PROGRAMME NAME
“SIBERIAN WONDERLAND” International Winter Language Camp
AGE GROUP
Children and young people between the ages of 7 through 18 years of age. We allow parents and children to stay together.
TIMEFRAME
Fixed dates
The DATES for the Winter Camp are as follows:
January 3rd until January 12th.
LOCATION
In a recreation center in a picturesque wooded area outside of the city of Novosibirsk.
TYPE OF ACCOMMODATION
A recreation center.
LANGUAGES TAUGHT
Russian, English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Chinese, Japanese.
PROGRAMME OBJECTIVES
The programme is aimed at creating opportunities in a diverse multicultural environment and a supportive atmosphere to improve foreign language knowledge, to draw attention to major issues that have global importance and affect the world, to explore commonalities and appreciate differences, to promote cultural awareness and peace, and build common understanding and trust.
Our aim is to help students realize their full potential, thereby educating the whole person. Through educational, social, cultural, entertainment and health-promoting activities the programme seeks to provide a unique learning and play experience designed to develop the whole person .
The Camp provides a professional and friendly atmosphere in which students find it easy to improve their foreign language skills, reveal their creative abilities and talents, acquire the knowledge, skills and attitudes, needed to live effectively in the world characterized by ethnic diversity, cultural pluralism and interdependence.
SUPERVISION
We are dedicated to providing a student with the most excellent supervision possible.
All the students are supervised and each group has a group leader who is normally responsible for between 10 – 15 students and stays with the group 24 hours a day. Everyone can expect a warm, supportive and friendly atmosphere along with professional service. Our goal is that a student has the most enjoyable and worthwhile experience possible during the stay with us. We are determined to ensure that everyone benefits fully from the interaction with other students and the staff. The Head of Studies, Psychologist, the Social Programme Coordinator and the Programme Director are constantly monitoring the programme to assure that everyone is enjoying the stay and taking advantage of the many activities offered by the school.
Parents are allowed to the programme.
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMME
International students have a choice of the language(s) they want to be learning at the Camp. 5 language classes are scheduled daily, except excursion days, from 10:00 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. In the afternoon the students can choose to attend a Creativity Workshop, which is related to some aspect of culture and arts and involves some creative activity such as dancing, singing, acting, drawing, arts and crafts, poetry, etc., or participate in the "Live and Learn" Intercultural Conversational Russian Sessions, which take place outside of the classroom.
Native English speakers from many countries are brought to the camp to interact and share their experiences with all present. Professional teachers attending include those from the United Kingdom, of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, France, Spain, Finland, Australia, the United States, Canada and Poland.
Daily they teach English to small classes of carefully grouped students according to age and ability. These lessons are prepared in advance by the teachers and according to the daily theme of the camp; and the teachers are co-ordinated daily by a native English speaker of thirty years' teaching experience who reports daily to the Director. The content of the lessons is designed to be interesting and fun as well as educational, ranging in content from simple oral/vocabulary activities and games suitable for complete beginners to the most advanced requirements of the University entrance exams. Recent examples of the daily theme are: films, topical events, social issues, sports and hobbies.
We also attract international students from schools and universities the world over who wish to attend the programme to improve their Russia Language skills. Recently these have included several students of school age from Sweden and America. Students have attended from the leading Universities of Oxford, Cambridge, Trinity College, Dublin and St. Andrew's, Edinburgh.
Students may also choose one other language to study during the camp: recent second languages always included French and often German, Spanish and sometimes Japanese and Arabic are offered according to the skills of the teachers. At the end of the camp diplomas and certificates are awarded according to ability and achievement.
For more details on the Russian course offered at the Camp click here.
TEACHING METHODS
Teaching consists of a combination of role play, demonstrations, games, exercises, quizzes, treasure hunts and other techniques. A variety of approaches are used to keep the programme fresh and fun. All programmes are geared to specific age groups. The depth of coverage and approach differ considerably between the teenagers' and children's programmes.
CULTURAL AND EXCURSION PROGRAMME
Our WINTER CAMP is a unique opportunity to celebrate the coolest festive
season in Siberia with lots of exciting events, and experience all the
winter fun you have ever dreamed of in ten days. Too many things are
separating us around the world. At the same time, festival traditions and
customs, ceremonies and holidays are an integral part of every culture of
the world, demonstrating that despite linguistic, cultural, and ethnic
differences, people from around the globe share the same hopes, dreams,
interests and concerns.
The cultural program of the Winter Camp integrates language education into exciting daily activities which in addition to the daily language classes, also include arts and crafts projects, Creativity Workshops, sports and outdoor activities, music and drama, games and contests, art and drawing, inventive engaging performances and shows.
The Camp lives a full cultural and social life. The educational theme is developed through a range of social activities in which all those attending participate. Both the students and the teachers are grouped into teams which compete and interact daily in all aspects of daily life thus encouraging social interaction and breaking down of cultural, social and age barriers. Living in a close community helps to develop these social skills and encourages thoughtfulness and respect for others and – above all - a friendly, caring atmosphere which affects and changes for the good the whole character of those attending. Special psychology, dance and vocal courses are run to assist in this aim and to further develop communication skills.
Daily creativity projects are run by the native speakers of the languages taught at the camp and these are run along the line of the theme of the camp designed to enable students and teachers to better express themselves and develop social skills. Recent example have included improvised drama on a theme, Scottish Country Dancing, creative arts, film-making, and dramatisation of classical literature and mythical stories. The creativity workshops run for one hour every afternoon and are carefully coordinated and supervised by a native English speaker who has been attending the programme for many years.
Each camp has a specific role-play theme which permeates all activities. Daily evening shows develop this theme and provide a venue for drawing together all the camp activities. There is a healthy competition between the teams of teachers and students and points are keenly awarded or deducted from teams for creativity, participation, discipline and all aspects of daily life. One of the highlights of the Winter Camp is the RUSSIAN CHRISTMAS celebration (January 7th).
Even the varied sports and healthy activities are linked to the main and daily themes . Beginning with morning exercises with a difference and continuing with afternoon sports all nourished by healthy food and outdoor activities in the beautiful tree-lined territory which is ecologically pure and healthy.
On completion of the session, excursions to other historically and culturally important destinations can be organized. For more details click here.
TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS
International participants must arrange and pay for their own airfare and ground transportation. We can assist in booking domestic flights in Russia and train tickets.
VISA
International participants will need a valid passport for travel to other countries. We provide international participants with the Invitation letter which is a special form issued by the Federal Migration Service of the Russian Federation and allows to apply for a Russian visa at the Russian Consulate in the country of residence. International participants are responsible for obtaining visas and paying visa fees. Please contact the appropriate Russian embassy or consulate in your country for requirements.
PARTICIPATION FEE
International participants pay participation fee which includes:
- Accommodation and full board (3 meals a day + a snack) in a recreation center facility located in a picturesque area outside of the city of Novosibirsk.
- Transportation from/to the local airport in Novosibirsk.
- Visa support (Letter of Invitation and registration on arrival).
- Exciting cultural, social and recreational programme within the camp schedule (contests and competitions, shows, discos, sports, social outings).
- Excursion program: a guided tour of the largest Siberian city of Novosibirsk.
- 5 classes of Russian (or other language at the student’s choice) for international students daily except for excursion days, classes are taught by well-educated native speakers.
For the Winter Camp Participation fees, please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..