The two programs share common operational goals and characteristics, such as living in school-provided accommodation, enjoying English, and improving speaking skills, among other areas.
However, there are some differences:
| English Camp | Family Study Abroad | |
| Accommodation | Only used by 3-4 juniors. | Parents and juniors share a room. |
| Meals and Snacks | 3 meals a day and
a snack every evening. |
3 meals only |
| Junior Care | From waking up until bedtime, even outdoor activities are the responsibility of the school. | Primarily the parents’ responsibility, with the schools’ responsibility being secondary. |
| Study | 8-10 hours of classes per day, with mandatory after-school self-study. | 6-9 hours of classes per day, with after-school self-study being optional. |
| Activity | Saturday and Sunday activities are under school management. | Simple activities such as volunteer work or sports activities are managed by the school while going out or traveling is done with parents. |
| Expense | High cost | The cost for juniors is 70-80% of that of the camps; however, additional costs are incurred by the parents. |
English Camp:
Parents working may safely leave their children in an English environment for one or two months through the English camp. Weekend activities help juniors build social relationships and create study abroad memories in the Philippines. Choose an experienced and trustworthy school as camps manage life and safety on behalf of parents. However, challenges arise in meeting detailed needs due to ‘uniform operation’ in class management, teacher style, rest time, and teaching material management – common in most junior camps. Concerns also arise about potential low teacher quality as temporary, short-term teachers may not match regular ESL teachers in experience and trust.
Family Study Abroad:
Studying abroad with a family provides detailed support to juniors in English learning. Unlike schools relying on placement test results, parents can understand their junior’s strengths and weaknesses observed over years. They can monitor class schedules, textbooks, homework, etc., from the first week and make requests directly to the office. However, parents must manage both academics and daily lives, ensuring junior’s safety during activities and often accompanying them on weekends, which can be tiring.
In conclusion:
In terms of academic achievements, family training significantly outperforms English camps for juniors. Despite school efforts, meeting parents’ demands regarding juniors’ academic needs is challenging. If interested in offering various experiences during vacation in addition to studying English, an English camp may be a good alternative.
