Home away from home

In overseas English camps, children get to experience local culture through staying with host families. -- Elite Institute

School’s out, and that means hoorays for kids and headaches for parents. For the latter, a welcome rest from rushed breakfasts and morning traffic is counterbalanced by the disruption of young balls of energy running amok around the house. But short of kicking their offspring out onto the streets, what are responsible parents to do?

Packing the kids off to an English camp may be the answer. After all, there are plenty to choose from, as a quick flick through any newspaper or magazine around the time of the term break will reveal.

But with so much choice, there are the inevitable questions of which course best suits the needs of the kids and which offers the best value for money. Adding to the confusion is the variety of camps on offer.

A quick glance at some of the ads vying for parents’ attention shows that they can choose from domestic or overseas camps, as well as camps offering “intensive English”, “English activity”, and even “English and tour”, for example. No wonder it’s all a little daunting.

Despite this variety, parents can develop a set of fairly rigid criteria to aid the decision-making process, concentrating on the actual programmes on offer at the camp — in other words, what they expect their kids to get out of the time spent there — as well as the age range catered to and, of course, the cost.

In order to explore these criteria and look at some of the factors that should influence parents’ choices, this week’s learning post talks to two camp organisers: Simon Greenslade, from the Prem Center for International Education in Chiang Mai, and Ladda Siripanishpongs, from the Elite Institute for English in Bangkok.

DECIDING FACTORS
The first question, one that eliminates a whole subset of choice and thus makes the decision-making process easier, is whether to send kids overseas or not. While costs play a major role in this decision, the child’s own readiness is also extremely important. Wealthy parents shouldn’t just dump their kids on a plane bound for foreign soil without considering the impact on their child’s mental well-being.

“Parents who have never sent their child abroad or whose child has never been away from home may choose to send them to a domestic English camp first, just to see whether or not the child can handle things,” Ladda says.

Domestic camps, wherever located, put both parents and children more at ease because cultural differences are fewer and distance is not so much of an obstacle. Parents can also visit the camp to make sure that the accommodation is safe and that their child will be well cared for.

In making the decision between domestic and overseas, a child’s age can also play an important role. While domestic English camps accept children as young as 9, overseas camps tend to set the minimum age limit to 12 — and for a reason. Younger kids are far less well-equipped with life skills and will have a harder time taking care of themselves while away from home.

Parents should think about what the camp offers and how this will benefit their kids in the future. It may not be simply a means to better their English.

Some parents and older children may choose a domestic camp as preparation for a trip abroad, for example, or before they attend school in an English-speaking country as they will get some exposure to qualified native English speakers. If this is an important criterion, parents should contact the camp organiser and ask them who exactly will be teaching their kids.

“Many parents who wish to send their children to an international school enrol them on one of our [domestic] camps to give them an opportunity to improve their English as well as to experience a different way of learning,” Simon says.

This different way of learning may be to associate studying with having fun. In a typical day at many domestic camps, for example, students spend three or four hours studying English and the rest of the day doing extra-curricular activities, such as sports, arts and outdoor excursions.

To this end, all camps offer children more than just an academic experience. They also teach children about independent living and social interaction. At the camps, children learn to live with others and to take responsibility for their actions.

Says Simon: “For many, this is their first time away from home, and it can be a daunting experience to leave the family behind. So at the end of each camp, the children are certainly a little more independent than when they first arrived.”

CULTURE AND COST
The big difference between overseas and domestic camps is, of course, their immediate environment. In overseas camps, children will find themselves completely immersed in an unfamiliar setting. They will be required to apply what they have learned in class to real situations in order to overcome language and, to some degree, cultural barriers.

“Children may be required to interview local English-speaking people as part of their class assignments,” Ladda says. “When shopping, they will have to learn how to negotiate.” Children attending an overseas English camp will also be exposed to the home culture of their host families. Thus, children will not only be learning the language itself, but also absorbing “real” culture as well.

Next comes the decision about exactly where to send children. While it’s not possible to be prescriptive about the pros and cons of different countries, certain generalisations can be made. Australia and New Zealand, for example, offer the benefits of being relatively close to Thailand as well as a variety of city and outdoor environments. Camps in England, on the other hand, may offer short visits to other European countries — but the distance may put parents off.

That’s not to say that domestic camps lack cultural exposure completely. Chiang Mai, for example, is well known for its northern dialect and food. Through its location, the province also offers mountainous terrain and interaction with hill tribes.

While bearing all the above in mind, cost will inevitably be the ultimate deciding factor in choosing an English camp. Domestic camps can range between 3,000 and 40,000 baht, whereas overseas camps can cost more than 120,000 baht, excluding personal expenses.

However, parents shouldn’t just look at the price tag. Domestic camps, for example, are usually shorter in duration — lasting anything from four days to several weeks — while overseas camps can last for a month.

Then there are the reasons for sending kids away in the first place, plus their mental readiness, as discussed above. Shopping around for an English camp should be more than just bargain-hunting. After all, for many youngsters, this will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience — and one that will have a lasting impact on their futures.

THE VALUE OF VARIETY

In the last few years, there has been an explosion in the variety of summer camps on offer in Thailand. Some focus on one culture or language, while others emphasise a particular lifestyle or social activity. Here is a selection: Agricultural camp — Here, children learn about agricultural production, from planting raw materials to harvesting end products. Children live in the countryside and get hands-on experience. Art camp — This type of camp aims to develop artistic skills and techniques through field trips to places ranging from museums and aquariums to archaeological sites. Buddhist camp — These camps teach children about Buddhist doctrine, such as meditation, praying and making merit by giving alms. Other activities, such as games and story-telling are often available. Chinese camp — These camps involve activities related to Chinese language and culture. They can be both domestic and overseas. Comic artist camp — Here, kids can study the basics of comic drawing and story building. They will have a chance to create their own comic strips and learn how cartoon animations are made. Computer camp - Children will learn various aspects of computer hardware and software, ranging from assembling a PC to making websites. Human rights camp – This unique type of camp teaches children to appreciate the rights of others and develop a mindset toward cultural tolerance. The camp is usually organised by non-governmental organisations, specifically Amnesty International or the United Nations. Science camp — Here, students learn to exercise their curiosity by exploring both the natural and scientific worlds. Usually, children will create scientific models or toys based on the theory they have learned in each activity. Sports camp — This type of camp focuses on one particular sport, such as tennis and football, or on a wide range of sports. Kids will learn to love physical exercise, while developing teamwork and leadership skills. Youth camp — This type of camp is for building leadership, teamwork, and communication skills. Kids will be required to sharpen their social skills through participating in a range of group activities and competitions.