Summer 2007 revisited
 'VacStuds
was, is, and will always be one of the most important
places for me, because there I spent such a great time
and over all I met people I will never forget in my life,
people with whom I have shared very special moments, and
people I remember every day; because of all this, I must
say to everyone who has never spent a time in any of VacStuds'
schools that it is something they will never regret. THANK
U SO MUCH IGM!' (a former Spanish student on the 'Messages
Forum'); 'May Vacational Studies continue to change lives
in magical ways!' (a Jamaican student); 'We want to send
you our thanks for taking so good care of her while she
was staying at your school. We are positive that she improved
her English skills and being with other young people from
different cultures and nationalities was also very beneficial.
She really enjoyed her stay and made many good friends
whom she has been in daily contact with through MSN. We
see it as a positive thing, since she continues practising
her English and exchanging experiences with her international
friends' (an Icelandic parent); 'She was like last year
so happy to stay one month in your 'castle'' (a French
parent); 'Thank you for the wonderful holidays my son
had this year with Vacational Studies. He come back very
happy with many new experiences which I believe will stay
with him for a long time. He said that this year was even
better than last. Now he really misses all his friends
and I know he keep in touch with them. Thank you one more
time for this amazing time he has had' (a Polish parent);
'She has had a great stay, however she is not willing
to tell her parents much of what she experienced!' (a
Norwegian parent); 'Many thanks for a fantastic four weeks.
I hope everyone enjoyed it as much as I did!' (a Sports
Assistant); 'I would just like to thank you for giving
me the opportunity to work for Vacational Studies. It
was a pleasure to work for your organisation and I look
forward to keeping in touch with friends I have made'
(a Sports/Social Organiser); 'He really enjoyed his stay.
He tells us he would like to go back next year..... We
have already had a small reunion in our house. We are
also impressed by the reports from school. It's obvious
that the students have had the staffs' attention. And
please send my regards to the matron. She even repaired
a shark he won in the amusment park and the laundry was
better than at home....' (a Norwegian parent); 'We would
like to thank you and your staff for assisting him on
his recent journey of self-discovery' (a British parent). |
Modesty prevents further comment or quotations. They are
all true and all heartfelt, I know.
'We really want a two week Course' is something
I sometimes hear, but only from parents. My experience over
the last three and a half decades is that human nature - at
least, that of a young person does not work this way. It takes
time to build up confidence, to release inhibition, to get
used to a new situation. Week one is a little cautious; week
two more relaxed. By week three everything is familiar and
English is no longer a strange sound. Week four is when the
real progress is made - both linguistically and socially.
This why our Course is a four week Course. It's the best length.
It's an investment in time as well as money. It can't be compressed
and it takes four weeks to achieve the best result. Our students
do not get bored or homesick. Every one arrives on day 1 knowing
no one and everyone leaves on day 28 knowing everyone - and
in tears. It happens every summer and it works.
So what was special about the summer of 2007?
Please read on...
Summer 2007
It was a summer like no other in my memory. Generally, we
are unlucky if it rains once a week. This time it rained every
week. For the first two weeks, it rained every day. Some days,
it rained all day. Even the BBC reacted like a tabloid newspaper
and the rolling 24-hour news channels would have had the world
believe that we were all under water. Not so. People who live
in low-lying areas or near rivers expect to get wet sometimes.
Like the vast majority of the UK, we were untouched by water.
The Courses carried on exactly as normal. Only sunbathing
by the pool was curtailed. And the sun came out for Sports
Day - and it stayed out.
After a summer at Cheam as a teacher, then
Course Manager there in 2006, I knew that Joe Littenberg would
make Mary Hare 2007 a fun place to be. From his baseball cap
through his low slung pants to his designer loafers, he was
the coolest dude of a Course Manager in the history of VacStuds.
And the students loved him. He came down firmly when necessary,
but the door to the office was always open and those few who
did not come inside spontaneously were invited in for a chat.
He knew the students so well and so full were his final reports
that I had to reduce my font size to accommodate the wealth
of information he accumulated on them. On the teaching side,
we had Joe Wallis back for his second year with us as Director
of Studies and Assistant Course Manager. Promoted during the
Course, he led a team of talented teachers. Given the most
difficult class, the pre-intermediates, Jenny Downes coped
well with their different needs. Jon Naylor returned for a
second summer and was put in charge of 'product realisation'
(making sure that the film and magazine projects were duplicated
by the end). Welcome newcomers Jo Millar, Josh Weinman, Karen
Thompson and Chloe Huelamo completed the team. Each brought
different strengths to the job. Back from having been an Assistant
for two years and now promoted to the crucial role of Sports/Social
Organiser was the unflappable and only occasionally glowering
George Cockburn. He selected the best from the last two years
and added his own brand of Britishness to the programme. His
team was a strong one. The indefatigable Anneka Beswick was
back for a second summer as was the still unshaven James Sutherland.
Easy-going Paddy Plummer was brand new as was Charlie Horwood.
All did a great job and the extra-curricular side of the Course
went with a swing. Once again, I augmented the assistant staff
side of the Course as there were still no really suitable
applicants for the Staff Helper posts. Back again for a sixth
summer was our long-serving Matron, Bettina Watson who operated
behind the scenes keeping the students healthy and the domestic
side running. Our two British students, Lewis Weaver and Ashley
Raghu, were immensely popular and helpful to the staff. The
students were, on the whole, well-motivated and joined in
to create a typically happy VacStuds Course. Several are likely
Staff Helpers in 2009/10. The prize for academic excellence
was awarded to Marina Alba (Spain); for English-speaking to
Filip Althof (Poland); for all-round performance to Gina Lücker
(Germany). The crew also awarded a special prize for overall
helpfulness to Erik Nicolai Stenersen-Grevstad (Norway).
It was brave of Keith Rutherford to take
on the mantle of the Course Managership at Cheam this year,
especially so as he teaches at Cheam during the rest of the
year. He must have known he could make it work. There are
some people with a natural authority. Keith is one of them.
The good ship Cheam was a tight one under his new leadership.
Soon he was able to loosen up and mesmerise the students with
his stories. They loved them, of course. They would never
dare even intimate otherwise. The DoS was Sarah Robinson,
back for a fifth summer, this time in a non-teaching supervisory
role overseeing the teaching programme and producing the DVDs
and magazines at the end. Brynn Bird and Helen Delingpole
were back for a great second summer. Maria Parisi, James Hamilton,
James Blair-Pilling, Liam Bek and Mark Carver were all new
and made their mark on the Course in various ways. To an extent,
the Course is shaped by the personality of the Sports/Social
Organiser. Newcomer Tim Watkin was the closest I have seen
to perpetual motion in a long time. I interviewed him for
an Assistant post and during the interview told him he was
applying for the wrong job. No regrets about this appointment.
Tim was an excellent Sports/Social Organiser and the students
loved his boundless enthusiasm. He led a splendid team. Phil
Stavri was back from last year, even stronger and toned. Matt
Kelly was a British student in 2003 and knew what the students
liked. Lara Santos was promoted from Staff Helper to staff
and used her peace-making skills to good effect. As unruffled
as his brother, Alastair Cockburn was the new boy. Christine
Tarr was superb as our new Matron, remaining composed and
in control through some quite serious challenges. Most of
the students took advantage of the opportunities. Some took
advantage of our trust. For the one or two who found it hard
to adjust, there was the tireless support of George Deeks,
one of our British boys. The prize for academic excellence
was awarded to Natalia Pachla (Poland); for English-speaking
to Kristine Grændsen (Norway); the prize for all-round
performance was not awarded this year.
Appearing at both schools, often accompanied
by three small six-and-a-half year-olds called Ian, Piers
and Lars, was Joanna Hook my absolutely brilliant ChildCare
Assistant. When she was not exploring in the woods or taking
on any number of fantasy roles, she helped the crews at both
schools. My boys loved her. For the twenty seventh summer,
tennis coaching was given by the stalwart Liz Fidler. The
regular discos were provided by 'Pink Elephant Roadshow'.
I am no expert, but the students seemed to like them. And
there was me - visiting each school several times a day praising,
admonishing, checking, filming and photographing, dispensing
justice - some years like a deus ex Mercedes and this year
a Deus ex white Audi Avant - and loving every moment, of course.
'VacStuds Magic in Five Minutes'
In 2006, Martin Webb, who filmed me for a BBC documentary
last year, created a remarkable DVD encapsulating the mood
of the Courses. He filmed the majority himself and I was flattered
that he used some of my HD footage, too. Having captured the
social side of VacStuds, this summer his brief was to show
the teaching and learning; the practical use of English. He
spent several days in and out of classrooms, filming the task-based
teaching and letting students talk about their learning experiences.
His next five minute film 'VacStuds - English Internationally'
will be ready towards the end of 2007 and will appear on our
all new 2008 web site. These are the first two films in a
trilogy. The third will be 'After VacStuds' showing how past
students have used their English and gained from their international
experiences. We shall also film students who are now adults
and parents and those who have sent their own children to
us to see the impact VacStuds has even after twenty years
and longer. Let me know if you would like to contribute. Click
here to see the 'VacStuds Magic
in Five Minutes' video.
VacStuds Teaching Programme
Summer 2007 was Tom Leighton's swansong as Academic Manager.
In 2005, I put him through a DELTA Course to achieve the qualification
the British Council requires an Academic Manager to have and
employed him to create a new Programme of Work based on task-based
learning, the philosophy of which he studied during the Course.
In 2006, for each class there were two projects, the creation
of a film and a magazine. For 2007, the plan was to have either
the film or the magazine. In the event, Tom decided they should
try both again. For 2008 we shall transfer the excellent material
Tom created for the written work in the magazine to the script
element of the film creation. A more structured filmscript
will, therefore, cover the writing part of the programme of
work and the oral side will be the acting and DVD creation.
There will no longer be a magazine. Joe Littenberg and Joe
Wallis will produce the revised programme of work. Task-based
learning will form about half of the teaching. The rest will
be more traditional. Sarah Robinson will take a DELTA Course
next year in preparation for becoming the Acadamic Manager
in 2008. She will be in overall charge of the teaching supervising
a Director of Studies at each school who will be in charge
of the teaching team there.
British Students
From 2008, there will be no 'British Students'. If they are
appointed, they will be 'UK Representatives'. They will live
with the students and be subject to the same rules, but they
will arrive with the staff and will be allocated to help classes
by the Academic Manager and Director of Studies. I hope to have
at least one native-speaking 'UK rep' at each school. Our Courses
are not fully international without the UK being represented.
Sports Day
During our soaking summer, we had assumed that Sports Day
would be - just wet. The sun shone from an azure sky with
fluffy cotton wool clouds and it was a perfect summer day.
Last year, Tom O'Sullivan, the Course Manager of the host school,
Mary Hare, was determined to make Sports Day the day of friendly
rivalry that I have always wished for. This year, Joe Littenberg
was of the same view. A 'Welcome Cheam' banner greeted the visitors
to Mary Hare and, although the tribal chanting remained, it
was good humoured. This was the mood for the whole of Sports
Day. Stephen Green (of Lillington Green who design all our literature)
is a qualified referee and took charge of the main football
match. Each School performed its song and dance routine to appreciative
audiences and the day was rounded off by an outdoor disco from
'Apollo 2'. As is now customary, students from both Schools
embraced as the bus drove off that night. It was another happy
Sports Day.
Catering
Catering at Mary Hare was by their Catering Manager, Paul
Leverton. Nothing was too much trouble for him and his staff.
They decorated the room and tables for all the special dinners.
The chocolate fountain made an appearance at the final dinner.
I enjoyed all my meals there. Sodexo catered at Cheam again
with Nick Dann in charge. My sons - who now attend Cheam's pre-prep
school during the year - always compare my cooking unfavourably
with Nick's. He provided the same menu that they enjoy so much.
Each School had its Food Committee, but they had little to comment
on this time and the catering ran smoothly.
Parents, Children and Unrealisable Expectations
It is important that all parents read this section. The relationship
between ourselves and the parents of children in our care
is a partnership. We want all our young people to get the
most out of the experience. For this reason, I have written
a ‘Parental Control Condition’ into the contract
we have with parents. In brief, I say ‘We do our best
to fulfill our ‘duty of care’ under English law
based on good will and the trust established by your and your
child’s agreement to the ‘rules’ as evidenced
by the signed ‘Agreement and Travel Details’ form.
If we think a problem is likely to arise, we shall try to
contact you before it does so it can be prevented. Nevertheless,
if your child’s attitude or behaviour is such that we
find we cannot exercise the control required to fulfill our
‘duty of care’, we shall pass responsibility for
control to the parent either by requesting the parent’s
presence or by telephone contact with the child. If this fails
and we decide the child is beyond control, we shall expel.’
Generally we have excellent support from parents. Occasionally,
we do not. There is no child who does not accept that they
sometimes do wrong, make mistakes or act aberrationally. What
children accept so readily is unacceptable to a tiny minority
of parents. For their child to do wrong must mean that the
child is a victim of circumstance and that someone else must
be to blame. Some also find it hard to transfer responsibility
for their child to a third party - us - and believe they must
provide a constant input. All we ask is that parents leave
everything to us, in the knowledge that (i) they will hear
if there is a problem, (ii) no news is good news, (iii) we
have experience in dealing with children, (iv) their child
may make mistakes and (v) if what their child does is serious
enough for us to require that child's removal from the Course,
they must comply at once.
We do what we can to encourage students to learn and use the
Course to advantage. We do our best to look after them. We
make no other claims. We cannot force a child to integrate.
While we provide encouragement, they must help themselves.
They will find others who speak their language and they may
be tempted to take the easy way. They may come with friends
from home. We cannot keep friends apart when they are at the
same School. They must decide to broaden their international
horizons, mix and use English. Parents may make requests,
but we reserve the right to place students in what we consider
to be appropriate classes and dormitories. The final report
we write will be our frank assessment. As the teaching/learning
situations are different, it may not be similar to the school
report you are accustomed to. The Course is a communal experience.
Individual freedom is restricted. Our school buildings are
boarding schools - not hotels. Accommodation, washrooms, etc.
are shared. Bedrooms are boarding school dormitories and these
may be sparsely furnished. The schools we use are country
houses adapted for use as boarding schools. Bathrooms may
be away from dormitories and rotas for their use are sometimes
needed. Clothes storage space may be limited. All sorts of
compromises have to be made, but for most young people this
is part of the fun. We also ask parents to accept that telephone
contact with their children, especially in the first few days,
is not a good idea. We ask that mobile phones are not brought.
We are not being difficult, just putting into practice what
we know from experience works. In effect, what we are requesting
is a partnership between us based on our expertise and parents’
trust in us. What we provide and the parameters of what we
permit are in our literature. We act on the assumption that
parents and students read it all. If your child is interested
in drinking, smoking, going out at night and leading an independent
life, please choose another organisation less restrictive
than ours. We assume that parents will be realistic about
their children. We exercise due control, but they have the
freedom to do things that are wrong. If they do, there are
repercussions outlined in the ‘Notes’. We do what
we can to prevent rule-breaking, but if it happens, parents
must accept that it is occasioned by their child’s free
will, not lack of control on our part.
I can put it into context. Ours is a new, exciting and active
environment. Parental control appears absent. Our students
are a long way from home, without the constraints and responsibilities
that tend to check behavioural excess. No doubt there is also
the desire to impress one's peers. They may call it 'being
carried away'. Whatever the causes, occasionally a few of
our students may indulge in behaviour that is simply anti-social.
If they get caught, they may feel they have little to lose.
Protected by this feeling that no one of importance will ever
know, I am aware that some students have broken our rules
and even the law. All students come to us after a 'letter
of recommendation' has been written about them by their school.
To remove this feeling of anonymity and to encourage students
to take responsibility for their own actions, we write frank
reports to parents. We reserve the right to send the writer
of the original 'letter of recommendation' a photocopy of
any correspondence we have with parents about children in
our care.
Contacting Students
The students who adjust best are those whose parents phone
them only on the two 'Telephone Sundays'. If these parents
wish to know how their child is adjusting, they phone the
Course Manager and ask.
There are some parents who feel they must speak to their children
frequently. We ask parents who must speak to their children
outside 'Telephone Sundays' to phone the payphone, not our
School Office number. We cannot search for children in a large
building and campus. The payphone may ring unanswered. A student
may answer it. If so, that student can be asked to search
for a student. That student may or may not comply with the
request.
Mobile Phones
'The curse of the mobile phone' caused at least one parent
to block calls from her son's mobile to her phone. He was
failing to adjust to the Course and phoning every day for
comfort and support. When he could no longer receive the solace
he needed from home, he started making friends and got on
with enjoying himself. Mobile phones are not useful in the
context of the Course. The time young people spend with us
develops their sense of independence. They need to be able
to cope with small challenges on their own. An immediate call
home at the first sign of a problem delays the growing up
process that is a part of the experience we give young people.
The only time a phone is useful is when a child is away from
the school. For 2008 we shall allow mobile phones to be used
only on trip days. In line with UK Government Education Department
advice on the possible health hazard for young people of microwaves
near the developing brain in an enclosed environment, we do
not permit students to use mobile phones inside the school.
We prefer that a mobile phone is not brought. Any mobile phone
brought must be kept in the office and used outdoors. We accept
no responsibility for loss of or damage to mobile phones that
are brought. Any mobile phone kept other than in the office
will be removed.
English Law
I state on the Application Form that this applies. There is
nothing sinister about the inclusion of these words. We are
de facto in loco parentis in the summer. We accept responsibility
for looking after a large number of other people's children.
We take this responsibility seriously. Parents trust us to
make wise decisions. Sometimes, however, we receive requests
which we consider unwise. For example, we are asked to let
children be unaccompanied by staff when we consider they are
not responsible enough to be unaccompanied. Children feel
that, if they ask their parents to request something from
us, we must comply with a parental request. We are the ones
closest to what is happening. We know what a prudent parent
would do and would not do in certain circumstances. Legally,
we are expected to fulfill the role of a prudent parent -
no more, no less. Sometimes we do not agree with what a parent
is asking us to do. We shall use our discretion in all matters.
Under English Law a parent may not sign away a child's rights.
This includes the child's right to be protected by adults.
We shall do what we think is right for the child. This is
why I state that English Law applies.
Theatre Visits
Most students request a visit to the theatre. They are asked
to choose which show they wish to see in order of preference
on a form which shows the Invoice number. The earlier the
application, the lower the Invoice number. Tickets are allocated
by Invoice number. The lower the Invoice number, the greater
the chance of getting one's choice of theatre visit. 2008
Invoice numbers start at 13135. A 'Theatre Visits' choice
list will be sent out in March or later.
Property
We ask that valuable items (including expensive clothes) are
not brought. All items with a used re-sale value over £40
must nevertheless be listed on the 'Valuable Possessions'
form. At the end of the Courses we send back every named item
of property left behind. Un-named items are also returned
if we have a good idea to whom they belong. We can keep items
in our office on request. While they are safer in our office
than elsewhere, we accept responsibility only for items stored
in our safe. Items given to us for safe-keeping are kept in
our safe for the duration of the Course and are not removed
at any time. Property not in our safe and lost other than
when in the student's possession on a trip is not covered
by the Insurance policy we include as part of the Course Fee.
We accept no responsibility for mobile phones.
Health & EHIC
All students are entitled to free emergency treatment under
the Medical Insurance policy included in the Course Fee for
illnesses or accidents that happen in Britain. EU and EEA
residents are entitled to free treatment under the National
Health Service for illnesses or accidents that happen in Britain.
Pre-existing conditions are not covered by our insurance.
No one (not even an EU or EEA resident) is entitled to free
treatment under the NHS for a pre-existing condition unless
they have an EHIC (European Health Insurance Card). EHICs
were introduced on 1 June 2004 and are available from Social
Security or Health Department offices overseas. If an overseas
Social Security or Health Department office states that an
EHIC is not needed because free treatment for a pre-existing
condition is available for anyone in the EU or EEA on a short
stay, that advice is wrong and the office should contact
the Department of Health on +44 20 7210 5318 for confirmation.
If they have a pre-existing condition and do not have an EHIC,
students should have their own medical insurance.
Lost Luggage
New arrangements for hand baggage mean that more cases are
lost by airlines than before. We shall continue to help students
who arrive with no luggage to buy necessary items, but as
the contract the airlines have is with the passenger (not
ourselves) they will not refund the cost to us. We shall inform
parents what has happened and take the cost from pocket money.
The airline will then reimburse the parent who will, we hope,
have topped up the pocket money.
Excess Baggage
The economy class limit is 20 kilos. From 2008, the airlines
will insist that luggage over 24 kilos is put in a second
suitcase (which must be bought) and then there will be an
additional charge of £100. Students must, therefore,
bring less than 20 kilos of luggage.
VacStuds DVD
'VacStuds 2007 All Over Again' has been edited and sent to
those requesting it. For those students wishing to relive
the summer and for those parents trying to find out what made
it 'the best summer of my life', here is an instant walk down
Memory Lane. Parents of 2008 students who would like a preview
can request a copy.
Before and During the Course
Parents are welcome to contact me on any matter. In July and
August I tend to be at my desk from 08.00 (English time) until
10.00 and then I travel around the schools. For practical
reasons, therefore, it is best to make contact with me during
the Courses via the Course Manager. Just before the Course,
I send each parent ‘last minute’ information with
my GSM phone number. For information, this is +44 7717 007
007.
Staff Helpers
If possible, we like to have a male and/or a female former
student on each Course as unpaid helpers, providing a link
between staff and students. They tend to be 18-21 and to have
left a gap of one summer after being a student. SHs are chosen
early in the new year. Potential SHs should contact me before
Christmas. If ‘leadership potential’ or an equivalent
phrase is mentioned in my letter accompanying the final report,
this suggests that a SH application would be considered favourably.
After the Course
Please feel you can contact me about anything connected with
Britain. For example, parents ask for my advice on continuing
their children’s education in Britain. I am happy to
help. No charge! I see this as a natural extension of my work
with young people. Students ask for information, sometimes
ten or twenty years later or more. No problem!
Vacational Studies Trade Mark
Our logo and the words Vacational Studies have been registered
as trade marks. We have no connection with any other organisation
- whether with a similar or dissimilar name.
The Jörg Weise Association (JWA)
This exists to encourage international understanding. Occasionally
its Trophy is awarded for an outstanding contribution to the
international aims of the Course. It was not awarded in 2007.
Click here for more details.
Giotto
This enables our students to keep in touch with friends from
when they were students with us and to make new contacts for
social or professional purposes.
Click here for more details.
Vacational Studies Foundation
The Vacational Studies Foundation was registered as a Charity
under English Law in January 2000 to assist talented young
people.
Click
here for more details.
H.T.W. Mucklejohn
My father, who was Company Secretary from the founding of
Vacational Studies until his death in 2003, was a great support
to me. In his memory, the Jörg Weise Association has
donated in perpetuity a full Scholarship which I am able to
award when I come across a young person who would benefit
from our Courses, but cannot apply for financial reasons.
If you know one, tell me.
My thanks
...to all those who trusted with the care of their children
this summer. I value this confidence and aim to provide 'the
investment that can never be taken away'. Those who have been
to us and their parents will know that 'come to Vacational
Studies and change your life' is as true now as it was in
1973.
and finally...
For those who are interested, my second book about my adventures
('And Then There Were Three - Expanded Edition' (ISBN 1903933730))
was published in June 2006 and is available inter alia via
www.amazon.com.
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"May Vacational
Studies continue to change lives in magical ways!"
'This
is to extend our sincere thanks for the most wonderful
and educational time H spent with you, your colleagues
and all the students this summer. She returned home
with lots of new experiences, increased skills in English
and last but not least a new attitude to the international
and global world. I am pleased to say that all our expectations
came through, H's and mine included. I would also like
to thank you for the follow-ups and the final academic
reports and leaving certificate, documents which at
the moment mean a lot to H and which I hope will become
useful in her future activities. I will be happy to
be contacted by parents of new students and I welcome
anyone to contact me. My youngest daughter is already
looking forward to attending.' (Letter from a parent)
'I
want to thank you for another amazing month! This year
I knew what I was going to, but I have to admit I didn't
think it could possibly live up to last year's memories.
It did though. It was absolutely great, but it was not
the same as last year, just different! Mostly because
of the people! And I made a lot of great friends! I
have had so many new experiences, improved my English
and made
friends for a lifetime. I feel so lucky , because VacStuds
has actually changed my life! Cause now I feel a lot
more independent and secure of myself. I cannot wait
to get out of this little country so next year I am
going to
America for a year. After VacStuds I fell in love with
boarding schools and the
environment there was, so this year I am going to a
boarding school far from home. Both decisions made by
my good experiences at VacStuds. I have some friends
who went to Malta and England this summer on other
summer camps to improve their English, and when sharing
stories with them the difference is huge! I am sure
you are proud to be maybe the only serious school, cause
after what I've heard they didn't learn a lot of English..!'
(Letter from a student)
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