Learn French in Ireland

Through our novel mix of classroom and multi-activity fun events, we give our students an all-round language-learning experience that will stand to them for life. It is ideal preparation for forthcoming exams in an environment conducive to quality learning.

Key Elements:

• Intensive language learning residential courses.
• All Language Inter-action courses are of two-week or three-week duration.
• Mornings are spent in the classroom in formal intensive lessons, learning your language(French or Spanish) from qualified teachers.
• Afternoons are spent enjoying multi-activity events, where students put their ever-expanding language skills to practical use with native speakers.

The Classroom:

• Students are placed in a class appropriate to their level of proficiency. We ascertain this through a test on Day One of the course.
• Native-speaking teaching staff
• Staff:student ratio - 1:6
• Total immersion in the language
• Constant supervision
• Assessment and support throughout the two weeks, and full, written report provided to parents upon conclusion of the course
• Intensive exam preparation, with special focus on:
• Developing the student's oral fluency in the language.
• Developing their comprehension of the language.
• Reviewing the basic grammar & grammatical structures of the language.
• Exam-specific practice for oral and aural exams.
• Exam-specific written assignments - mirroring what they will experience in forthcoming exams.
• Exam techniques
• Teaching of the highest standard, with emphasis on second-level syllabus in Irish schools. Yet we promote a relaxed environment so that students feel comfortable.

We encourage all students to take a full and active part in the classroom.

Certification:

Horizon is approved by the Irish Department of Education and Science for the teaching of English as a foreign language. All students who complete our French & Spanish Language Courses are awarded Horizon certification. Afternoon & Evenings:
• Multi-activity and cultural events, while inter-acting with foreign students, thus putting the language to real and practical use.
• Activities include Archery, Aeroball, Climbing, Field Sports, Watersports & Drama .
• Begin to gain an understanding of the culture of the country whose language you are learning.
• Enjoy the fun and informality of a summer camp, while still making huge progress in your chosen language.

Our Language Inter-Action courses are open to all secondary school students, from 15 years of age to Leaving Certificate. Students must have one year behind them of learning their chosen language.

Our colleges are prestigous centres of learning. Here students will find themselves inspired by their surroundings, and they will also avail of the range of sporting and cultural activities and facilities available on site.

To maximise the language learning experience, we choose to use dedicated Colleges. In Rockwell College, all students take part in the French courses, while Wilson's College is our Spanish-only centre.

Rockwell College

Rockwell College is situated 7km. from the historical town of Cashel on the main
Dublin-Cork road in Co. Tipperary in the Province of Munster. It is set in 150 acres of wooded grounds and rich farmland along with its own 23 acre lake.

What facilities does Rockwell College have?

• 25 meter indoor heated swimming pool.
• 9-hole golf course.
•Sports hall, with basketball, badminton, volleyball courts, and weights room.
• 20 acres of sports pitches.
•Tennis courts & hockey pitches.
• 23 acres lake on college grounds.
•Full Catering facilities for 250 residential students.
•Full size all-weather sports pitcheswith floodlighting facility.

What is the accommodation like?

Rockwell College is a yearround boarding school offeringsingle, double and multi-beddedaccommodation. Full diningfacilities are also provided.

Does Rockwell have special activities?

Full Horizon Activity menuincluding Watersports, Golf, Horseriding & Tennis.

Wilson's College

Wilson's College, Co.Westmeath, is located on the N4, 13km north-west of Mullingar. Wilson's is a well known independent boarding school located close to the town of Mullingar in the heart of Ireland's Lake District, just one hour from Dublin. Set in 200 acres of rolling countryside between Lough Owel & Lough Derravaragh. Wilson's has excellent facilities including modern classroom buildings, playing fields, multi- sports hall, theatre, tennis courts, swimming pool, excellent dining hall. In recent years all dormitories have been refurbished and modernised.

The local village of Multy-farnham is 2km away. It is scenic and vast. The nearby town of Mullingar is a bustling midlands town with all the amenities you could ask for including libraries, gymnasium, snooker hall, internet cafe and Arts Centre

What facilities does Wilson's College have?

•Historical 17th Century buildings.
•Purpose built modern Sports hall.
•State of the art classrooms.
•Heated outdoor swimming pool.
•Extensive outdoor sports pitches, tennis courts and hockey pitches.
•High Ropes course, Climbing
Tower and Quad Bike track.
•Full Catering facilities for 250 residential students.
•Performing Arts Theatre.
•Watersports lake

A Typical Day

8am - 9am:
Rise'n'shine, Breakfast

9.30 - 11am:
Classroom session (1)

11am-11.30am:
Mid-morning break

11.30am - 1pm:
Classroom session (2)

1 - 2pm:
Lunch break, change into sports gear for afternoon activities

2 - 5pm:
Multi-activity - maybe abseiling, canoeing, football, multi-media fun, drama etc.

5 - 6pm:
Relax in dormitory, showers, change for evening activities

6 - 6.45pm:
Evening Meal

6.45 - 7.30pm:
Full college assembly

7.30 - 10.30pm:

Evening activities, music, leisure time, all under supervision.*

On Saturdays, students enjoy a supervised excursion to attractions of cultural and historical interest with their new foreign friends to encourage spoken linguistic exchanges.

School's out on Sunday! We put the day to good use, though, through a well-structured programme of multi activity & multi-cultural events.

Irish and foriegn students eat together.

* Evening activities include videos, board games, quizzes, treasure hunts, discos, films etc. All in the foreign language, thereby providing further absorption in the language and culture.