Summer School 2023

Enrollment for the ACS Summer School is now closed.

About the Summer School

Each summer, children from all over Bulgaria join the Summer School of the American College of Sofia. Participants get to master their skills in English in one of Bulgaria’s top educational institutions with the support of innovative teachers, who transform learning into an unforgettable experience. ACS is located in a picturesque campus in a quiet, protected area. Our century-old park becomes the classroom for most of our summer school activities.

We provide an English language immersive environment to all summer school participants regardless of their age and level of knowledge. It focuses on the children using English in a variety of situations and learning about wider cultures and concepts through a range of activities. We believe that this is the only way for the children to get the feel of the language and to start using it naturally. The daily program includes 4 academic hours of English and additional subjects like sports, performing arts, and applied science. All subjects are taught in English.

Our English language program incorporates interactive and entertaining ways to learn the language with a huge variety of study materials, educational games, and resources. The English Language Program is project-based and exposes students to a new project every week. Our highly qualified teachers use an experience-based methodology and keep students interested and learning in a child-friendly way - through games and entertainment.

Every day lunch and afternoon snacks are served at the College cafeteria. There is also a medical team on site. The ACS Dormitory is open and ready to accommodate children from out of Sofia in the period July 3 – August 25, 2023.

Who is it designed for?

Children aged 6 to 14 years are welcome to join us. The program is suitable for all levels, from absolute beginners to advanced.

Group Formation

The kids are divided into groups according to their level of English knowledge and their age. Being a friend with another child is not a primary criterion taken into consideration when forming the groups. Children who know each other can only be in the same group if their English level is the same. This is determined after a preliminary 15-minute online Zoom interview with a teacher.

How to register?

1. Fill out the registration form and book your child's interview time.
2. Your child is required to attend the interview.
3. We send you a contract and attachments.
4. Sign the documents you receive.
5. Pay the tuition fee.

The student's place is guaranteed only after payment of the tuition fee and receipt of properly completed registration documents.

Levels

The level of the children is determined by an entry level test. There are four main levels.

Beginner
Students in this group will be in the early stages of their English language learning. They will know basic aspects such as greetings, the alphabet, animals, and food. They will participate in a variety of activities that will teach them how to behave in social interactions, work on building vocabulary, taking instructions, and working within a team.

Elementary
Students in this group will have knowledge of basic grammatical features such as past/present tenses and be able to construct simple sentences. They are able to read and are developing better pronunciation skills. They can provide and describe appropriate information about their personal experiences. Students will engage in several activities that will build on their reading fluency, practice using English in a variety of situations, and grow in confidence.

Intermediate
Students in this group will have a better command of more advanced grammatical features such as using the perfect tenses and specific terminology. They will be able to provide details in their explanations and explore English more creatively. Students will participate in several team projects that will explore the world around them.

Intermediate+
Students in this group will have a very good command of advanced grammatical features and use them appropriately when speaking and writing. Students will engage in activities that motivate them to think in English on the spot, be innovative with their ideas, and create projects that challenge their problem-solving skills and ability to adapt to new ideas and situations.

Timeline

The program will continue for 8 weeks in a row from July 3 until August 25. You can register your child for any of the eighth weeks or for a longer period; the shortest period being one week (Monday to Friday).

We encourage you to choose a period of four weeks, as it is most beneficial in terms of acquiring skills. We are very flexible. It is possible to have a week or two with us, then leave for a vacation and return later.

The program runs every day from 9:30 am until 4:30 pm. Lunch is served at 12:30 pm, afternoon snack – at 4:00 pm.

Program

English

Topics and stories become more vibrant when you read them with your friends. In our English language training, the children are not only students but become authors and main characters in adventures and projects. English language learning is intensive - 80 academic hours for four weeks. The work aims toward:
developing language skills
improving reading and writing skills
enriching vocabulary
upgrading the children’s communication skills on various topics and
creating a real environment for practicing the language.

Natural Science

The world of science is all around us. It’s exciting that naturally we are surrounded by science. Children accept science with curiosity and without fear. They love nature and are genuinely interested in its living and non-living creatures. At ACS, we take the children on a journey through our park’s wildlife, and teach them to respect and value it. Many of the lessons are take place outdoors where kids can observe, touch and experience nature. This is the best way to learn.

Arts

A great number of our classes are dedicated to mastering the acquired language skills in a relaxed and funny way through art activities that foster creativity and make children experiment with different art forms. Children complete creative tasks, develop their capacity for self-expression and dare to experiment. The aim of the art classes is to facilitate English learning by art expressions, to use art to support the emotional acceptance of the language, to stimulate creativity and intelligence and educate tolerance and finesse in communications.

Drama

Have you ever had a part in a drama performance? Kids love it. They are born actors. Drama contributes substantially to the development of skills that your children are going to need for their entire lives. Speaking, behavior in front of an audience, teamwork, and presentation skills are among the abilities that we will master in our drama classes. Besides, it’s really fun and children enjoy it immensely.

Sports

Within the summer school sports program we offer a wide range of games outside in our green park and inside in our modern indoor sports facilities. Consistent with their physical capabilities, students play football, volleyball, basketball, softball, Frisbee, badminton, and table tennis. They enjoy also games like ball-over-rope, dodgeball, relay (race) games, cognitive games, and gymnastics.

Price

All learning materials, cost of teaching, sports activities, lunch, and afternoon snacks, are included in the price. The longer you stay with us, the lower the price per week becomes.

All prices are inclusive of VAT.

Discounts:
-    10% for the current ACS year-long courses participants
-    10% for 2nd and 3rd child from the same family
*Each participant can take advantage of no more than one discount.

Contact Details
External Programs Office
Work days: June – September (Monday - Friday) and October - May(Tuesday – Saturday)
Tel: 02 974 4144, 02 434 1012
E-mail: courses@acsbg.org