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With the number and diversity of language schools abroad it can be a real headache to find the 'perfect' school who will look after your child but at the same time allow them to enjoy themselves. This is where we come in. We have written the acticle below to try to stear you through this minefield and hopefully to keep your children safe and happy in the holidays. We hope you find it useful. The first thing to bear in mind when thinking of sending your child abroad is their language level. We would not advise sending children who are beginners onto a course abroad as they will learn the most and enjoy their stay more if they have at least some knowledge of the basics. To be sent to a completely foreing country not even knowing if you like the chosen language or being able to communicate with the host family (if you choose this option) is very difficult for a child socially. If you really want them to learn that language then let them have some lessons in the evenings or in their free time to at least have the basics before they go.

Next, use a specialist agent to advise you on schools and locations. They can save you the time spent looking through hundreds of websites telling you that each school is the best. They know the schools and will only be willing to recommend a good school which they believe is right for your child. Agents work with many schools so they know which are good and which are bad. They get constant feedback from their clients and will not want to deal with schools they do not consider to be of a high standard. Don't forget also that the agent can help you communicate with the school over all your travel arrangements so that there is no misunderstanding between you and the school if you do not speak the language your child is going to learn.

An agent can also help make sure that the school places your child in an appropriate family. As they send many students per year to particular schools they have built up a relationship with schools and this can help you get the best deal for your child.
Having said that we do advise against sending a child that is under 16 on a program with accommodation with a family. There is too much risk that the child will be ill at ease in these surroundings, hesitant to ask for what they need and therefore that they will not enjoy their experience. We would recommend a course where the child is in dormitory accommodation with adequate adult supervision day and night.

What should you look for in a 'good' school?

1. Choose a school with accreditations from the country they are in. Try to obtain as much information as possible on the accommodation, cultural activities program, teaching equipment and environment that the school creates before you decide on your school.

2. DO NOT choose the cheapest option. The schools who charge more do so for a reason, they have a higher staff to child ratio and this costs money. It is not possible to run cheap courses and pay staff adequately for them to care about your child. You should be expecting to pay over 800 euros for a 1 week stay with full activity program and accommodation as a bare minimum with the best schools charging over 1200 euros.

3. Make sure that the teachers and people in charge of the children have the necessary qualification for the job. The ratio of teachers to children should be roughly 1 teacher per 6 children for activities and excursions and 1 teacher to maximum 15 pupils for the courses. Ask as many questions as necessary about the method teaching, transport to activities, free time allocated to the children each day to ascertain if you are happy with the arrangements. Any school that will not answer your questions is not taking its role seriously and you should quesiton if you want to use them.

Vérifiez que les professeurs et le personnel encadrant possèdent les qualifications requises. Le ratio doit être de 1 professeur pour 6 élèves dans le cadre d'activités et/ou excursions, et de 1 professeur pour 15 élèves pour les cours. Demandez des informations claires sur le programme d'apprentissage, la taille des groupes, le niveau, etc. An agent should be able to answer these questions on behalf of the school so ask them, again there will be no misundertanding with an agent as you know that they answered in your language.

4. Make sure that the school is totally clear when your child will be arriving and that they have confirmed in writing that they will collect them from their arrival point in the country. They must undertake to supervise the child as soon as they make contact with them at the airport or train station and if they send a representative that this person is known to the school not just a taxi driver who is chosen at random.

Now all you need to do is choose the location and lenght of the holiday bearing in mind that schools usually expect a 2 week booking as they feel that the child will get the most out of it, anything less and the experience will not be as effective.

Give us a call or email to let us help you choose the school that is right for you from our extensive selection of over 450 schools in 40 countries teaching over 40 languages.

For more information email info@precislux.com or call +352 27 27 36 67.