The English & Express Yourself junior program is designed for 14 to 17 year olds wishing to learn English in New York. It is an immersion program including general English lessons and creative arts workshops, full board accommodation in host families, a full program of activities and excursions, as well as supervision guaranteeing a safe and secure environment at all times.

THE ENGLISH COURSE
Lessons takes place at St Francis College, located in the heart of Brooklyn Heights, 2 minutes' walk from our year-round English Language school. St Francis, founded more than 150 years ago, is a small private co-educational college. Facilities at the college include bright and spacious classrooms, an auditorium and a cafeteria where students can have a healthy lunch on weekdays before heading out to their afternoon activities. There are 3 subway stations and 6 subway lines accessible within a 3-minute walk.

The course includes 20 lessons (= 15 hours) of general English per week taking place Monday to Friday between 9am and 12.30pm. Our teachers are qualified, experienced and use an action-based, communicative method to encourage students to interact and use the language as much as possible, both in and out of class. There is a maximum of 10 students per class, grouped together according to level. Course materials are included (teachers use textbooks as well as authentic materials such as magazines, newspapers articles...)

THE 'EXPRESS YOURSELF' AFTERNOON ELECTIVES
The afternoon elective allows students to practice an activity they love or try their hand at something new. The workshops take place twice a week on Tuesday and Thursday for about 3 hours each day. They are also the opportunity to mix with the other students and practice English in a relaxed atmosphere, easing spontaneous conversation.

2015 choices are:

Dance - Zumba, Salsa, Jazz & Hip Hop, Contemporary, Afro-Haitian or Brazilian-Samba fusion - This elective is ideal for anyone who loves music and dance, and would like to improve their fitness and body awareness in the process. The classes are taught at the Brooklyn-based Mark Morris Dance Group, one of the world's leading dance companies, performing across the U.S. and at major international festivals.

Digital Photography - This option is ideal to discover the art of "visual story-telling". Stop using the automatic setting and start making beautiful pictures! The class is taught by Johnathon Henninger, an award-winning freelance photojournalist. Students must come with their own camera.

Acting - Acting is great way to gain more confidence and improve your understanding of the language. Theater games, improvisation, work on scenes, monologues and plays... Each of these areas strengthens the young actor and enhances particular qualities such as collaboration, communication skills, ingenuity, calm under pressure, listening, focus, compassion and self-reliance. Acting skills that go beyond the stage! Classes take place at the Brooklyn-based Young Actors Workshop.

ACTIVITIES & EXCURSIONS
A Brooklyn walking tour every Monday afternoon allows students to get to know the new arrivals and discover an area of the borough (the Brooklyn Bridge with views over Manhattan, Prospect Park/Park Slope, Williamsburg...)

Two half-day excursions, on Wednesday and Friday, and a full-day excursion on Saturday (except on departure day) bring the students to some of New York's famous sights: Top of the Rock, Times Square, the Natural History and MoMA museums, the Statue of Liberty, Staten Island, Central Park... There is always some free time allocated during excursions for shopping and buying souvenirs.

HOMESTAY ACCOMMODATION
Accommodation is an important factor to a successful trip abroad, so we spend a lot of time selecting the right families. They are all based in Brooklyn and the average journey time to the school on public transport is 30 minutes (can be longer for some homestays).

Student have dinner in Manhattan on Fridays so that they can get together in a fun environment before the next day's departures. On other nights students stay at home with their hosts and take part in the family's evening activities.

Towels and bed linen are provided and laundry facilities are available for students' use (usually one load per week).

TRANSPORT
Students stay in twin rooms with another student of the same gender but different nationality, and make their way to school together by public transport in the morning (about 8.30m) and back home after the supervised activities (about 5pm). Activities and excursions are always supervised by a school leader.
An optional escort to/from school can be booked at an extra cost.

START DATES
- July 5th 2015 – 2, 3 or 4 weeks
- July 12th 2015 – 2, 3 or 4 weeks
- July 19th 2015 – 2 or 3 weeks
- July 26th 2015 – 2 weeks only

**Please note that students have 3 booking options:
- Full package with accommodation
- Course & Activities only
- Course only (just the English lessons)