St. Michael's Residential - Welcome
St. Michael’s Junior Residential Course is available in the centre of North Devon, near Barnstaple – a unique opportunity for students aged 11-14 to study English through art, music, and adventure sports.
This is a chance for something different and a unique new approach to learning in an idyllic rural English setting.
1. WHAT MAKES ST. MICHAEL’S UNIQUE AS A RESIDENTIAL?
Very simple, English children will share the meals and activities with our students. At the beginning of the course, each of our students will be appointed to an English “buddy”.
St. Michael’s offers a superb campus with an historic house set in 30 acres of landscaped grounds, woodlands and gardens with excellent indoor and outdoor facilities which include:
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2. THE ENGLISH LESSONS
Each class will provide fun and a wide range of interesting and appealing activities and excursions. Each session consists of three academic hours.
Courses at all levels are organised around a theme for each week. Students build up an integrated knowledge of vocabulary and grammar connected with these themes. The emphasis is on building students' confidence and ability in speaking English through discussion, role play, pronunciation and project work. Other skills (reading, writing and listening) are included in lessons to support students' oral skills.
On the first Monday, students will be given an initial language assessment test, followed by an essential orientation/induction about St. Michael’s residential, its surroundings and facilities. They will then be allocated a class based on their level of English; elementary, post-elementary, pre-intermediate, intermediate, upper-intermediate or advanced. Class size averages 12 students with a maximum of 15, and are of mixed nationalities in order to maximise students’ use of English.
At the end of each day, students will write in their diary a summary of what they have learnt and accomplished, and they will take the diary with them at the end of the course with their certificate.
Teachers are always qualified and experienced native English speakers.
3. THE ACTIVITIES
The Adventure Sport sessions can include:
- Surfing on local Atlantic beaches of North Devon
- Climbing & Abseiling
- Kayaking
- Coastal Traversing on North Devon’s rocky coastline
- Archery
- Adventure swimming on North Devon’s rocky coastline
- Quad biking
- High Ropes
We will provide all of the specialist equipment
Other activities that will be available to the students during the week are:
- Tennis
- Model Making
- Golf (students will need their own clubs to use the 9-hole golf course)
- Pioneers (building camps in the woods)
- Music
- Art / Design Technology
- Pottery
- Swimming in the heated outdoor swimming pool
The Adventure Sports daytrip on Sundays is run at Skern Lodge, which is a registered Adventure Activity Centre. It is ideal for students who are more energetic and keen to try new pursuits. This programme offers an exciting introduction to many different sports that can only be enjoyed on the coast. The sessions are conducted in groups of 8 students with qualified and experienced instructors, and equipment is always provided by Country Cousins.
A typical week's Programme at St. Michael's residential might be as follows:
| Week 1 | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9:30 AM | English test and orientation |
English classes |
Day trip to Exeter Cathedral City | English classes |
English classes |
English classes |
Adventure Sports daytrip at Skern Lodge Centre |
| 2:00 PM | Drama Session | Quad Biking | Music Session | Arts Session | Surfing | ||
| 7:30 PM | Barbeque and ice breaker games | All Nations
Football & volleyball match |
Tennis & Golf tournaments | Ten Pin Bowling |
Disco | Games at St. Michaels. | Cinema Night |
