6th August 2026
Make the most of the winter holidays with an international English programme
What if your winter break could be more than just time away from school? Imagine spending your holiday discovering a new city, meeting students from around the world, improving your English and trying activities you may never experience at home! Our Winter Junior Programmes for students aged 12 to 17 offer the perfect opportunity to do exactly that.
Designed for young learners, our Winter Junior Programmes combine English lessons with activities, excursions and accommodation, creating a complete experience where students can learn, explore and enjoy their time abroad. For students, it is a chance to discover a new culture, make international friends and build confidence using English every day. For parents, it offers peace of mind knowing their child is taking part in a well-organised language programme with experienced teachers, planned activities and a supportive environment. Taking place during the winter holiday, LSI Winter Junior Programmes are available in exciting destinations including LSI London Central, LSI College London Hampstead, LSI Brighton, LSI Cambridge and LSI San Diego. Each location offers a unique experience, from exploring a historic university city or a vibrant capital, to enjoying life by the sea or discovering the Californian lifestyle. Please note that these destinations are available for individual students, groups of students can join our Winter Junior Programmes in a wider range of destinations around the world.
Here are five reasons why an LSI Winter Junior Programme could be the perfect choice for your next winter adventure!
1. Use the school holiday for a purposeful experience
The winter break gives students a valuable opportunity to step away from their usual school routine and spend time doing something different. While holidays are an important chance to relax, they can also be the perfect moment to explore new interests, discover another culture and continue developing important skills outside the classroom. Starting to build strong English communication skills from an early age can open the door to future opportunities, from international study to connecting with people from different countries. For many students, the earlier they become comfortable using English, the easier it becomes to communicate naturally and confidently in a wider range of situations!
An LSI Winter Junior Programme allows students to make the most of their winter holiday by improving their English skills in an engaging and enjoyable way. Alongside language lessons, students take part in cultural and sports activities in the afternoons, as well as Saturday excursions that allow them to explore their destination and discover more about the local area: rather than simply visiting a new country, students become part of a structured international experience where learning, activities and cultural discovery are combined throughout the programme. When they return home, they take with them more than improved language skills — they leave with new experiences, a broader understanding of the world and the confidence that comes from successfully adapting to a new environment!
2. Winter is the perfect time to experience a destination differently
Travelling during the winter holiday gives students the opportunity to experience a country from a different perspective. Rather than visiting a destination only during the busiest travel seasons, students can discover what everyday life is like at another time of year and experience the unique atmosphere that winter brings, and every destination has its own character during the colder months!
In the UK, winter allows students to discover a different side of the country, when cities take on a quieter pace and seasonal traditions become part of everyday life. Winter brings a different character to London, with streets decorated for the festive period, seasonal markets, outdoor ice-skating venues and cultural events taking place across the city. Visiting places such as Covent Garden, Trafalgar Square and Hyde Park allows students to see how public spaces are transformed during winter and how traditions such as Christmas markets, light displays and seasonal performances form part of British culture. Cambridge offers a completely different experience, where beautiful architecture, riverside scenery and centuries of stories create a setting unlike anywhere else. Walking through areas such as King’s Parade, the Backs and the historic centre, students can discover a city where education has shaped everyday life for hundreds of years. Brighton provides another perspective on British life during winter. Known for its seaside location and creative culture, the city shows students that coastal destinations are not only summer locations. Students can visit Brighton Pier, the Royal Pavilion and The Lanes, and the quieter winter coastline offers a different experience from the busy summer season, allowing students to appreciate the city’s architecture, history and local character.
3. Meet students from around the world and build lifelong friendships
One of the greatest advantages of joining an LSI Winter Junior Programme is becoming part of an international community. Unlike a holiday where students mainly travel with family or friends, the programme brings together young learners from many different countries, creating opportunities to interact with people they might never otherwise meet. As students work together in lessons, participate in afternoon activities and join Saturday excursions, English naturally becomes the shared language that allows everyone to communicate. This means that practising English is no longer limited to the classroom and becomes part of everyday conversations, whether students are planning an activity, sharing a meal or discussing their own cultures. At the same time, these interactions encourage students to understand different traditions, perspectives and ways of life, helping them become more open-minded and culturally aware. Long after the programme ends, many students remain in contact with the friends they have made, turning a winter course into the beginning of an international network that can last for years!
4. Experience what studying abroad is really like
Travelling abroad as a student is very different from visiting a country on holiday! Instead of seeing a destination only as a tourist, young students become part of an international learning community, following a daily routine that combines lessons, activities and cultural experiences. Our Winter Junior Programme introduces international students to this environment in a way that is appropriate for their age: they study alongside young people from different countries, work together during lessons and activities, and communicate in English throughout the day. As a result, they gain first-hand experience of learning in a multicultural setting where different perspectives, languages and cultures come together. This type of experience also helps students develop a broader understanding of how education can differ from one country to another, as they are introduced to different classroom approaches, encouraged to participate actively in lessons and exposed to new ways of thinking and collaborating with others. These experiences complement what students learn at school in their home countries by showing them how learning can take place in an international context.
5. A complete winter language programme designed for young learners
Planning an educational trip abroad involves much more than choosing a destination, families need to consider accommodation, lessons, activities, transport and children’s wellbeing, while also making sure that the programme offers the right balance between learning and free time. LSI Winter Junior Programmes bring these elements together in one complete experience designed specifically for young learners.
Students begin their day with English lessons that focus on developing their language skills, then continue using English through organised afternoon activities and cultural visits. Because these activities are connected to the destination students are visiting, learning continues naturally as they explore new places, take part in group experiences and interact with other international students. The programme also includes optional Saturday excursions, giving students the opportunity to discover more of their destination and gain a deeper understanding of the culture around them.
Throughout their stay, students live in comfortable accommodation where safety, care and wellbeing are important priorities. Having a welcoming place to return to at the end of each day allows students to feel settled while they focus on enjoying their lessons, activities and time abroad!
Make this winter a chance to learn, explore and discover!
A winter break with LSI is more than a language course, it is an opportunity to experience another country, practise English every day and become part of an international community. Whether you want to improve your language skills, discover a new culture, meet people from around the world or try something completely different during your holiday, an LSI Winter Junior Programme gives you the chance to make the most of your time abroad! With Winter Junior Programmes available in London, Brighton, Cambridge and San Diego, you can choose a destination that matches your interests while enjoying English lessons, exciting activities, cultural visits and comfortable accommodation throughout your stay.
Start planning your LSI Winter Junior Programme with us and discover what your next winter adventure could look like!
To learn more about our 2027 Winter Junior Programmes, read our latest newsletter here: A Winter of Language Learning & New Experiences with LSI! and visit Intensive English Language Immersion
Discover more student moments, activities and updates from our campuses here: @lsi.worldwide