One of the toughest elements of working as a language teacher is making your students really “feel” the relevance of the language they are learning. As a teacher, you have almost certainly spent time immersed in that language, breathing in the culture in which it thrives. But your students may not have, especially if they are younger learners.
By offering them a language course in immersion, you can give your students the chance to really “live” the language for a short time. We work with language schools that specialise in providing courses for groups, such as a school class, university class or special interest group (an evening class, for example). This is an opportunity to make your students’ work into something tangible… and have lots of fun in the process!
If you teach school-aged learners, you will know how hard it can be to generate enthusiasm. A week or two abroad can offer inspiration and will help to show your students the value of speaking another language.
Fully accredited language schools
We only work with established, experienced language schools that provide a motivating and international environment in which to learn. The schools can tailor the content of the course to fit with your own syllabus, therefore accelerating your students’ progress in line with their needs and your priorities. This can be particularly useful for a group preparing for the British GCSE or A Level exams, for example.
We always consider a school’s official accreditations when selecting partners, because official accreditations are a guarantee of educational quality, much like British Council accreditation is for schools in the UK teaching English to foreigners.
Exciting activities programmes
All of our partner schools offer exciting activities programmes alongside the language tuition as the activities provides a connection between the students and local culture. They are designed to be fun, so your students will come home with stories to tell! They are also offered at competitive prices, often with a group discount.
If you would rather organise your own activities that is no problem at all and the school would be glad to give you some local tips.
Accommodation options
For an authentic experience, we believe that staying with a local host family is hard to beat. This way, students receive real insight into local culture, food and traditions… and they have little choice but to speak the target language. The first evening may involve lots of pointing and grasping for words, but this is invaluable experience! Staying in a host family, students also get a much more tangible sense of progress as communication becomes easier.
Alternatively, you could consider local student accommodation so that the group can stay together. The downside of this is that it offers less exposure to local life and the learners will have less impetus to practice the language.
If you need any help with finding accommodation in the destination, just ask and our team will provide you with suitable options.
Planning a group study abroad trip
Solid planning is absolutely essential for this kind of trip, which is why it is important to work with experts like ESL (we have been voted the top study abroad agency in Western Europe repeatedly by language schools).
We will help you with finding the right school and local accommodation options that are appropriate for your group. Because we work closely with our partner schools and know exactly which options are available for students, we can offer invaluable guidance during the planning process. ESL organises group study abroad trips each year and you will benefit from our experience; planning this kind of trip can be stressful. What’s more, we offer competitive prices on language courses abroad for groups of three or more.
More than “just” classroom work
The work in the classroom is only one part of the experience. Perhaps more important is the time students spend immersed in the local culture, using the language in an authentic context. It’s one thing learning about imperative forms in a classroom, it’s another thing when you’re watching the local football team losing and the fans around you are giving the players words of advice and encouragement! Or using conditional forms when you need to tell someone “I would love to go for coffee but unfortunately I’m washing my hair…”
We are here to help you plan the perfect trip for your students. To find out more about any of our destinations or courses, get in touch via our website or visit the ESL London drop-in office at 4th Floor, 24 Haymarket, London, SW1Y 4DG.
What do you think?