summer school

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable or uncountable

   A course of study held during the summer vacation, often to make up credits or learn extra material.

   Grammar: Often used without a: she is in summer school.

   Patterns

   • go to summer school
   • attend summer school

   He has to go to summer school because he failed math.

   She signed up for a summer school in Italy to learn the language.

   The college offers summer school for students who want to graduate early.

2. 2nouncountableBritish

   A short program of lessons or activities offered over the summer to anyone who wants to learn or practice a skill.

   Grammar: Countable: a summer school for young musicians.

   Patterns

   • a summer school in something
   • a summer school for someone

   The university runs a summer school in creative writing.

   My daughter loved her art summer school.

   The organization holds a summer school for young scientists.

Word forms

Common combinations

attend summer school

Many students attend summer school to improve their grades.

summer school course

I took a summer school course in chemistry.

go to summer school

He had to go to summer school in July.

enroll in summer school

You can enroll in summer school online.

Synonyms and how they differ

summer course

Summer course is more neutral and can refer to a single class, whereas summer school is the whole program.

summer program

Summer program is broader and may include camps or activities, not only lessons.

holiday course

Holiday course is a British phrase for any course held in the vacation.

Word family

summer noun

the hot season of the year

school noun

a place of education

summertime noun

the period of the summer season

Commonly confused: summer school or summer camp?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “summer school”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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