300 football-crazy teenagers can improve their English and their soccer skills at the same time on a special summer school being held in Liverpool.
And it is possible that one or two talented students might get a chance to join the professional game, as the football sessions are run by Liverpool coaches on the look-out for new talent.
"They are looking for people to try out for their youth team. We had two or three boys last year who they took on and tried out - it's quite exciting," says Liverpool International Language Academy director Leanne Linacre.
She says the Liverpool FC Football and Languages programme is very popular with football-mad teenagers - and also their parents, who want their children to improve their English.
During the three-week programme, the students get a special guided tour of the Anfield stadium and its museum, as well as regular coaching sessions with the club's professionals.
And some get the chance to play a game at the Anfield's academy ground.
The course has been very popular with students from Spain because Liverpool's manager, Rafael Benitez, is Spanish and so are some members of the team.
But the 12-17 year olds on the course also get a good flavour of England. One of the sessions teaches them football chants and another introduces them to "Scouse" - the accent spoken in Liverpool.
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard is interested in the course. He says: "Travelling around the world as captain of one of Europe's most successful clubs, it never ceases to amaze me how football seems to cross all international borders and translates into every language. It's for this reason that I'm very proud to be associated with the programme. "
Other accredited language schools combine English tuition with professional football coaching, too.
To find them, use the advanced search facility on this site.
http://www.liverpoolila.com/
by Susan Young - susan@englishuk.com
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