Hi-London’s Summer Is Here

During the last month, we have been exploring, discovering, playing and most importantly, learning English. Our ethos of immersive learning whilst exploring London is one which really resonates with our students.

Discovering Our World

Science is a way for the little ones as well as the older teens to engage with their surroundings. At the Science Museum, Sir Isaac Newton was at hand to talk them through the concept of gravity. The children particularly enjoyed him removing his funny wig at the end of his talk to reveal a very bald head! And then there was the slime! Some of the students were disgusted at first, but fairly soon, everyone dipped their hands into the bizarre concoction and enjoyed the weird feeling of having their hands submerged in the gluey stuff. Giulio even pulled his hands out to pretend to be Shrek to entertain his classmates.

We also got in touch with nature this past month during our breaks in Hyde Park or excursions to the many venues and workshops where we came face-to-face with plants and insects of all types. We smelled our way through the spice trade and learned to tell our cinnamons from our gingers. We fished for creepy crawlies and realised that ponds are not just full of murky water but actually full of life.  Snails and water lice - Ewww!

Playing Games in the Park

The teacher was handed 10-year-old Hamdan's bag and realised that his bag was very heavy.  When she looked inside, she saw three bottles of water, and she asked Hamdan why he was carrying such a heavy load. The student, from Dubai, replied: “Well teacher, you never know when you are gonna walk into a desert!”. Considering how hot it has been in London, the boy did have a point!

It has been the hottest summer on record in London, and we are making sure that the kids staying behind for our After School Club get a lot of fresh air. We are very lucky to be a stone's throw from a landmark London park, where we sometimes head to relax, have lunch and play. One of the children's number 1 game choices is the classic Duck Duck Goose, which thanks to their imaginations has morphed into 'Pizza, Pizza, Chips' , 'Zoo, Zoo, Post Office', 'Chicken, Chicken, Egg' or my personal favourite 'Cheese, Cheese, Mouse'.

Travelling back in time to Good Ol' England

Something you realise when you are in England is that this country holds history and tradition very close to its heart. During this month, we travelled back in time to an era when women wore strange hats called “bonnets”, teachers were very mean and 'horrid' murder mysteries went unsolved. Straight from the 1600s, Lady Peyton showed us around the iconic Tower of London, where we explored torture through the ages.

The past seemed to be a whole lot less nice than the present.  In a Victorian classroom, the sunny Hi-London teacher was replaced by a ‘mean Victorian school teacher’ with a ruler in her hand.  Lea thought it was all 'very funny', but Maria and Eugenia, who had gone to the toilet and missed the introduction, were shocked to be confronted by this beastly old teacher upon their return! More dark stories came from the teens who visited a sinister sailing town in East London. Inspired by this unsettling experience, they delivered a chilling performance of their own murder mystery at the end of the week which scared and very much entertained the Hi-London team.  

...And Learning English Along the Way

We are always surprised by what children pick up. 8-year-old Catarina who arrived speaking very little English learned two very useful phrases.  Upon seeing the giant skeleton of a dinosaur, she blurted out 'My God!'  Later, she pointed to the teacher's mobile and exclaimed  'I phone cover!'.

It has been lovely to see the children and teens making new friends. English, as the common language, acts as the bridge between our students, and we hope that those who meet here sustain their friendships after they leave. Teenagers Virginia from Italy, Cornelia from Norway and Lou Anne from France were bonding during their Tube rides to the various venues across London. Cornelia was happy to realise that although they may all live miles away from each other, they are all partial to a bit of shopping at Hollister!

Things to Do in London for Families

At Hi-London, we encourage everyone to go out and experience this fantastic city. Here are a few of our favourite family-friendly events in London this summer:

Open Garden Squares Weekend (13th  - 14th June)

What could be better than a nice day in the park with your family? Well, what about a whole weekend exploring London’s secret gardens, the ones which never normally open their doors to the public?

On 13th and 14th June, you’ll be free to explore more than 200 of London’s private gardens, a massive collection which includes gardens in all different kinds of location: historic buildings, rooftops, boats and even a skip. Or if you enter a ballot and get lucky, you could be one of the lucky few allowed a stroll in one the most private gardens of all: the Prime Minister’s at 10 Downing Street.

Whichever gardens you decide to stop at, this is a fantastic weekend for all families. And with a number of walking and cycling tours arranged at different locations, you can really make the most of this wonderful opportunity.

Kew the Music 2015 (7th – 12th  July)

What better way to spend a summer evening than with a picnic at the beautiful Kew Gardens, listening to great music?

From 7th – 12th July, the royal botanic gardens play host to the fantastic “Kew the Music” festival, featuring such acts as Elvis Costello, Simple Minds and Jools Holland.  The concerts get underway at 6pm every evening and last until 10.15pm, with a spectacular firework display to round things off every night.

Feel free to visit the gardens themselves during the day, the world’s largest collection of living plants. Then be sure to grab yourself a good spot and settle down with a picnic to enjoy the music. A wonderful occasion best enjoyed with friends and family.

Kid’s Theatre Week (August)

As any Londoner will tell you, the West End is one of the city’s star attractions. And during the month of August, the theatres are particularly family-friendly.

Kid’s Week, which lasts for the entire month, is all about encouraging young people to fall in love with theatre. There is a special line up of musicals, with shows on offer for children of various different ages. Some of the highlights include Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Billy Elliot and The Lion King.

And to encourage as many young people as possible to attend, anyone under the age of 16 can go for free. That’s right for every adult ticket purchased, you can have a free child ticket as well. There are also many other free events and activities during Kid’s week, such as dancing classes, tea parties and visits backstage.

Kid’s Week tickets go on sale from 16th June; so make sure you snap them up early to avoid disappointment.

Whichever of these events you find most appealing, they all make for great family days out. Be sure to mark these dates in your diary and make the most of them when they come around.

Why Learn English When You Are Young?

English For Children

English is the most widely spoken second language in the world. It is the international language of communication and business, and there is little doubt the ability to speak it offers many advantages.

But learning it when young is even better.

Pick It Up Easier

Of course, anyone can choose to learn English at any stage of their life, and increasing numbers of adults are doing just that. But it’s much easier to pick up the language when you’re young.
Sure, children may be unable to grasp the subtleties of complex grammar issues, but they can get to grips with the basics a whole lot easier, developing a feel for the language, it’s particular sounds and nuances. If your kids start learning English while young, they’ll find it much easier to master than if they wait until later in life.

Accent Free

Another great advantage of learning English as a child is that it presents an opport
unity to speak it accent free. No matter how well adults pick up the language in later life, it is practically impossible for them to utter a sentence without their native accent intruding. Those who study English while young have the chance to learn it before their own accent is fully developed, enabling them to speak like a native.

More Intelligent

Bilingual children are more intelligent than monolingual kids. So learning English at a young age actually helps make your child smarter overall. And this doesn’t just mean greater communication skills or the ability to pick up additional languages; your kid will experience a range of cognitive benefits, including greater problem solving skills and increased focus.

Fun

The great thing about kids is their enthusiasm for everything, even learning languages. So while it may seem like a necessary chore for an adult to learn English, a child is much more likely to find it a truly enjoyable experience. And with so many fun games and interactive language acquisition techniques which can be incorporated into lessons, your kids are able to have a great time while learning an extremely valuable skill.

Cultural Experience

Learning English is much more than sitting in a classroom discussing verbs and sentence structure; it’s a chance to embrace and get to know an entirely new culture. In particular, if your kids have the opportunity to learn English while living in an English speaking country, there is great potential to expand their cultural horizons.

Through excursions and interaction with local people, your children will have the chance to explore a new city while improving their English language skills along the way. So not only will they learn to speak the world’s most important language, but they they’ll also gain first-hand experience of an entirely different culture.

English Lessons for Children

Making sure your children speak English from a young age is one of the most valuable things you can do for them. So why not sign up your kids for English classes, while they are still young enough to experience the maximum benefits?