Keeping up with a Family Tradition

By Misha

I had the pleasure to speak with two Italian families this summer, both of whom have been returning to Hi-London for 5 years and counting. Family traditions form the foundation of Italian culture, and it seems Hi-London has become a tradition for these two families.

Of course, we have families coming from many countries around the world, year after year. This year, I taught students from Poland, Russia, Slovakia, Brazil, Argentina, China, Japan, Germany, Switzerland, France, Belgium, Saudi Arabia, and many more.  Especially during the summer, well over half of our students were returning for the second, third, fourth or more time. That made for a very rich, international mix! And some would describe us as a family. Such deep relationships were built, with the group moving as one happy organism – together – by the end of the week.

I asked Bruna, the Italian grandmother of two boys and one girl, what had brought her family to return to Hi-London for so many years. She said that she and her grandchildren so appreciated this setting of international exchange. At an impressionable age, children from all over the world are brought together to study English, but invariably they learn so much more. They are introduced to other cultures, and so they quickly grow to accept diversity. They learn to seek it, respect it, and be inspired by it.

I talked to Lara, the mother of Emma, who has been a part of Hi-London since she was 9 years old. Emma is now 13 and started the Teen Programme last year.  She plans to be with us for another 4 years (!) Lara loves many aspects of our school. In the first year, she said she noticed Emma’s progress right away, and she has come to rely on our reports (given to the students who are with us for two weeks or more to track Emma’s growth over the years.

Our teachers give individual attention to each student, and if a student can stay for longer, there is great benefit. It allows us to monitor individual abilities in greater depth and to deliver the tuition and homework aligned to individual need. Also, we are better able to give suggestions at the end of the chosen term so that the student can continue to develop through the year until they return the following season.

There are other unique aspects that keep our families coming back to Hi-London, such as the variety of excursions and language immersion opportunities. Each week, the children and teens travel out into London to explore this great city through the lens of a theme base. We know how to engage our students with the exhibits and material in over 80 venues, museums, and sites across the city. And students sure do love to travel on London’s transport system, whether it be the Tube, bus, boat or train!

Underlying everything is the pulse of new friendships and the family-like vibrations that are built, encouraged and fostered. Of course, the young students have to communicate in English to build these new ties with others. This is such a beautiful motivator to witness! Even though the students may sometimes share a native tongue, more often than not, most of the group will be from different countries. So, this becomes a very different context from an English class back home.

And, at the end of it all, we send photos from each fun-filled week so that the parents and students have a visual diary. For sure, Hi-London becomes like family, like home, and for many – a lasting tradition.