Squash & Language Summer 2020 June 27-July 2 July 4-9,25-30,1-6 August 1-6

Program overview

Program’s cost: $1600 for six days program

Program overview

For the third year hosted on Williams College campus, Squash and Beyond is pleased to introduce squash programs to combine intensive squash training with language immersion.  Each program will enable students to strengthen their squash game and improve their foreign language skills.

Both Squash and French Language and Squash and Spanish Language are for campers grades 7-11, offers a fantastic setting for language study.

These programs are open to squash players who have had at least one year of Spanish language instruction, or equivalent language experience outside the classroom. Our programs are small enough for our language instructors to be able to accommodate a variety of language levels, from second year through advanced.

Highlights

  • Improve your squash game while training five hours each day.
  • Receive 3 hours of language instruction daily
  • Gain confidence and skill in speaking Spanish
  • Enjoy all night activities offered by SQUASH AND BEYOND

25 hours of squash training per week

10 hours of language classes per week

Language Immersion

Our language instructors are native speakers as well as experienced teachers.  The group will meet twice each day, in the morning and afternoon, for formal instruction and structured conversational practice.

Accommodations and supervision

Students, coaches and teachers will live in West Dorm, on the Williams campus. A separate floor will be designated for each language group in order to encourage campers to speak French and Spanish. The group coaches and the language instructor will live with the students and accompany them on all excursions, providing round-the-clock supervision.

Language Requirement

Our language programs are open to high school squash players who have at least one year of instruction in the language of the program or equivalent language experience outside the classroom.  Exceptions may be made, depending on the type of language experience the student has had.  If you are uncertain about whether or not your student’s language background qualifies, please give our office a call.

Our teacher: Amy Kirby

I am a Spanish teacher, travel enthusiast and continual student. I began studying Spanish as a high school student but it wasn’t until I went on a school-trip to Europe that I  knew I wanted to speak another language and immerse myself in another culture.

In college I spent a year abroad in Seville, Spain. I finished my undergraduate degree with a BA in Spanish and International Relations. I started working in Boston for a company where I negotiated contracts for suppliers in Latin America.  This experience gave me the opportunity to travel and see many new areas in the world.  I always knew that I wanted to teach and after five years of the business world, I transitioned to teaching.  My students inspired me and their questions prompted a brief hiatus from teaching to travel and experience the Spanish speaking cultures we had been discussing.  After two years of living, working and traveling in Central America, I returned to the classroom, certain that it was my calling and ready to share my experiences in the classroom.

I earned my Masters in Teaching Spanish as a second language from Bennington College.  The experience put me back in the students’ chair and helped me to reorganize how and why I teach. I believe that learning a new language requires an understanding of the cultures that are represented.  Learning a language is social and providing students with opportunities to use language in meaningful ways is always my goal.