This August, we proudly hosted the VIEC Summer Program 2025, a unique two-week educational experience held from August 3 to 16, 2025, right here in beautiful Victoria, BC. Six enthusiastic students from Japan, aged between 12 and 15, participated in this immersive, project-based English learning adventure.
✨ What Made This Program Special?
The VIEC Summer Program was not a typical English class. Instead of learning English through textbooks, our students used English as a tool to explore, communicate, and collaborate with certified native-speaking instructors and Canadian buddies. Here’s what set our program apart:
🔍 Focus on Environment & Cross-Cultural Understanding
Students engaged in a hands-on project titled “Let Me Tell You a Story About Victoria”, designed to deepen their understanding of local culture, environment, and daily life in Canada.
🧭 Real-World Exploration
To support their project work, the group visited a variety of meaningful local sites, including:
- Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
- Royal BC Museum
- Chinatown
- A Totem Pole walking tour
- Sidney Aquarium
- A local grocery store
…and more! These excursions offered firsthand insights into Canadian history, biodiversity, Indigenous culture, and everyday life in Victoria.
🏠 Full Homestay Experience
Students stayed with local Canadian host families for the entire two weeks, allowing them to experience real-life language use and authentic Canadian culture every day.
💬 Daily Project-Based Learning
Each day, students worked collaboratively on their group project with guidance from experienced teachers and local mentors. They practiced:
- Project planning & management
- Research and presentation skills
- Public speaking and communication in English
The final presentations, delivered entirely in English, were a proud moment for everyone involved!
🌟 What We Saw
Throughout the program, the students grew in confidence, communication, and cultural awareness. They not only improved their practical English skills, but also built international friendships and discovered new perspectives on the world.
🔜 Looking Ahead
We are so happy with how this year’s program turned out, and we’re already looking forward to organizing similar opportunities in the future. If you’re interested in participating or partnering with us, stay tuned for upcoming announcements!
If you are interested in becoming one of our host families, we would love to hear from you!
Please email us to learn more : homestay@viec-ca.com
VIEC Homestay Team
