YOUR most popular QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

We know that you will have different questions and concerns about participating in one of our Teenagers Abroad programs than your parents have. So, this whole section is for YOU - the participant in our programs.

If after reading through this, you still have more questions, please don't hesitate to contact us directly. We really enjoy hearing from you and want to help you figure out which Teenagers Abroad program suits your interests, preferences and personal goals.

What's so great about Teenagers Abroad?
Just email one of our references to find out what they enjoyed about their program or even better, enrol to find out for yourself! We hear from past participants that our programs are great because they offer a few weeks spent away from the normal routine at home, provide the chance to meet other young people from all over the world, the opportunity to study the language where it's spoken - all without parents around!

The Teenagers Abroad experience opens up tons of opportunities to learn the language, make new friends and keep those international friends for years to come. You will change in ways you never expected. Over and over again, our teen participants tell us that the friendships, activities, goals and motivations that everyone shares on the programs are just great. Our goal is that after just a few weeks on a Teenagers Abroad program, you will agree that it was one of the best decisions of your life!

What will the other participants be like?
Diversity in the other participants who are from around the globe is one of the best things about Teenagers Abroad! American participants constitute a minority of nationalities who attend our schools in Europe. With the exception of our programs in Mexico and Canada, North Americans normally constitute about 25% of the total participant numbers. The gender breakdown varies a little at each location, but generally the percentage is about 60% female and 40% male, in our programs.

The other participants will speak many languages including French, Italian, German, Chinese, Greek, Portuguese, Japanese and Spanish. Some of our participants have returned speaking some words of the language that their roommates spoke, as well as really improving their skills in the local language!

How much free time will I have?
The rules regarding personal freedoms etc. will vary by program, especially between the residential and host family programs. Please check on the Teenagers Abroad website for your program curfews and other limitations that may apply to your program.

Those under 16 years of age are considered "under age" in most countries and therefore, more strict rules must apply to you for your own safety and security. The freedom restrictions are put in place for participants of all ages for your safety, not because we don't want you to have a great time. Just think…..you will be studying abroad with new friends in another country, eating interesting foods and speaking a new language, too - which are vital ingredients in the recipe for an absolutely fabulous experience!

What are the rules?
Teenagers Abroad policies and the rules set by each camp or school are the foundations of a safe, healthy and enjoyable study abroad experience for everyone. Participants unable to follow the rules set by the program directors, should not enrol with Teenagers Abroad.

Breaking these rules will result in dismissal from the program, without refund and the participant's family must cover all travel costs to return home if a participant is asked to leave the program. However, the general rules that apply to all Teenagers Abroad programs include;

· Alcohol, drugs, tobacco use and sex are prohibited. The local program staff have the right to search for illegal substances, if there is justifiable reason to do so.
· Behaviour detrimental to the safety or enjoyment of the experience for others will not be tolerated.
· Your participation should be enthusiastic and positive. All participants should expect equal attention and respect from all staff and teachers.

Should I join the program on my own?
We strongly suggest you come on our programs without your best friend. In fact, the majority of the students on our programs travel on their own. But if you want to enrol with a friend, please do so, but make sure you tell us in advance if you want to share a room together. This request must be mutual, in order for us to make this request to the individual camp operators.

Many of our programs promote to international student groups, so it is possible there will be students participating on the program as part of a larger group whose members will all speak the same language - which most likely not be English. However, interaction between all students is encouraged in the classrooms and all cultural activities.

Will anyone understand me if I don't speak the language very well?
Our programs are open to all levels of language ability, but the program staff will expect you to TRY speaking the local language as soon as you arrive. English is NOT spoken by many host family members and will not be spoken at all in most of our classrooms.

Many of the other students on the program will not speak any English, so this explains the total "immersion" and communicative approach to teaching that is used in our classrooms! Please remember that English language fluency is not required to participate in our programs.

Some international participants may want to practice their English with you, but try to speak the language you are all there to learn as often as possible. . The more open you are to using and learning the local language the better your experience. Don't worry, all of the program directors abroad speak many languages and will be able to communicate with you in English, if the need arises.

Can I get a high school credit?
It is not easy to get a high school credit through our programs because our language programs are operated through private language schools and camps and generally these schools are not connected with formal credit-granting institutions in the host country. One exception is our program in Cozumel, Mexico which does offer North American high school credits in Spanish as well as other core subjects. Please check the Cozumel location page on Teenagers Abroad for all the details. That said, it is possible for you to apply for academic credit through your high school.

We suggest that you make an appointment with your guidance office or head of the language department at your school to discuss the possibility of gaining a credit (or a half credit) for taking part in one of our courses abroad. To support your request, give your school advisor a colour-copy of the program PDF from the Teenagers Abroad website for the location you are interested in, as well as a Teenagers Abroad brochure. These documents will help add legitimacy to your case. Also please feel free to refer your school advisor to speak with anyone in our office, and we would be happy to discuss our programs.

Remember, the decision to grant you a credit will ultimately is up to the discretion of the your high school language department or guidance office staff. Make sure you know what written work they require in order to consider granting the credit, and bring any/all certificates and quizzes or tests you completed while on the program with you when you return. Get any information in writing, if you can, to avoid any confusion as to what they require you to do in order to get a credit for your work.

Your advisor may ask you to complete a follow-up test or write an additional paper after completing your program to verify your language level and amount learned on the program, which will be a fair assessment of your progress that you have made. Normally, school administrators in North America require that students attend an international program for a minimum of 3 weeks to qualify for academic credit through your institution.

Please note that Teenagers Abroad doesn't normally receive structured course outlines for our teen program language classes because emphasis is placed on meeting individual student needs and they tend to focus on building confidence of each student to speak the language. However, we are happy to provide you with any course information we can get from the local camp or school director regarding general course content, if your school guidance counsellor or academic advisor requests more information.

What if I don't like my roommates or my host family?
An extremely low percentage of Teenagers Abroad participants do not enjoy themselves or the people they meet on the program. Sometimes personality clashes or communication breakdown can cause some cultural misunderstanding. Please try to be open-minded and deal with small matters on your own, but you can also bring more serious matters directly to the attention of your monitor or director.

The staff will do their best to intervene and deal with the problem right away. In rare situations where the problem cannot be solved, you will be transferred to another room or host family, as soon as possible. The only other reason you may not enjoy yourself on one of our programs is if you don't give the experience a chance from the start. You will not have a good time if you don't want to put the effort forward to learn the local language, you have trouble abiding by the program rules or if you arrive with personal problems, superior or negative attitudes.

The local program staff is trained to deal with sensitivity issues related to racism, sexism or group dynamics so the experience will be a positive one - for everyone involved.

What language experience do I need?
It is unrealistic to think that all young people from many countries will have the same level of language ability in all of our program locations. A willingness to try is required; an interest in making new friends is, too. Speak with our North American office staff to allow us to match your readiness and age with the right program.

Before you leave on your program research the host country and its customs, brush up on the language by using language CD's and tapes, use the Internet for information and try to listen to the music, TV or radio programs in the language you will be learning. Our participants tell us they got a lot more out of the program if they did this (even for a few minutes a day) prior to their departure.

What is the food like?
The food varies at each of our locations, because some of the meals will be available in the program cafeteria, and the host family programs offer breakfast and dinner in the home as part of the program fee. All meals will be geared to young peoples' preferences, and often will include choices featuring the local cuisine.

Vegetarian, kosher, low-sugar and special diets are welcome - just please advise us of any special dietary restrictions or needs that you have on the enrolment form so we can advise the program staff well in advance. You should remember that cultural sensitivity requires that when in Paris, Costa Rica, Montreal etc. you eat like the locals. In general, you will find and should expect the food to be filling and satisfying.

How much spending money will I need?
In order to cover the cost of gifts, film, personal items and impulse purchases, we suggest you bring about $100USD per week of spending money. We recommend you bring these funds in travellers checks, have an ATM card and have a credit card available, in case of an emergency. The program staff will assist you with currency conversion and best places to exchange money, upon arrival.

Is it safe?
Since 1996, we have successfully taken responsibility for the health and well being of thousands of students in all of our language programs, without major incident. We only operate our teen programs in countries considered to be safe by North American standards and we will only work with international partners who can prove that the safety of the participants is their priority.

Naturally, we advise you to use extra caution when travelling abroad, because as is the case when participating in any unfamiliar activities in unfamiliar places there is inherent risk, which we

If I need a visa, do you arrange this for me?
Visas and passports (if required) are the responsibility of the student or the student's family to obtain well in advance of your program start date. To find out if you need a visa for the country(ies) you are planning to visit, we recommend you do some research for requirements and costs well in advance. We recommend an interactive travel visa information website for general information on visas: http://www.g3visas.com. Just click on "Visa Interactive" on the top left of the G3 Visas homepage for information on the requirements for citizens of particular countries planning to visit any specific country. This website also has several official Visa Application Forms for many countries that can be downloaded and printed off for your use.

Please note that in almost all cases, if you are a citizen of North America and require a visa to visit another country, you will be applying for a Tourist Visa - not a student or study visa. Your primary reason for the visit will be tourism, because our programs do not involve full-time studies. Also, if a "Letter of Invitation" from one of our schools is required to obtain the necessary visa, we would be delighted to provide you with such a letter.

For a complete list of the Foreign Consular Offices and Embassies in the USA, check: http://www.state.gov/s/cpr/rls/fco/ and in Canada, visit: http://w01.international.gc.ca/Protocol/main-en.asp?sScreen=Consular

Can I call home?
Yes. We advise all participants to call their family within two hours of arrival from the airport at their destination. Program staff will help you with this, upon arrival. We suggest you use a calling card or even better staff can help you purchase a local calling card. In the unlikely case of an emergency, our local program staff will move heaven and earth to reach families. A call home once a week is fine, otherwise we discourage calls to home and friends because they detract from the experience and concern family members (especially parents!) unnecessarily.

It is normal to have a few days of "adjustment" upon arrival, so try avoid calling home if you are just adapting to the new routines, culture and personalities abroad. Most of our students are comfortable and settled in within a week of starting the program.

Remind your parents and friends that NOT CALLING HOME MEANS EVERYTHING IS OK. Please leave your cell phone home, if you can cope without it. It is very expensive to make international calls on a cell phone and many North American cell phone payment plans don't cover international calls, so remember this if you are planning to bring your cell along.

Can I use email ?
Yes….within reason! Our camps have the same attitude toward email/internet use as they do about the frequency of calls home. Many of our locations do not provide free access to email on-site, but students will be given time to visit Internet cafes (very affordable hourly rates) if email is not provided at the camp or school facility. Most Host Families will not have access to the Internet for participant use in their home. If computer access is offered on-site, the camp will have specific hours and times of day that it can be used.

What is the program staff like?
Most of the people who work with our programs abroad are young (average age of the program monitors is 22, the teachers are a bit older) and they are keen to be teaching and leading international teenagers. Language classes are lead by professional, qualified foreign language teachers who are trained in teaching the language to younger learners.

The program activity monitors are trained to provide interesting and varied programs to young people, and are sensitive to many cultural and linguistic backgrounds. Escorts and guides on the activities are school excursions are all certified and insured and have the expertise and equipment necessary to provide a high level of fun and safe instruction suitable for different levels of experience.

The staff are selected by the senior program managers abroad because they are enthusiastic, enjoy young foreign students and have a genuine interest in making the experience a fun and positive learning adventure for you.

What if I get sick?
All of our programs have access to reliable and efficient medical care nearby and the doctors will be able to communicate with you in English. Some of our programs even have a doctor/nurse on-site. If you are sick and cannot participate in the classes or activities, let the camp staff know right away, and they will take appropriate action.

If you have an existing health condition, please advise Teenagers Abroad staff prior to enrolment, so we can ensure that the camp is prepared to deal with any special requirements. All program participants are required to carry personal medical insurance and have proof of coverage upon arrival. Teenagers Abroad offers a great medical insurance plan at an additional cost.

Check with your parents about your existing medical coverage and also on our website for the details of the coverage we offer our students.

If you have any additional questions....just CONTACT US!

Parent Zone

Teen Zone

TEENAGER SUMMER PROGRAMS ABROAD - WORLDWIDE!

E-mail: info@teenagersabroad.com
Tel: NORTH AMERICA: 1 800 219 9924 or WORLDWIDE: +1 416 925 2112