When parents choose an international summer school, one question quietly sits beneath all the others:

Will my child really speak English — or will they spend the summer speaking their own language with friends from home?

At ISSFT, we have designed our programme very intentionally to answer that question with confidence.

A True English-Speaking Environment — By Design

ISSFT limits each nationality group to a maximum of 10% of the student body.

This is not accidental. It is not marketing language. It is a structural rule.

By capping national representation, we:

✔︎ Create a genuinely international community
✔︎ Ensure English becomes the shared language
✔︎ Prevent natural language “clustering”
✔︎ Encourage wider friendship circles
✔︎ Increase confidence in communication

In many international programmes, large groups from one country can unintentionally dominate social spaces. Students naturally gravitate towards those who share their language and culture — it feels safe and familiar.

At ISSFT, the structure gently nudges students beyond that comfort zone.

And that is where growth happens.

Why We Do Not Accept School Group Bookings

For the same reason, ISSFT does not accept large school group bookings.

While group travel can be convenient, it often means:

• Students staying socially within their existing friendship circle

• Native languages being spoken regularly

• Limited integration with the wider cohort

• Fewer meaningful cross-cultural connections

By welcoming students as individuals rather than as large pre-formed groups, we create space for something far more powerful:

New friendships built from scratch.

Students meet each other without pre-set hierarchies or established dynamics. Everyone arrives equally — curious, slightly nervous, open.

That shared starting point builds bonds quickly.

English as the Common Language

With over 90 nationalities represented across our programmes, English becomes the natural bridge between cultures.

When no single nationality dominates:

• Students practise English constantly — in class, in residence, at meals, during activities

• Communication skills develop faster

• Confidence grows naturally

• Cultural exchange becomes authentic

English is not only spoken in lessons. It becomes the language of shared jokes, late-night conversations, team competitions, and lifelong friendships.

That immersion cannot happen when large language groups form.

Encouraging Independence & Global Mindset

Limiting nationalities and discouraging large same-school groups does something deeper than improving language practice.

It builds:

✔︎ Independence
✔︎ Cultural awareness
✔︎ Adaptability
✔︎ Leadership skills
✔︎ Global confidence

Students learn to navigate difference — different perspectives, traditions, humour, communication styles.

In today’s world, that skillset is as valuable as academic achievement.

A “World in One Place”

ISSFT is intentionally structured to feel like a global village.

When students walk into the dining hall, they might sit beside someone from Tokyo, São Paulo, Milan, Dubai or New York. They may share electives with peers from Barcelona, Seoul, Geneva or Toronto.

That diversity is not accidental — it is protected.

And it is one of the reasons families consistently tell us their children return home not only with stronger English, but with:

• Broader horizons

• International networks

• Lifelong friendships

• Greater maturity

• A deeper understanding of the world

A Unique Approach in the Summer School Sector

Many summer schools prioritise filling places through school partnerships or large regional agencies.

ISSFT has chosen a different path.

We prioritise:

✔︎ Balanced nationality representation
✔︎ Individual enrolments
✔︎ English immersion
✔︎ Cross-cultural integration
✔︎ Genuine global community

It is a more careful approach. It requires more planning. But it protects the experience.

And ultimately, it protects your child’s opportunity to grow.

The Result: Friendship Without Borders

When students cannot retreat into familiar language groups, something remarkable happens.

They reach outward.

They discover that laughter translates.
They realise difference is fascinating, not frightening.
They learn that connection does not require sameness.

That is the heart of ISSFT.

Not just summer learning.
Not just English improvement.

But a world in one place — where every student belongs, and every voice is heard in a shared language.

If you would like to learn more about how ISSFT creates its uniquely international environment, our team would be delighted to speak with you.