Easy Languages

Program

Learn English in your teacher's home

Individual immersion courses are the most exceptional and efficient programmes that we offer. Your teacher will give you lessons which suit you personally, reflect your interests and meet your needs. As you are the only student, the lessons will go at your pace. This method of learning is extremely effective, as you will not meet other speakers of your language.

Because you are living in your teacher’s home and using the language constantly, the learning process continues all day - not just during lessons, but during meals, day-to-day activities and on (optional) excursions. You are sure to make very rapid progress.

Programmes run from Sunday to Sunday. You will have the choice between 10, 15, 20, 25 or 30 hours of classes per week.

You can enjoy a wide variety of cultural and athletic activities during your stay. Interests such as theatre, music, tennis, golf and riding are taken into consideration when we choose your host teacher.

We have a wide range of host teachers, allowing us to cater for youngsters, adults (including a wide range of professionals right up to the most senior positions) or retired professionals.

All our teachers have the necessary level of education and experience, are experts at giving individual lessons and offer a very high standard of accommodation. They are also chosen for their ability to make you feel welcome in their home.

Advantages

Advantages of Total Immersion

• Constant Contact with the Language
  Since participants in this programme are the only student with their teacher, they have absolutely no contact with their native tongue. This type of programme is without any doubt the fastest way to progress in your target language.
  
  The intensity of this kind of immersion requires an important effort on the part of the participants, who must have real motivation. The results are linked to the student’s mental investment: our former participants are systematically very positive, regardless of the language they learn or their destination.
  
• Professional and Experienced Teachers
  All of our teachers are qualified and experienced, have taken training specifically designed for this programme and offer excellent accommodation. Our teachers are further supported by a network of academic directors who organise lesson plans, validate the study materials and can be contacted at any time if needed.
  
• High Quality Programme
  We carefully select our teachers and families in function of the students profile, taking age, goals and wishes into consideration in order to ensure that all stays are adapted to student objectives. Upon request, we can generally place young students in families with children of the same age. We also try to respect other personal preferences, such as vegetarian diets, non-smoking families, families in the centre of a city, etc.
  
  We have teachers accustomed to working with youth or professionals, including managers or business people. The families have an excellent social environment and guarantee enriching and interesting contact in addition to progress in the chosen language.
  
• Programmes Adapted to the Situation of the Student
  These programmes are designed for motivated participants of all ages:
  • Many youths participate in this type of programme, which guarantees parents an excellent level of supervision and guidance with experienced and responsible families. The appropriateness of this programme for a child depends strongly on the child’s personality. We offer a cocooning option, which is obligatory for students under 15 and guarantees 24-hour supervision.
  • Students can profit from this type of experience to prepare for exams, catch up in the case of academic difficulty or a change in orientation, get a head start in their programme or prepare for a longer stay, such as study abroad.
  • Adults (professionals, retirees, …) often appreciate the quick results that this programme offers. Regardless of whether they seek to avoid courses with much younger students or have specific objectives, this motivating programme is an ideal solution.
  • Multiple members of the same family or friends who wish to stay together can stay with a teacher who has a sufficiently large house. If two people, with similar levels, wish to take courses together, they can do so at a 20% reduction in price.

Options

• Exam Preparation or Specific Vocabulary
  Your professor will create a lesson plan that is designed to prepare you for exams or allow you to acquire specific vocabulary for a specialized field. Specialty areas include medicine, engineering, law, information technology, architecture, tourism and many more.
  Please note that this option offers to prepare for exams but does not include them.
  
• Cocooning
  The Cocooning option guarantees the constant presence of the professor or an adult member of their family while the student is present. This option is required for students under 15 and recommended for students under 18.
  
• Five Star: Luxury Stays
  This programme is designed especially for business professionals or people who are accustomed to a high standard of living and wish to take their courses in comfort. The programme includes private bath, high quality accommodation and meals and greater personal attention for the student. Supplement: 100% of the price of standard programme.
  
• Opton Junior VIP
  This program is designed for juniors used to a high standard of living and who want more comfort. It includes a private bathroom, accommodation and meals of superior quality, the option cocooning and a cultural visit per week.
  Supplement: 100% of the stay standard.
  
• Shared Stays
  Friends or family members may take lessons together on the condition that they have a comparable language level and that they wish to stay during the same dates.
  A reduction will be given to each student.
  
• Christmas Programme
  Programmes may also be scheduled during Christmas. A supplement will apply to stays that include the 24th, 25th or 26th December, the 31st of December or the 1st January.

Programs

Please note that our teachers are rarely situated in the centre of town. We value the welcoming atmosphere and teaching quality of our hosts over the placement of their homes.

• Language
  Students may take simply 10, 15, 20, or 25 hours of lessons per week.
• Language and Activities Programme
  Students may also choose to take 10 or 15 hours of private lessons and choose between 5 and 10 hours of activities with the teacher. Students establish the content of their programme directly with their teacher, according to their hobbies and local facilities. This option is designed to create a more active programme, and is often appreciated by younger students.
  There is a choice between 10 hours of teaching plus 5 or 10 hours of activities and 15 hours of teaching plus 10 hours of activities.
• Language and Sports
  The Language and Sports programme includes 10 hours of language courses per week, room and board, 3 sessions of a sports activity (unless otherwise indicated) with entry fees and transportation to the activity.
  • Golf: in Bournemouth, Cornwall, Edinburgh, Essex, Kent, London, Stratford, Surrey or Sussex. The programme Language and Golf includes club rental and balls, green fees, individual lessons (about one hour per session) and practice.
  • Horse riding: in Bournemouth, Buckinghamshire, Cornwall, Essex, Kent, London, Surrey, or South Wales. The Language and Horse Riding programme includes private lessons (about one hour per session).
  • Canoing and Kayaking: in Bournemouth and Cornwall.
  • Kayaking: on the Isle of Wight.
  • Tennis: in Bournemouth, Buckinghamshire, Cornwall, Essex, Kent, London, Surrey, or Sussex. The tennis programme includes private lessons (about one hour per session if students cannot integrate into small groups).
  • Diving: in Sussex (only for experienced divers).
  • Sailing: in the Isle of Wight or Sussex.
  • Surfing / Windsurfing: in Cornwall, Bournemouth or the Isle of Wight.
  • Fishing: on the Isle of Wight.
  • Football: for under 15 years, in Manchester (contact us for dates).
  • Skiing: in Edinburgh (year-round).
• Language and Culture
  The Language and Culture programme includes 10 hours of language courses per week, room and board, the activity described below, entrance fees and transportation to all activities.
  • Birmingham: Millenium Point (Science museum/3D cinema/planetarium), Dudley Zoo and castle, Black Country Living and Working Museum.
  • Brighton: (choose 3) Brighton Royal Pavilion, Brighton Sea Life Centre, Lewes castle, Smuggler's Cave experience, Lama Farm, Hastings Fishing Museum, Batemans.
  • Cornwall: Royal Cornwall Museum, Truro Cathedral, and Perdennis Castle.
  • Edinburgh: Edinburgh Castle, du Royal Museum of Scotland and National Gallery.
    • NOTE: During the Edinburgh Festival (July 31 to September 4) in Edinburgh, students must book a programme with 15 hours of lessons and 10 hours of activities weekly as all the host families participate in the festival and theatre shows and the students will participate in this with them.
  • East Kent 1: Dover Castle, Canterbury city, Walmer Castle.
  • East Kent 2: visit to an animal park, Quex Park Museum, Powell Cotton Museum, and the world’s smallest steam powered train.
  • West Kent region: (choose 3) Brighton Royal Pavilion, Brighton Sea Life Centre, Lewes castle, Smuggler's Cave experience, Lama Farm, Hastings Fishing Museum, Batemans.
  • Glasgow: Burell Collection, Kevin Grove Museum, Willow Tea Rooms
  • Liverpool: Choose two from the following 4 alternatives:
    1. Liverpool FC Tour or Blue Planet Aquarium.
    2. River Explorer (Ferry) + Spaceport
    3. Planetarium + Museum of Life
    4. Albert Dock: Maritime Museum + Tate Gallery
    
  • London 1: Visit to Buckingham Palace (watch the changing of the guard) the British Museum and the London Eye.
  • London 2: Madame Tussaud, Hyde Park, Aquarium.
  • London 3: Victoria and Albert Museum, Natural History Museum and the Science Museum.
  • London 4: Museum of London, St Paul’s Cathedral, the Monument and the Tower of London.
  • Manchester: Manchester United Stadium, Beatles tour, Science and Industry Museum.
  • Oxford Region: Bleinham Palace, guided tour of the University, Oxford Story.
  • Stratford Region: Warwick Castle, Shakespeare’s house, Royal Shakespeare Company Theatre.
• Language and Leisure
  The Language and Leisure programme includes 10 hours of language courses per week, room and board, the activity described below, entrance fees and transportation to all activities.
  • Cuisine: (Stratford, Oxford, Cambridge, East Kent, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Norwich) : 5 hours of traditional English cooking with your professor.
  • Shopping and Antiquities in Bournemouth (Dorset): 2 half-days in the antiques markets with your teacher.
  • Shopping in London: 2 shopping excursions with your teacher (Carnaby Street, Covent garden, Harrods, Camden market, Portobello Road).
  • Amusement Park - Buckinghamshire or Berkshire: one day at Legoland with your teacher.
  • Amusement Park - Isle of Wight: choice of two from: Robin Hill Newport, Blackgang Chine et Alum Bay, with your teacher.
  • Amusement Park - London: one day excursion with your teacher either to Chessington World of Adventures or to Thorpe Park.
  • Music (Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Essex): 3 hours of music lessons with a professional.
  • Dancing (Bournemouth): 3 lessons of one hour with a professional (choice between ballroom dancing, street dance, or breakdance).
  • Ceramics (Isle of Wight): 3 sessions with a professional.
  • Traditional Tea (London, East Kent, Oxford, Stratford): traditional tea with your teacher, in a tea room.
  • Shopping in Glasgow: two shopping trips with your teacher (to the Italian Centre, Princes square, Frasers, Charles Rennie McIntosh).

Prices & Dates

Prices include:

• Accommodation in a private room from Sunday to Sunday (7 nights)
• Full-board with your teacher (3 meals a day)
  
• The chosen course programme, books and the use of all academic material.
• Initial diagnostic exam and certificate of participation
• The assistance of the regional coordinator
  
• All administrative fees
• For the Language and Activities programme, 10 or 15 hours of courses plus 5 or 10 hours of activities (transportation and entry fees included)

Optional Supplements:

• Travel: if you prefer, we can book your travel for you. Please make this clear when you enrol.
• Transportation from the airport or train station to the family
• Any extra nights in accommodation
  
• The options outlined above (exam preparation, specialized vocabulary cocooning or five stars)
• London 2012 Olympics summer supplement (see price table)
• Supplement during the winter holidays for stays including the 24th, 25th, 26th or 31st of December, or the 1st of January

Remarks

• If two students of the same level wish to participate in a programme together, each will receive a reduction of 20%
• If a person wishes to accompany a student and share accommodation and board without classes, he will receive a 20% discount on the "10 hour" rate.

Dates

These immersion programmes take place from Sunday to Sunday all year round.

For those students who are staying in the region of Dover or Bournemouth during the Easter or summer holidays can travel with Easy Languages on the following dates:

• Departures 2012:
  
  • Easter: 01/04, 07/04.
    
  • Summer: Sunday 24/06 Saturdays 30/06, 07/07, 14/07, 21/07, 28/07, 04/08, 11/08, 18/08, 25/08/2012.
• Returns 2012:
  
  • Easter: 08/04, 14/04.
    
  • Summer: Sundays 01/07, 08/07, 15/07, 22/7, 29/07, 05/08, 12/08, 19/08, 26/08 and Saturday 01/09.

Practical info

Group Travel

In the months of July and August and from the 1st until the 14th of April, we organise weekly group travel from Brussels, Mons, Calais or Paris to Bournemouth with transfers to other locations. The trip includes:

• Transportation both directions
  
• An extra night in accommodation in the event of a Sunday return.
  More information available here.

Individual Travel Organised by Langues Vivantes / Easy Languages

Besides the aforementioned dates, we can arrange travel by air to Bournemouth/Southampton departing from either Brussels or Paris. Fees (see table) may vary with the price of flights, depending on the date of booking.

Student Arranged Travel

Students may also arrange their own commute to England. We can arrange transportation to or from the Bournemouth airport or train station for a small fee.
Contact us for more details.