On weekdays the students improved their English skills at Hilderstone College, a small school with «garden and grounds, perfect to sit outside in the sun». They were divided into small groups and each group was taught by at least two different «kind» and «knowledgeable» teachers.

Most evenings the «funny and passionate» teachers and the «helpful» staff of the college organized talks on various aspects of life in Britain and other activities: «the evening activities and talks were great and much fun».

Three afternoons were dedicated to excursions to some landmarks, such as the Isle of Thanet, «beautiful» Canterbury and the «quirky» town of Sandwich. The hot and sunny weather in the second week allowed the students to spend their evenings on the «lovely local beaches».

All the students stayed in host families, where they could practice their English, gain a closer insight into life in Britain and where «the food was surprisingly good». Some of the students really bonded with their hosts and are going to visit Broadstairs again in July.

The highlight of the two weeks was the prolonged weekend in London, where – in addition to going shopping – they had the possibility to go to a show in the evening and join various guided walking tours: the Camden Tour with the «great market» and «delicious food stalls», the Westminster Tour with a «typical British gentleman» as guide, who was «very funny and made the tour very interesting and entertaining; he knew the perfect spot to watch the changing of the guards», and the Jack the Ripper Walking Tour, which showed a «creepier aspect of London». The students could also drop a visit at Madame Tussaud’s or spend a whole afternoon at the «spectacular» Harry Potter Studios – «a must for every Potterhead».

All in all, «the language stay was a great experience».

Quotes taken from students’ reports.