English Song or short Play. Give them this assignment at the beginning of the camp and have them perform on the last night.

3. Have a few hours most days of activities like writing/telling a story, where each student adds a new line; or a murder mystery game, where they have to ask about peoples alibis; word games like charade.... etc.. etc.. These activities should be 30 - 45 minutes each. You know your student's abilities, so choose activites which will be challenging, but not too difficult.

4. schedule lots to activities but be prepared to cut some if they aren't going well or you just don't have time.

5. Have fun.

Good luck.

[bradthai]

as with above. charades.

down the line charades. that is, those in the group stand in a line. you show them the action, eg: a customer very upset. and then they tap the person in front on the shoulder. that person turns around to recieve the mime. the person at the end has to say what is happening. if they fail, ask the next person along until you get the answer.

mix it up a bit by throwing in some fun ones. a monkey eating a banana, someone putting on make up.

gets a laugh, lots of laughs, and there is a grammar , speaking focus on the continuous tense.

just an idea. good luck.

[isaanbrit]

If you want to hire a team of professional English camp trainers to help you organise the camp, try www.dragonfly.co.th

They seem to be pretty well known and reliable.