What Is an English Language Immersion Camp

It is clear and well-proven that learning through play is the best way to acquire knowledge, and nowadays, with English having become a learning priority for Spanish children, English language immersion camps are emerging as an increasingly sought-after option for families.

Do They Really Help Children Learn English?

At language immersion camps, the foundation of learning lies in accustoming children to actively listening to the language as well as using it. Through games, activities, and personal interaction, children gradually become familiar with English, learning it in an enjoyable and fun way without seeing it as a problem or even as a school subject. Learning and speaking English becomes far more straightforward and natural than they ever imagined. We must move away from the idea that our child will learn the language «as if by magic», and instead understand that these camps are above all designed to develop a habit of using English.

How Does It Actually Work?

Listening to their monitors speaking English around the clock develops an almost unconscious capacity for understanding, all the more so when attention is a necessity because explanations of games, activities, and daily routines must be understood. As a result, it is very common to notice a marked improvement in comprehension of the foreign language, and what was very difficult to understand at the beginning is grasped perfectly by the time the English camp draws to a close. In this way, in as little as 15 days we see clear progress in many of our campers.

Reinforcing Language Learning

Equally, we must bear in mind that English summer camps serve as a reinforcement of children’s foreign language learning. It is therefore more than advisable to arrive with a certain foundation of knowledge and understanding, since otherwise there is a risk of disconnection and apathy regarding the language — something along the lines of «if I can’t follow along no matter how hard I try, I’ll just switch off». Starting from that premise, a moderate level of English comprehension will make the camper’s adaptation and experience far more enjoyable and positive. We never want any child to feel left out for any reason, language included.

Activities Programme in English

English immersion camps deliver a full activities programme, but everything is conducted 100% in English. They are therefore not camps with English classes: language learning occurs through the continuous day-to-day use of English in a far more natural, active, participatory, and enjoyable way than in a classroom. Moreover, it is not only the explanations that are given in English — all the interaction that monitors have with the children is in this language. This encourages campers to genuinely want to understand and use English, since the strong relationship with the monitors is one of the highlights of our camps.

Native Monitors and Bilingual Monitors

It is worth emphasising that monitors require children to address them in English at all times — during activities, during free time, and in the dormitories — provided, of course, that the children’s safety is not at stake.

The team of monitors at language immersion camps not only holds a leisure and free-time monitor qualification, but also has a high level of English that allows them both to communicate in the language at all times and to correct and teach the children whenever appropriate. We go one step further in this strong command of English by always including a large proportion of native English-speaking monitors.

Monitors from England, Ireland, Australia, and the United States, among other backgrounds, form part of the staff at this type of language camp, reinforcing English learning in a far more natural way. These monitors not only bring a higher level of language, grammar, and above all pronunciation and accent, but also actively immerse campers in the culture of English-speaking countries, on many occasions becoming a wonderful multicultural experience for children and monitors alike.