Our son went to YMCA for the first time for their last Intensive [the Spring Intensive in 2021] and the staff warmly welcomed him. The staff understood his feelings and personality well and as a result, were able to respond to his anxieties and desires.
The Curriculum
The Themes of the Spring Intensive were Fairy Tales and Insects. He made crafts and did activities related to dragons, crowns, magic wands, and insects every day and was able to explain happily and proudly what each of his creations were. From what he produced, I felt the curriculum focused on a number of different types of skills. I felt that the staff must have thought about so many different things when they created the curriculum.
Also, having looked at a number of programs and schools, no other program has the inclusion of an excursion using the school bus. My son emptied his lunch box and slept soundly every night. He had so much fun! I was very happy to see his happy sleeping face each night.
I was also impressed by the staff's attention to detail. For example, changing his dirty clothes and shoes. Although, it's a trivial matter, it is the sort of thing that is important to parents. I felt they were watching the child with great care to notice it. I also felt I could leave my son with no worries.
In addition, after the first week, my son's English proficiency improved surprisingly. I was very surprised, "In just four days?" "Where did you remember such a phrase?" I wasn't the only one to notice the change either. Even his grandparents were delighted to notice his growth in English. After the second week, his proportion of speaking English at home increased dramatically.
The OYIS Spring Intensive had a consistently wonderful curriculum that helped children develop their English proficiency, artistic skills, overall general knowledge, and their communication skills. All the Teachers and Assistants are professionals and the school is full of warm and friendly staff.