Well, that's how parents are supposed to be - worrying about a child even if they just went to the bakery across the street. But here we have a trip abroad! Especially the first one... Still, gentlemen, you need to save your nerve cells; they don't regenerate. Information is what will protect you from unnecessary worries. What exactly happens at a language school, what do children do there, how do they live, study, eat, sleep, play - all of this parents need to know before they send their child off. Know it thoroughly, without succumbing to advertising panegyrics for yet another 'ideal place for study and leisure.' And not limiting themselves to sparse lines found on the Internet or a school brochure, like '20 (15) hours of classes per week, accommodation in a dormitory (with a family), groups of up to 10 (12) people...' After all, if you think about it, what could be hidden behind those lines? Take groups, for instance. Who are these 10-12 people? What is their nationality, age, what level of language proficiency do they have? Will your child be able to get along with them? And 20 hours a week - is that a lot or a little? It's one thing to have abstract information, quite another to apply that same information to specific children. For some it will suit perfectly, for others not so much, and for some it may even be categorically contraindicated.
And parents should also, as they wrote in old novels, look into their own soul. What do you personally expect from the language school you are planning to send your children to, how do you imagine it all? It's clear you want the best, but are your demands too high?
A Portrait of the Young Traveler
So, point number one and perhaps the main one. Is your child ready for a language vacation abroad?
As a rule, summer programs place almost no demands on children. Except for age restrictions, and even then not everywhere – some courses accept preschoolers. Some programs require at least a basic knowledge of the language, others take complete beginners. As for the children's character, inclinations, and habits, nothing is said about them. Yet these will largely determine the well-being of the 'young vacationer' in an unfamiliar environment.
Modern parents probably still remember pioneer camps, marching in formation with a red tie around their necks. And, of course, they noticed: there are kids who feel like a fish in water in any circumstances. Others, on the contrary, can't stand any collective activities away from home. Add to this not only separation from parents but from their own country, native language, familiar environment. Is your child not very sociable, shy, gets lost in unfamiliar surroundings, in short, a 'homebody'? Don't be surprised if they don't fancy a crowded language camp where everything is based on communication. But individual lessons at a teacher's home might be just the thing.
It is necessary to familiarize yourself in detail with the leisure opportunities of the schools - after all, children go not only to study but also to relax. If, say, your child doesn't like physical education, and at the school they only play football and tennis, then the chance that your couch potato will return from vacation a fit athlete is extremely slim. More likely, he will be bored and sad...
It is better to go abroad for the first time having at least a small stock of foreign words, even if the school officially does not require it. Even an adult feels uneasy if they feel 'deaf and dumb,' and a child even more so – upon discovering that they don't understand those around them, they may withdraw, lose self-confidence, and the trip will not be beneficial.
And one more important point. Remember: 'A Chinese is taking the room above you, a Malay is taking the room above you, and close by will be a Bushman, a Tuareg, a Papuan'? So, there may not be a Bushman or a Papuan in the group, but a Chinese and a Malay, as well as an Indian, an Arab, and a Black person will definitely be there. You've probably already understood where this is going. In a foreign language school, it's very easy to get into trouble like 'Mr. Twister-style.' Xenophobia, this far from best trait of human character, is almost eradicated in the West and is not welcomed, and if you don't explain this to your child clearly, consider them not ready for the trip.
What They Teach During Vacations
Vacation programs differ from all others precisely in their 'vacation-ness.' In summer, children should take a break from studies – but studies are precisely the key element of any language program. There are also international leisure camps abroad where there are no lessons, but that's another topic. Language schools, when developing summer programs, strive to achieve the right balance between learning and entertainment.
Parents don't always have a good idea of what the optimal combination of lessons and rest means. At one extreme are those who are generally against classroom lessons during vacations. They say, don't kids get enough 'headaches' during the school year? Tests, grades, conflicts with teachers... Will there be no respite from this even during vacations? At the other extreme are fathers and mothers who believe that studying is never harmful, and if a child goes on an academic program, then they demand full-fledged lessons with homework, grades, and even a 'report card' – a course completion certificate. The latter especially concerns older school-age children who have university entrance on the horizon.
Well, many language schools cater to one or another category of parents. Some focus on intensive classes, including 25-30 classroom hours per week, where students are held to strict standards, and some even have exams, naturally appropriate for the age of the students. You can also find courses where, besides language, general education subjects are taught—note: in a foreign language. Others, conversely, emphasize extracurricular communication among children and with locals through various entertaining and educational activities. They justify this by saying that most young learners know grammar well—they study it at regular school—but lack live communication skills.
Both sides are right in their own way, as are those who adhere to the "golden mean." In this regard, parents need to know that language programs are not all the same. The main thing is not to grab the first option that comes along and to look for the balance of games and classes that you consider optimal. You will definitely find it!
Housing Issue
And for some adults—let's not hide it!—the curriculum is less important than the living conditions for the children: food, hygiene, safety... And first of all, of course, the accommodation itself. Irina Postnikova from the educational agency Prosper Link notes a difference in housing requirements depending on students' age: "For children under 16, parents plan the entire trip and, as a rule, insist on the best accommodation option. Some even demand 'luxury class,' which most schools do not have. Many are not inclined to pay for housing that, in their opinion, does not meet the standard they are used to."
In contrast, adolescents over 16, according to Postnikova, are completely undemanding about living conditions but prefer school dormitories to host families. Let us add: it's clear why! In a dormitory, it's more fun, and adult supervision is not as vigilant as in a family. And the conditions in these "residences," as a rule, are quite decent. The asceticism that, as we are repeatedly told, characterizes school dormitories abroad, especially British ones, is not at all what you think. We imagine something like the infamous pioneer camp—wooden buildings with cracked walls and flimsy doors, a complete lack of hot or even cold water, and, to top it off, "facilities" (or rather, constant inconveniences) outdoors. But such disarray does not exist in foreign schools; everything truly necessary for children is available, only you should not expect particular luxury. No Persian carpets, plush armchairs, crystal vases, or "golden toilets." This, by the way, families do not offer either—guest rooms in host homes are furnished quite modestly. And in general, it is clear that living in someone else's home is not as comfortable as in your own. Therefore, we repeat, you should not make excessive demands on housing, and especially not project your own ideas of comfort onto children. Believe me, psychological comfort is more important to a teenager than an extra piece of furniture; children are much less demanding in everyday life than adults. Based on where they are more likely to find this comfort—in a family or a dormitory—you should make a reasonable choice of accommodation option.
Important Little Things
But food can be a problem. We have already repeatedly described the "delights" of British cuisine with its boiled vegetables, cold lamb, and puddings unfamiliar to us. And in other countries, language schools do not particularly spoil their charges with delicacies—they feed them heartily but monotonously. The exception may be the Mediterranean (including Malta), where even the simplest food is inherently tasty and, importantly, to most children's liking.
Those living with families have some room to maneuver: if a child completely rejects a certain food, they can agree that it won't be given to them. Although they are unlikely to cook separately for them all the time, especially if the hostess works.
And so a poor eater finds themselves face to face with unloved spinach or cream soup, and no one clucks: "Just one more spoonful. For daddy, for mommy..." But maybe that's good, huh? Because, roughly speaking, hunger is no joke. After fussing once or twice, the child will really want to eat and will clear the table in a way that's a pleasure to see. And perhaps they will forever lose their pickiness.
Speaking of pickiness: if a child complains in phone calls or letters, it is necessary to find out from school or agency staff what is actually happening. Maybe the problem is small things that are easy to fix. Maybe things are really bad, and the child needs to be picked up urgently. Or maybe something else. Let me tell a story from an employee of one Moscow educational agency.
"A certain mother called and called us: supposedly her daughters were suffering in a host family at a course in Italy. Bad food, bad conditions, the hostess scolds for everything. I went to investigate—maybe we should drop the nasty hostess. A nice signora meets me, terrorized by the 'guests': 'Offend them?! I don't know how to please them... I cook what they ask, buy treats, clean up after them, allow everything. What else do they need?' And the unruly sisters, pleased that they are bossing around someone else's aunt so well: 'But mom and dad pay her money for it!'" Comments are unnecessary.
Mom, Don't Worry!
All this, before choosing a language school, must be discussed at length and in detail with an educational consultant. Tell them truthfully about the child, their character and habits. Clearly state your own preferences without aiming for the impossible. Together, choose a school, a program, and an accommodation option. Arrange constant communication with both the child and the agency. And don't be afraid of anything! With a correctly chosen school and some explanatory work done with your son or daughter, everything will be fine. Children must grow up!