When is the application deadline?

We have a rolling admissions policy - enrollment on our trips is on a first-come, first-served basis. They fill up quickly; therefore, we encourage you to sign up as soon as possible.

Do teens really improve their language skills?

Absolutely! Spending time in another country, living with a local family and taking language classes all contribute to a remarkable increase in language skills. ECI’s programs are designed to provide as much opportunity as possible to speak and interact in the target language. But in order to truly benefit from the experience, you also need to make a significant commitment to the process.

Are there students from other countries in the language classes?

Yes, there are usually other international students from Europe & Asia in the language classes.

Do the Host Families speak any English?

Language School Homestay families generally do not speak English. During the Host Family Immersion Week, children in the family usually have studied English at school and have some working knowledge. However, they know that the purpose of the immersion week is to be primarily speaking only the target language and not English.

What happens if students are not happy with their host family?

ECI chaperones are always available to help students get settled and adjusted to their homestay/immersion family. In the event that a student needs to change families, the chaperone team is on-call twenty-four hours per day to facilitate the process.

How are ECI’s programs chaperoned?

Each group has three full time ECI chaperones. Usually, two are from the U.S. and one is from the country in which the program is based. At least one U.S. chaperone will travel roundtrip with the groups from the U.S. The main Trip Leader will have a cell phone with him/her at all times. You and your and your parents will be sent this number prior to departure. You will also be given an Emergency Card with the Trip Leader’s cell phone number on it, as well as details on how to reach the other chaperone and Local Leader on their cell phones.

How are the chaperones chosen?

Our chaperones are selected on the basis of language ability, maturity, patience, judgment, enthusiasm and their ability to earn the respect and trust of our teenage participants. Most of them are teachers who have traveled abroad extensively, and all are committed to promoting intercultural understanding between young people throughout the world. Our chaperones supervise students as closely as possible, but in no way are they able to be with you 24 hours per day. In fact, one of the goals of our programs is to help you develop independence, problem-solving skills, maturity and self-reliance.

Are the trips safe?

Safety is our Number One Priority! We cannot do this alone, and need your cooperation. We assume a certain level of maturity from all of our students, and trust you to make responsible decisions. All of our programs are based in what we consider to be safe locations. However, like any town in the US, there is always the potential for danger, and it is your responsibility to avoid putting yourself in unsafe situations. Taking personal responsibility to help keep yourself and your trip mates safe is the theory behind our Personal Responsibility Contract.

Part of ECI’s philosophy is to provide young people with an environment in which to mature and gain a level of personal independence. It is up to you to be an active participant in this process and to not abuse the trust given to you by our chaperones, who cannot be with you at all times. Should you find yourself in a difficult situation, however, the chaperones are always available to come to your aid, take a taxi with you, walk you home, take you to see a doctor, help you communicate with your host family, etc.
You & your parents can call them on their cell phones 24/7.

What is there to do in the evenings?

EUROPE: On each trip there is usually a period of time at night, after dinner and before curfew, when students and chaperones and/or Language Partners can get together to experience how European teenagers spend their evenings. To help you get the most out of your French or Spanish experience, we offer chaperoned activities each evening.

Our European Program Coordinators, in consultation with our young, local Language Partners, do their utmost to provide you with nightlife experiences that are fun, appealing to teenagers, and whenever possible, unique to France and Spain. Some example nightlife choices in Spain could include music concerts, summer festival events & shows, movie nights, flamenco shows, tapas tasting, sports activities (best at night when it's not as hot), late night chocolate & churros. In France, nightlife choices could include concerts, movie nights, cafés, summer festival events & shows, evening art classes, or sports activities.

COSTA RICA: Costa Rica life is a laidback, family-style affair. In the evenings of your Costa Rica program, you may enjoy weeknight excursions with your group (like volcano-area explorations), time and activities with your host family (for Expedition students), and group activities like volleyball (for Natural Wonders students in the casitas complex). Weekend nights in Costa Rica are generally spent enjoying locally-based activities, like hot springs tours or beach evenings, in each town.

What time is curfew, and is there a difference between class nights and weekends?

In France, from Sunday through Thursday curfew is 11:30 PM. This means students must be back with their host families or in their dorm by this time. Check-in is usually a half hour prior, at 11:00 PM. On weekends, there is a curfew extension to 12:30 AM, Fridays and Saturdays.

In Spain, the curfew is a little later because of the late-night culture; from Sunday through Thursday, curfew is at midnight. This means students must be back with their host families or in their dorm by this time. Check-in is at 11:30 PM. On weekends, there is a curfew extension to 2 AM, with a 1:30 AM check-in, Fridays and Saturdays.

Do kids usually go with friends?

Around 75% of our students go without knowing anyone else on their program. This is a great way to meet & develop friendships with other teenagers from around the U.S.

How are roommates assigned?

If you have a roommate request, we will do our very best to honor it. If you do not have a request, we match roommates based on sex, age and common hobbies/interests that you submitted on your application. You will have your roommate information prior to departure so you can be in contact before leaving the U.S.

Do students have free time?

We always strive for an optimum balance between organized activities and free time for our students. We encourage you to spend time pursuing personal interests & exploring the local community & culture with friends. During free time, you are required to be in a group of at least two, preferably three.

University Credit

ECI’s university credit option is an invaluable asset in today’s competitive realm of higher education. It gives high school students the opportunity to earn three Spanish/French semester units through an accredited U.S. university. These credits are transferable, and are accepted by most accredited U.S. universities. The cost of university credit is not included in your program fee and varies depending on the trip you choose.

Is payment due all at once & are credit cards accepted?

A deposit of $500 will be due within two weeks after you sign up and pay the $125 Application Fee.
At that time, you will also be sent a detailed invoice customized to your trip and your enrollment date.
We accept credit cards for the $125 application fee. All other payments must be made by check or bank transfer.

STANDARD PAYMENT SCHEDULE - SUMMER TRIPS

1. A $125 Application Fee is payable upon initial application.
2. A $500 deposit is due within two weeks of the initial Application Fee payment.
3. A second program payment of $1000 will be due by December 4, 2009.
4. A third program payment of $1500 will be due by March 5, 2010.
5.  The balance of program fees & airline fare as applicable will be due 60 days prior to travel.
6. Airline taxes & fees will be due three weeks prior to departure.

*If you would like to request a customized payment plan, please contact us

What's included in the cost?

Our "Without Airfare" Program fees include language classes (as applicable to program), three chaperones per group of 30 students, all transportation while abroad, all accommodation, all group activities and excursions (except for a few optional excursions, which may require a nominal fee), most meals (please see specific program for meal details), and our standard medical, travel, and emergency assistance  insurance.

(Please note that we also offer Optional Trip Cancellation / Interruption insurance. You will receive information about this option when you initially apply, and the decision is due with your $500 Program deposit).

ECI Program participants also have the option of selecting our "With Airfare" option. The "With Airfare" option includes all of the above, as well as chaperoned, group airfare from either San Francisco or JFK.

When selecting between "With Airfare" or "Without Airfare" options, please note that students who select "Without Airfare" are responsible for making their own travel arrangements and also for meeting up with the group at a pre-designated meeting location.

Can I make my own travel plans?

If you choose the price without airfare, you are responsible for booking your own independent flights. If you choose this option, you are also responsible for making your own arrangements to meet up with the chaperones and group at the initial hotel, unless you choose our Meet and Greet Service, which carries an additional fee of $150 (Europe) / $125 (Costa Rica) minimum per direction. This same scenario is true at the end of the program for your return flight back to the US.

Are scholarships available?

ECI is dedicated to helping high school students explore the world and learn more about other cultures and languages. We offer three scholarships of $3000 each to be applied towards our 2010 summer programs. ECI will award one scholarship for study to each of three students. Students apply for scholarships separately (by writing an essay), and our Board of Directors selects the three awardees based on who will gain the most from the experience and also who will bring the most back to their community.

How much homework is required? Are there tests?

Most programs have an average of 30 minutes per night of homework. Students enrolled in university credit will be required to do some additional work. Specific details of these requirements will be given to you prior to the time you must make your decision to enroll for the credit (usually in the spring).

Are there parents and students I can contact as references?

ECI has many alumni and parents of alumni who are more than happy to speak with you or your parents about our programs. Please contact us directly by phone or email for their contact details.

Phone: 510.845.2230
E-mail: info@educulture.org

Do I need any vaccinations before I go?

We always suggest that you consult the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the CDC. Their hotline for international travelers is 877.FYI.TRIP & their website is http://www.cdc.gov.

Why do I need a teacher recommendation?

ECI requires your foreign language teacher to complete a teacher recommendation form (provided by us) because we cannot accept students into our programs who have a history of being disruptive in class or who have behavioral issues.

How are weekends spent?

EUROPE: During the Language School Homestay portion, Saturdays and/or Sundays are generally spent doing a full day excursion to an area outside of the program town. These excursions are mandatory. We often leave one weekend day to relax and spend time with your new friends in your program town.

During the Host Family Immersion Week, you will be spending the weekend as a member of your immersion family.

COSTA RICA: Weekends in Costa Rica are spent traveling with the group and on excursions.