Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

General Questions

1. Who can participate in Sprachcaffe’s Language Camps for Kids program?
2. Which languages can children learn at Sprachcaffe?
3. Which locations offer the Language Camps for Kids program?
4. What’s involved in the U20 - Language Camps for Kids program?
5. What’s included in the U20 package price?

FAQ Courses

1. Which language course types are offered for the children?
2. How will the optimal course for each student be determined?
3. Are the teachers native speakers?
4. Are the children supervised outside of the language courses?
5. How does Sprachcaffe secure the quality of the trip and the courses?

FAQ Arrival & Accommodations

1. What travel opportunities exist for the students?
2. When flying, which are the most favorable airports for arriving and departing?
3. Will the children be supervised during their travels?
4. Who operates the bus trip?
5. How will the children arrive at their destination?
6. When will the trip’s route and departure times be made available?
7. Can the children travel by themselves?
8. Which types of accommodation will be offered to the children?

FAQ Leisure Time

1. How will leisure time be spent?
2. Will there be sport activities offered to the children?
3. Will there be planned excursions?

Our Language Camps for Kids program is built for children and teenagers between 8 and 17 years old that want to learn a foreign lanugage while taking a trip abroad. Each program destination specializes in specific age groups, which means that the students are always put into groups with their peers.

In our language camps for kids programs, we offer juniors the choice between learning English, Spanish, French, Italian and Geman.

For an overview of the Language Camps for Kids program, please click here to be redirected to the U20 homepage. Below are the Sprachcaffe language school locations that offer the Language Camp for Kids program:

• Language Camp for Kids in England: London, Brighton, and Devon
• Language Camp for Kids in Malta: St. Julian's and St. Paul's Bay
• Language Camp for Kids in Canada: Toronto
• Language Camp for Kids in Germany: Frankfurt, Augsburg and Oberwesel
• Language Camp for Kid in Spain: Barcelona
• Language Camp for Kids in Mexico: Playa del Carmen
• Language Camp for Kids in France: Nice
• Language Camp for Kids in Italy: Rome

Our U20 language camp for kids program teaches students language skills in a relaxed learning atmosphere, without the boredom or stress of everyday school life. The initial uncertainty of being in a new place, learning a new language, goes away quickly and then learning grammar and vocabulary becomes fun - Mainly because the students don’t have to do it alone, rather they get to learn with old and new friends!

In the afternoons, we offer a variable recreational program, which gradually introduces the juniors to the country, its people and its culture.
Participants will travel supervised and supported during the language program according to their age.

Our language camp for kids program price package includes:

• Language course as booked
• Learning materials
• Accommodations and meal plans as booked
• Round-the-clock supervision by a qualified care-taker
• Transportation by bus or plane to desired destination; if necessary, transfer to and from the airport
• Organized excursions
• Many more leisure time/ recreational activities

Since every student has different goals and ideas, we offer a variety of courses that they can choose from:

• Semi-intensive Courses: In 20 lessons per week (daily 4x45 minutes, Monday-Friday), by speaking freely, participants deepen their vocabulary, strengthen their grammar skills and develop their reading and writing abilities.
• Intensive Courses: This course builds on the semi-intensive course by offering 30 lessons per week (daily 6x45 minutes, Monday-Friday). Intensive courses, like semi-intensive courses, also place an emphasis on speaking freely, as well as properly forming the applications needed to improve one's language skills.
• School leaving exam preparation courses: This course also builds on the semi-intensive course and offers 30 lessons per week (daily 6x45 minutes, Monday-Friday). The course prepares the participants for their upcomnig oral and/or written exams. The preparation helps relieve anxiety and stress when they take their actual exam. This course is offered in Brighton and St. Julian's for those that want to prepare in English. Those wishing to prepare in French have the option of taking the course in Nice.

Classes meet regularly from 9:00 - 12:00; and if necessary, until 14:30. However, the actual course times may vary depending on location.

Each student will be given an exam on the first day of classes, which will be graded on their previous knowledge relative to the others in the group of 9 to 15 participants. The levels range from beginner without prior knowledge, participants with basic knowledge, participants with a medium level of knowledge, to participants with advanced language skills.

Every course participant will receive an official certificate upon completion of the program.

Yes. Our teachers are young, movivated and educate in their respective native languages. Course participants will only communicate in the langauge being taught in the course.

Since the success of the language courses depends on the teachers, they give their best efforts to make language learning more lively, communicative and varied. Supporting modern teaching methods, teachers often use illustrative materials, including local language videos and movies in their daily lessons.

Yes. In all course locations, the participants are cared for and supervised by enthusiastic instructors and team leaders that are trained by us specifically to handle these tasks. They are between 21 and 30 years old and come from various European Countries. Therefore, regardless of the program's location, only the local language of the host country will be spoken.

The team leaders have fun with the juniors, live directly on the schools residence, organize recreational programs, and stay near the children throughout the day. They are also there to help solve problems and to answer any questions the students may have. Each team leader is responsible for about 15 course participants.

One of the great advantages of Sprachcaffe is that we organize our language camps for kids program ourselves. This gives us the opportunity to directly check for quality assurance in all areas, such as trip preparation, selection of instructors, teaching, facilities, equipment and recreational activities.

With a network of language schools in England, France, Spain, Germany and Malta, we are a small to medium sized learning center. Therefore, we can guarentee a certain level of quality standards from our employees regarless of location.

 

As an old Chinese proverb so appropriately expressed: every journey begins with a single step. Each student can decide for themselves whether they prefer to travel by bus or plane. The trip with the bus provides an exciting beginning to the trip, and the children already have the chance to get to know many of the other course participants. Of course, traveling via airplane is quicker and more comfortable.

We only work with experienced and reputable bus- and airline companies. Therefore, the safety and quality of the trip is guarenteed!

Regardless whether the language camp is in England, Malta, Spain, Italy, France, Mexico or Canada, most of our participants fly from Berlin, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Hannover, Munich, Stuttgart and Vienna.

Flights can be booked as direct flights or with short layovers. For more information, please contact us at u20(at)sprachcaffe.com or 069/6109120.

Regardless whether the children are traveling by bus or airplane, from the very beginning an experienced Sprachcaffe supervisor will be with them. During the bus ride, they will be accompanied by experienced bus personal or one of our team leaders.

Students traveling by plane will be picked up at the destination airport. There they can expect a friendly Sprachcaffe supervisor to meet them at the flight's exit. He or she will be holding a Spachcaffe-Logo sign so that they can be easily spotted. From the airport, our care-taker will bring the student directly to the booked accommodation, or if necessary to the meeting point of the homestay family.

Throughout the duration of the langauge courses, our language course instructors will constantly be keeping an eye on the young participants.

The reliability of our partners, such as bus operators, Euro-Tunnel and Sea Ferries guarantees a safe trip. Our motto: Safety first! Our air-conditioned, long-haul buses are equipped with reclining seats and some even have DVD players - so you won’t be bored during the trip.

Traveling will always be during the night. After England, the crossing of the Euro Tunnel from Calais to Dover ferry crossing is included. The Sprachcaffe coaches are accompanied by our guides, bus guides or bus drivers who are experienced in dealing with young travelers.

The number of starting points is limited and will be scheduled after the current holiday seasons of the respective providences and the final number of booked participants is had. For this reason, we reserve the right to organize, for the outward and return journey, a shuttle (minibus, taxi, bus or train) to the bus departure point.

The busses usually drive through multiple cities, where travelers can get on and off the bus at different stops. It can then be that a student must switch buses during their trip in order to arrive at one of our specified collection points.

We know from experience that traffic conditions in our roads make a punctual arrival almost impossible. Therefore, delays are never ruled out.

The trip's route and departure times will be made available approximately 3 weeks before the departure date. At this time, you will be given an itinerary for the trip, along with all of the other needed travel documents.

Exact return times can not be provided because of changes that may occur in the travel plans during the trip.

Of course, you can arrange travel for yourself. We just ask that you then share this information with us so that we can arrange for pick up at the airport or bus station upon arrival.

However, it should be noted that there are several destination restrictions on arrival and departure times. Please inquire about these restrictions before booking anything. The amount that can be deducted from your final price for self arranging your travels can be found in our U20 cataolg or on our U20 webpage.

We feel that it's very important for our students to live in an accommodation that is comfortable, has a good safe community and plenty of opportunities to find good food. Which accommoation style fits you best is entirely based on your personal preferences.

At each of the different course locatoins, there are two types of accommodations available. Both types offer a comfortable living atmosphere in a style that is typical for the respective host country. Participants will have the following two options to choose from:

• Private Home Accommodations:
  Double or triple-bedrooms are available that can be shared with other course participants. Benefits of private home accommodations include being able to have direct contact with local people, their culture and lifestyle, and the opportunity to immediately apply the language skills learned in the courses. Breakfast, dinner & lunch are included. Oftentimes, the apartments are not centrally located, therefore, there is a high possibility that an additional public transit ticket will need to be purchased.

  We offer private home accommodations in Barcelona, Bournemouth, Brighton, Devon, Nice, Weymouth and Malta. You can live with a family in a double or triple bedroom or you can live with a friend or girlfriend in a private home, but please try to make reservations early and indicate your preferences on the application.

• School Residences:
  Accommodations in our school residences offer a little more freedom than living in a private home. The residences are generally located near the school - which is very convenient and will save you time! Moreover, it is very easy to socialize with the other students from around the world, apply what you’ve learned in the lessons by speaking with others, and spend your free time simply hanging out with new friends from your language courses.

  Accommodations in the School Residence offer a variety of comfort levels: from single rooms to double rooms in Bournemouth in Biarritz, to cozy three-and four-bed rooms in Brighton, Nice, Oberwesel, Playa del Carmen and Malta. Full board (breakfast, hot lunch or packed lunch and dinner) is also included.

The leisure time activities in the afternoon and evening have just as important of a role as the language classes in the morning. They are fun and promote contact among participants in the groups and thus conversations will be had in a foreign language. Besides learning a language, the students will also be learning a great deal about the culture and citizens of the host country.

During the day, we'll organize sporting events, visit cultural exibits and attractions, in the evenings we'll go to a disco or have a barbecue at a beach party! Our team leaders, trainers, and their colleagues always try to make full use of the local conditions when organizing the recreational activities.

Being active and having fun are very important to us. In all of our locations, it is fundamentally possible to offer various kinds of sports - whether as a team, on land or in the water.

Of course, the possibilities at each location depend on the natural surroundings. Possible activities include:

• Team Sports: (Beach-)Volleyball, Soccer, Basketball, Tennis
• Water Sports: Swimming (some locations have their own pool), Diving, Water skiing, Windsurfing and Sailing
• Riding
• Dancing
• Course Special: "Surf & Talk" - Surf camp and language course on Isle of Wight
• Course Special: "Kick & Talk" - Soccer camp and language courses in Bournemouth

At most destinations, you will be able to book many other activities upon arrival. If you want more information about which courses are available at which locations, please see our U20-catalog or go to our Langauge camps for Kids homepage.

At every one of our course locations, we aoffer a complete excursion program. Every 2 course weeks, there will be at least 1 entire day & 2 half days of excursions. Other trips can be booked once your at your destination. Close to every course location, there are plenty of interesting sites and activities. For example:

• Devon: Excursion to Dartmoor, Bristol, Exeter, Bath or London
• Brighton: Excursion to London, Oxford, the Royal Pavillon or to the "Seven Sisters" cliffs
• Nice: Excursion to St. Tropez, Antibes or in the perfume capital grasse
• Malta: Excursion to the neighboring islands of Gozo and Comino, in the cities of La Valletta and Mdina and the famous Dingli Cliffs
• Toronto: Visit the CN Towers or Little Italy
• Playa del Carmen: Discover the old Maya Country and the white sand beaches