• Why study English in London?
  The presence of literary giants like Shakespeare, Dickens, Joyce, Austen, J.K. Rowling and Tolkien will come alive as we wander the streets of old London. From the dazzling lights of the theatre district to the old-world charm of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre and the opulence of Buckingham Palace, the sites, sounds and smells of England's capital are sure to inspire. The experience is designed to engage students with their environment and allow them to connect the threads of their knowledge to their own real life experience. Whether delivering a rant at Speaker's Corner or performing a scene from Romeo and Juliet, this course is designed for students who want to genuinely connect their English studies with practical experience. Our journey to London will see the ghosts of the stories told on these infamous streets come to life, laying the foundation for the final portion of the coursework once students have returned home.

Courses

Courses offered for grade 12 students

• English - Grade 12

  This course is designed for students who want to connect their English studies with practical experience. Knowledge, skills and confidence will improve as students experiment with the various forms of written expression, including creative, academic and journalistic styles. Students will have the opportunity to hone their writing, presentation and critical-thinking skills in an exciting and motivating venue.

  Why Study English in London?

  Our journey to London will be the culmination of the online work and lay the foundation for the final portion of the coursework once students have returned. The experience in London is designed to inspire students and allow them to connect the threads of their knowledge to their own real life experience. The presence of literary giants like Shakespeare, Dickens, Joyce, Austen, J.K. Rowling and Tolkien will come alive as we wander the streets of old London. From the dazzling lights of the theatre district to the old-world charm of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre and the opulence of Buckingham Palace, the sites, sounds and smells of London are sure to inspire. Whether delivering a rant at Speaker’s Corner or performing a scene from Romeo and Juliet, students will see the ghosts of the stories told on London’s infamous streets come alive.

Itinerary

• Dates
  • Course Begins: February 7th
  • Departure Date: March 11th
  • Return Date: March 20th (tentative)
  • Course Ends: May 14th (tentative)

• Preparatory meeting
  (February 5th, 2011)

  Students and staff will come together for a preparatory meeting the Saturday before online sessions begins in order to review details of the program. The preparatory meeting is designed to give students and staff a chance to meet and discuss expectations and clarify details for the months ahead. We have found that this meeting ensures that our students are ready to enjoy every minute of their online experience and mach break journey.

• Course begins: Online sessions (February 7th- March 10th, 2011)

• Week 1: Introduction to Storytelling

  Students will begin their Online English sessions by stepping back in time and looking at the origins of storytelling in order to unearth the foundations of modern western thought and literature. Starting with Homer’s legendary Illiad and Odyssey, students will consider the purpose and function of the oral tradition of telling stories. Moving forward, they will examine the emergence of theatre and philosophy and the evolution to the written word with its varying forms and content.

• Week 2: The Essay as Story

  In the second week, students will begin to look at various conceptions of “the Essay”. From opinion pieces, speeches and rants, to articles and monologues, students will analyze the form and its varying styles of content in preparation for them trying their own hands at saying something new and then proving it.

• Week 3: The Short Story

  As a building block toward tackling the Novel, students will begin to read and analyze a cross-section of short stories of various styles, periods and genres. Through chats, comparative studies and looking at the stories through lens experiments, students will build their repertoire and understand appreciate the art of short fiction.

• Week 4: Introduction to Poetry and Drama

  Building on the first week’s look at the history of the art of storytelling, students will look to its first most dominant cultural forms, poetry and drama. Students will begin to read and analyze a cross-section of some of the legendary poetry and drama that make up the foundation of the western literary canon.

• Week 5: Shakespeare

  Within the historical and political context of a changing England in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, William Shakespeare penned the works that have remained the apex of achievement in literature. As we prepare for the March Break journey ahead, our studies of the Bard and his works will be enriched with the knowledge that we will soon see one of his masterpieces on stage on his home soil.

• March break excursion to London
  (March 11th-March 20th, 2011)

• Day 1, Friday March 11th; Departure to London

  Students will hit the ground running as they arrive in the literary hub of London. A walkabout in the city along the River Thames will give students a brief introduction to their new surroundings. As we approach the Covent Gardens and the Royal Opera House, students and teachers will sit down to our first dinner as a group.

• Day 2, Saturday March 12th

  Students will journey to St. James’ Park for their morning activities and a game of Ultimate Frisbee. Afterwards, they’ll walk to bordering Buckingham Palace, the official London residence of the British monarch, where students will have an opportunity to witness the changing of the guards. In the afternoon, students will do a walkabout of the Covent Gardens district and continue their discussion of Shakespeare’s work. In the evening, they will meet at the famous Shaftesbury Monument before venturing into Soho for some traditional London fare.

• Day 3, Sunday March 13th

  Our Saturday morning lecture will take us to the sprawling gardens of Hyde Park where historical giants such as Karl Marx, Lenin and George Orwell have expressed their ideals and beliefs. After a lunchtime scavenger hunt at the nearby markets, students will have time to prepare their own rants to be delivered at the famed Speakers’ Corner, home of the British democratic tradition of soapbox oratory. Students will then have an opportunity to do some shopping at the infamous Harrod’s of London.

• Day 4, Monday March 14th

  You’ll get by with a little help from your friends… as you walk in the footsteps of the Beatles on Abbey Road in Camden. We’ll spend the day wandering and exploring the nearby Camden markets, where students will get to experience the where many contemporary British literary and musical talents first cultivated their craft. Students also might find some old English antiques and souvenirs or delight in some live theatre or music at a local venue.

• Day 5, Tuesday March 15th

  Students will travel to the Tate Modern, which is the most-visited modern art gallery in the world. In the afternoon, students will have the opportunity to experience London’s fashion and entertainment district as they explore the streets of the bustling Picadilly Circus. Later on students will have the opportunity to attend a show at one of the theatre’s in London’s West End.

• Day 6, Wednesday March 16th

  While sitting on the steps of the Alhambra Theatre in Leicester Square, students will enjoy a morning tea in this the heart of London’s west end entertainment district. In the afternoon we will venture to the infamous Tower of London, built by William the Conqueror in the 11th century and home to the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom, as well as the alleged ghost of Queen Anne Boleyn.

• Day 7, Thursday March 17th

  In the morning students will travel to Trafalgar Square in the heart of London, named for the British general who defeated Napoleon in a 19th century naval battle. For lunch, students will be challenged to see who can create the best British picnic lunch from the surrounding markets on The Strand and Regent. Students will meet back at Trafalgar to visit London’s National Gallery.

• Day 8, Friday March 18th; Day trip to Stratford-Upon-Avon

  Students will venture out of the city for a day trip to Shakespeare’s birthplace, the nearby Stratford-Upon-Avon. Students will explore the quaint town where Shakespeare grew up, began to write and had his own family, before leaving for good for the prospects of London. In the afternoon, students will have an opportunity to see one of his plays performed at the prestigious Royal Shakespeare Company, the most respected Shakespearean company in the world.

• Day 9, Saturday March 19th

  There’s no better place to look for poetic inspiration than at the heart of London in Westminster, located on the north bank of the River Thames. As students wander the historic road of Whitehall, they will take in the iconic sites of Big Ben and Parliament, the seat of the British government. We’ll have a last chance to wander London’s streets and do any last minute shopping before going out together for our final night on the town together.

• Day 10, Sunday March 20th; Departure Day

  As we say farewell to London and prepare for our return flight home, students will have time to reflect on their epic March Break journey and unwind as they take a day’s respite before continuing their online sessions.

• Online sessions continue (March 22nd-May 13th, 2011)

• Weeks 7, 8 & 9: The Novel and Essay

  Having returned from traveling and participating in workshops in London, students will tackle one of the most complex forms of storytelling, the Novel. In preparation for their own essays on the course’s novel of choice, students will use their skills developed from analyzing essays and short stories to dissect a longer and more involved work. Students will develop their own original thesis and argument bringing out new ideas in their own essays.

• Week 10 & 11: A Survey of Periods/Styles and Comparative Studies

  Having completed their novel study, students will explore various pieces from major periods in English Literature such as the Medieval period or the Restoration and analyze the styles of the various times, socio-cultural influences, and compare them for content and theme.

• Weeks 12 & 13: Contemporary Trends in Form and Content

  Rounding out the course will be a look at contemporary trends in English literature, how it’s evolved as a result of colonialism and increased globalization and how form and content interact in the present world of the art of storytelling. From memoir, film, graphic novels and slam poetry to contemporary approaches to classic forms such as the short story, editorial and the novel, students will be plugged into the present and future of English literature and its place in the global culture and marketplace.

• Week 14; Course Summary

  In the final week, students will be wrapping up final assignments and reviewing critical thinking skills and tools in preparation for their final examination.

• Final Exam/Assignments (Saturday, May 14th; tentative)

  After wrapping up our online sessions in mid-May students will come together to demonstrate the depth of their understanding in a final exam. Any final projects or assignments will also be collected on this date. Surrounded by their peers and teachers, students will celebrate the completion of their course with a graduation ceremony.

• London
  In LONDON, students will reside a stone's throw from St. James Park, the oldest of the royal parks in the city. Bounded by Buckingham Palace to the west, St. James Park is an ideal location to hold lectures, afternoon picnics and act as a central jumping off point to the rest of the city. Contrary to popular belief, there is more than fried fish and chips available on the streets of London. From Indian dosas to handmade Italian pastas, students will expand their culinary horizons with some of the best international cuisine.

MEI Gear

• Clothing and Accessories
  At MEI, we not only provide our students with the best possible education, staff and travel experience - we also provide them with the best in fashion and accessories! After years of experience, we understand that having the proper clothing is an important aspect of travelling. With that in mind, we have designed a number of clothing articles for all types of climates and activities so the student can be prepared for any situation. From hoodies and tees to windbreakers and flip-flops, MEI gear allows you to travel in comfort and in style! MEI gear includes other items as well, like our high-quality water bottles. Each student is also issued a beautifully bound journal for their travel writing and cultural observations.
• Health and Fitness
  Healthy living, exercise and active learning is a big part of the MEI lifestyle. Each morning students are encouraged to start their day off on the right foot by doing some exercises or exploring the city with a supervised jog. With our MEI workout gear, keeping in shape will be easy and comfortable. Healthy bodies equal healthy minds, and students who are in the best physical condition are sure to stave off fatigue and make the most of their experience abroad.
• MEI Gear Store Coming Soon
  Look here for ways to order exclusive MEI gear soon!

• Transportation
  
  • Return airfare from Toronto's Pearson International Airport
  • Transportation between hotel locations via private coach
  • Transportation for all listed program excursions
  • Transfers to all accommodations
• Trip Related
  
  • Breakfast and dinner daily
  • Entrance fees to all course-specific sites
• Course Components
  
  • Ministry-approved credit(s) upon successful completion of the course(s)
  • Custom course pack
  • Student Login
  • MEI journal
  • Digital yearbook
  • Fall reunion