Archive for the ‘International High School’ Category

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How to Prepare Yourself to a Language Travel Abroad?

Saturday, June 20th, 2009

Participating in a language trip abroad is an important decision, which requires a lot of preparation. Here are some advices on how to prepare yourself for your language trip abroad!language travel abroad France

1-The first important thing is to carefully choose where you will be going, and what you are expecting out of this trip. Language improvement? Discovering local culture? Fun? Choose the program that really fits your needs!

2-Book your trip as soon as possible! This will let you plenty of time to get ready with all documents, visa, etc…you may need!

3-Start getting immersed in the language before your trip! Try to read, to watch movies, to listen to podcasts in the language as much as possible. You won’t feel lost at your arrival!

4-Plan carefully your packing! Write down what you will need as soon as it comes to you in mind, even months ago!

5-Discover the country or city before going: buy a guide or browse blogs and websites and find information on what to do, what to see…travel abroad city guide

6-Try to get information about specific cultural matters, such as tips, punctuality, formal or informal address, or any other country-specific things that may come handy in the end!

7-Visit news website of the country you are going in. This way, you won’t feel lost in front of newspapers headline or TV news programs, and you will know if there are any tensions in the country!

8-Get information about the weather. Even if this seems evidence, you wouldn’t want to be catch with a big coat under a sunny weather – or maybe worse, in a little top under some snowy sky!

9-Try to know if there are some local festivities during your stay, and try to gather as much information as possible about it. Locals will appreciate your interest in their culture!

10-Finally, get ride of all your misconceptions you may have about the country, and travel there with a curious, open mind! You may have a lot of surprises!travel abroad with an open mind

Were these advices useful? Did we forget something? Don’t hesitate to write us a comment or suggestion!

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Posted in Academic Year Programs, International High School, Language Travel Tips, Tips to learn languages, Visa issues | 2 Comments »

17 Advices to Get Along With Your Host Family Abroad!

Friday, June 5th, 2009

In many travel abroad programs, participants are hosted in a local host family. If this is a tremendous experience, here are a few guidelines you should follow in order to enjoy this trip!French host family travel abroad

1-Be polite! This may seem to be an evidence, but always use “please”, “thank you”, and such words (in the local language naturally)!

2-Don’t be afraid to ask questions! If you are not sure if you can do something, or how you should do it, just ask!

3-Try to communicate! Even if you don’t speak perfectly the language, you’re here to learn! Tell them about your day at school, your own country…

4-Discuss issues! If there is something that is a problem for you, speak about it. Don’t go snapping around, but takes a polite tone and try to explain why this is bothering you, and what could be the solution.

5-Take time to get to know your family! You may have a first impression after arrival, but a few days after, when you’ll get to know them, this is likely to change for the best!

6-Help with housework! You will be surprised how much your family will appreciate if you offer your help! It will help with communication too!housework-rules-posters

7-Spend time with your family! Don’t stay alone in your room, try to spend time with your hosts, participate in family activities, watch (and help) cooking… If you feel like relaxing alone, just explain that you are tired, so that they don’t minsunderstood your behaviour!

8-Show interest in your family’s habits, way of living…

9-Ask what the rules of the host family are: how long you can have a shower, if dinner time is flexible, and whatever comes to your mind. This will help avoid problems!

10-If you can’t be home for a meal or plan to come back late or stay out overnight, just phone the family to tell them!

11-If you break something, offer to pay it back.host family abroad broken

12-If you have a key for the house, take care of it. If you loose this key, let the family know immediately!

13-If you don’t know how something works (electronics, shower, or whatever) ,ask to the family. They will understand that it is different in your home country!

14-Keep your room and the common places you’re using tidy!

15-If you are cold, dare asking the family if they have more blankets, or put more clothes. Don’t let yourself catch a cold!

16-Ask to the family what the food policy is, if you are allowed to help yourself or not…

17-Finally, don’t forget to relax, have fun and put things into perspective! You’re here to discover new things, so don’t forget that the main purpose of this trip is to change your habits!host family family life

I hope these tips will have helped you to go along well with your host family abroad! Don’t forget that most of these tips can be useful once back home with your family or in a shared flat! If you have some tips to share with us, don’t hesitate to let us a comment!

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Posted in Academic Year Programs, Homestay, Host family, International High School, Language Travel Tips | No Comments »

International Prom at Saint Paul Preparatory School!

Wednesday, May 6th, 2009

Prom night is a very famous tradition from the American High Schools. Many teen movies have a prom night inside, from “Grease” to “Twilight”. Who has not dreamed of living one of these parties for real?

Students at the Saint Paul Preparatory School have the chance to live an International Prom each year!

Below is a small video from the 2007 Saint Paul Preparatory School!

Did you like this video? Maybe you could be in the next Saint Paul Prom!
Have you already have a prom? Tell us about it!

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Posted in Academic Year Programs, International High School, Language Travel Testimonials, Teenagers, Tips to learn languages | No Comments »

A Truly International High School in the USA!

Thursday, April 23rd, 2009

Did you know that some high schools were truly international? In these high schools, students from the whole world study together. We are going to present you one of these high schools today, the St Paul Preparatory School in Minnesota!

The Saint Paul Preparatory school is a private American high school located in St Paul, Minnesota. This private American high school welcomes each year international students as well as local American students, in a pleasant, international atmosphere.

This high school is part of a network of international high schools throughout the world: USA, but also Korea, Poland, China, Kenya… These private American high schools gives students the opportunity to get an American education, to improve their knowledge of English, and to increase their global and cultural understanding of the world, by sharing their everyday life with students from the whole world!international high school school trip

The Saint Paul Preparatory School in Saint Paul is located in Galtier Plaza, in the downtown of Saint Paul. This exceptional location allows students to have many extra curricular activities, and provides an access to many facilities!private american high school in Galtier Plaza

During their international program at Saint Paul, international students are hosted by an American family. This allows them to be fully immersed in the American culture, and it’s also a great help for students to have a host family to support them during their stay! Their American host family is really like another family, and will support students during their stay abroad!

At the Saint Paul Preparatory School, students receive an American education in a very individualized way: there are between 6 and 25 students in a class. Students not only learn academic knowledge, but they also have the opportunity to get a unique experience of life.

Students come from many countries and this is a perfect ground for international understanding!

Students enrolled in the Saint Paul Preparatory School also have many extra curricular activities. There are many clubs where students can enhance their global and specific skills: student leadership council, math club, Model UN, Mock trial, Theatre Club, Science Club, Art Club, Speech Club…

Students are also offered the opportunity to participate in many of the traditional American festivities: special animation during elections, Prom night, Halloween, Thanksgiving… Students get unforgettable memories during these events!

Many schools trips are also organized, in order to enable students to discover USA and their culture during their stay at the Saint Paul Preparatory School!international high school school trip Washington

Students from the whole world have enjoyed their stay at Saint Paul for years! In the next weeks, we will publish some of their videos or a picture, showing what life in an international high school is! Stay tuned for these articles!

If you are interested in this unique opportunity and would like to study in an international high school too, I encourage you to contact us to get more information about it!

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Posted in Academic Year Programs, International High School, Teenagers | 2 Comments »

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