Colegio Minuto de Dios Siglo XXI, Bogotá

Being in a country where 99% are Spanish speakers and try to learn a second language is really difficult to reach higher standards, this is the main reason that schools and institutes have to develop strategics to improve its levels. El Colegio El Minuto de Dios Siglo XXI under the direction of its Principal Javier Manjarrés and supported by Angela Martínez, Inter institutional Manager did an agreement to Travel & Education to deploy a program to improve English language level as a second language, called English Immersion Camp. Basically, the concept is to create a deep English environment in special field where students have to use the second language all the time and to do a lot of activities to improve their knowledge about English, therefore English language is a mandatory to communicate their needs. Two groups of Siglo XXI School were in Balmoral Hotel, located in Villeta - Cundinamarca a town near to Bogotá that is adapted for students with a nice bedrooms to share and a lot of facilities such as swimming pool, huge yard, football pitch, and meetings room; complemented by an amazing weather. Students steadied a week there, they received basic commands to follow that helped to communicate between them, besides to hotel staff and camp instructors some of them native English speakers. Once they got up into the bus all the environment started to change because English language was the only one allowed to speak and the instructor begun to explain rules and activities. Siglo XXI pupils shared incredible moments improving English levels during its Breakfast, lunch and dinner time and also participating in others activities such as Simon says, looking for a flag to do a country teams, where they were developing their skills of teamwork, competence and leadership. Also they practiced some sports with a bit modifications on the rules for example volleyball verbs, where students before to do a service they had to shout a verb. At the first night, one of the instructors told them some horror stories, in English obviously, before to go to the bed, scary joke. In the following days the activities were including swimming pool, enjoyable astronomy activities and a visit match in Villeta town. Definitely one experience that left an amazing learning where each student could improve and use its English and to proof how they can be inside the culture, how they can use their English in a normal day creating a routine for life. English Immersion Camp was an exciting experience also for parents, who were updated three times per day under email communication, they received some photos of the activities with detailed information. The projection is to do this immersion but in a real environment that is meaning traveling to an English country Canada, USA or UK that is the goal. Keep it in mind pls!

JOHN JAIRO RINCON G. RECTOR (E) COLEGIO EL MINUTO DE DIOS SIGLO XXI