2024 Christmas Intensive Program

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Primary Writing

Our Primary writing courses are designed to develop reading and writing skills in one of the two main writing genres: narrative and informational writing. Throughout each course, students practice the important steps of the writing process – brainstorming, outlining logically, writing effectively, and revising thoughtfully.

Writing and Grammar

Our Writing and Grammar courses are tailored for students who aspire to hone their critical and creative writing skills through precise application of language, structure and syntax. Students will study a variety of grammatical conventions and exercise their rules of usage through guided instruction and extensive drills. Each course will also provide students with the opportunity to practice the skills they learn through composing critical paragraphs or descriptive pieces.

Novel Study

Novel Study is designed to take students through a novel in its entirety over the duration of the course. Students will train their reading comprehension skills and be exposed to new vocabulary while studying the novel by examining different story elements, including narrative structure, characters, and settings.

Reading and Vocab

At its core, the Reading and Vocab course is designed to help students of all levels grow and enhance their English reading proficiency. Throughout the course, students will read engaging and thought-provoking texts and complete activities that are designed to advance their reading comprehension abilities, build their vocabulary base, and elevate their verbal reasoning.

Public Speaking and Debate

In today’s world, the biggest barrier to ideas coming to life is a lack of expression. At the same time, clear communication unlocks endless opportunities. Public speaking and debating are not just new skills—they are powerful methods of thinking and expressing ideas. Those who can pitch innovative solutions in the boardroom, advocate for meaningful change, or present compelling arguments in scholarship interviews gain a decisive edge. Throughout this course, students will learn to craft logical, persuasive arguments and build the confidence to express their ideas clearly. They will master techniques to organize thoughts, respond to challenges on the spot, and ensure every message resonates—whether in the classroom, at events, or their life.

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Secondary Writing

At the Secondary level, students must grapple with increasingly more complex writing conventions as well as more challenging subject matter. To that end, our intensive writing courses are designed to develop critical reading and writing skills within four main genres: persuasive, informational, descriptive, and fiction. As within our Primary programs, the courses continue to emphasise the importance of the writing process – brainstorming, outlining, writing, and editing – in order to cultivate independent student writers.

Secondary Critical Thinking

At the Secondary level, our critical thinking programs seek to both build students’ confidence with their presentations as well as to encourage them to probe their own opinions and the opinions of others. This winter, we are providing a range of offerings for students who would like to focus on either the critical thinking or speaking facets of our RRAPS programs.

Public Speaking and Debate

Within the Secondary program for Public Speaking and Debate, we provide intensive courses catered to both newcomers as well as seasoned competitive debaters. At the introductory level, classes focus on equipping students with the necessary skills for different speaking environments and cultivating the fundamental abilities required for effective debating. At the intermediate level, classes focus on upgrading the fundamentals to a higher level so that students are prepared for more competitive settings. For more advanced students, classes are designed to introduce a higher degree of complexity and nuance to their arguments. These individuals are encouraged to delve deeper into current and global affairs, so they may cultivate a deeper understanding of the world around them. Instructors will closely collaborate with students to develop an engaging and impactful presentation style, while also offering constructive feedback on every speech.