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.

Does the family 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 will have three full time ECI chaperones. Two are from the US and one is from the country in which the program is based. At least one US chaperone will travel roundtrip with the group from the US. 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.

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.

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 US.

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 US.

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 US university. These credits are transferable to any university, and are accepted by most accredited universities in the United States. 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?
Once you sign up and pay the $95 application fee, a deposit of $500 will be due within two weeks. You will be sent a detailed invoice customized to your trip and your enrollment date. The balance of the trip is due 60 days prior to travel. We only accept credit cards for the $95 application fee and the Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance. All other payments must be made by check or bank transfer.

If you would like to request a customized payment plan, please contact us via phone or email.

What’s included in the cost?
Our programs are all-inclusive. The program fee includes roundtrip airfare from San Francisco or Boston (other than airline taxes) all transportation abroad, all accommodation, all group activities, excursions, admissions, and most meals. We also provide Medical Expense / Emergency Assistance Insurance / Travel Delay Protection / Baggage Delay or Loss Coverage insurance.

Are scholarships available?
ECI is dedicated to helping high school students explore the world and learn more about other cultures and languages. We are offering three scholarships of $3000 each to be applied towards our 2008 summer programs. ECI will award one scholarship for study in Spain, one for Costa Rica and one for France. Please see our homepage for details.

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.

Is airfare included in the price?
Roundtrip airfare from San Francisco or Boston is included in the program fee. Airline taxes are not included and will be invoiced upon ticketing.

Can I make my own travel plans?
You may choose to depart from a different gateway city than the main group’s gateway city, different flights, dates, etc., but you are then responsible for making your own flight arrangements. Spain program participants who choose this option receive a $900 airfare credit based on the San Francisco program fee and an $800 credit based on the Boston program fee. France participants receive a $1000 credit from the San Francisco program fee and an $800 credit from the Boston program fee. Costa Rica program participants receive a $400 credit from the San Francisco or Boston program fee. 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 $125 minimum per direction.

How much homework is required? Are there tests?
Most programs have an average of 30 minutes per night of homework. If you signed up for university credit, you will also have additional homework, a paper to write, a short presentation in class and a final exam. Specific details of these requirements will be sent to you prior to the time you must make your decision to enroll for the credit (usually in the spring).

How are weekends spent?
During the Language School Homestay portion, Saturdays are generally spent doing a full day excursion to an area outside of the program town. These excursions are mandatory. Sundays are usually a 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.