Study Abroad Blog

Study Abroad F.A.Q.: Homestay

What are the benefits of staying in a homestay?

Homestay can be a great part of the immersion experience. The thing to think about is what would make the situation the most comfortable for you. You might want to be with another student, you might want to be on your own. You might want children in the household, or maybe teens, or maybe not. If you give some thought to what you think would work best for you, you can request that we try to match your interests and concerns. Let us know any special concerns as to allergies, pets, special diets, etc. Although we can't guarantee that we will be able to, we will certainly do our best to fulfill your homestay requirements. The earlier you apply, the better chance you have of the school being able to meet your homestay requests.

Travel Abroad

Not just for Young Ones! - By Alexa Boyce Did you know that over 50% of AmeriSpan's participants are over the age of 35? And about 20% are over the age of 55. Many people associate our programs with college students, because of the high numbers of students who participate in study abroad programs. We do get our share of college students, but that is certainly not the only age group for our programs. Most program locations participants average age is on average anywhere between 25 and 35. Language immersion can be a great way for people of all ages to experience another culture, learn a new language quickly, and meet interesting people from all over the world. Learning a new language can be a fun and interesting way to bond with children, grandchildren or other family members. A recent article on seniorjournal.com termed it "grandtravel" and said that 80% of grandparents surveyed thought that traveling with youngsters was a great way to go. By taking them on a language immersion trip, you can open their minds and accompany them on a life-changing vacation. If some of our mature travelers are not comfortable staying with host families, many of our locations offer accommodation in student residences and student apartments. Tamarindo, Costa Rica also offers a premium residence upgrade for those used to more "creature comforts". In any type of lodging, couples or families traveling together can usually be accommodated if registering with enough notice. Many locations also offer special activities that may interest the older crowd. "Birding" is a popular and fascinating hobby, and the birds of Costa Rica are often rare and beautiful. There are so many different species of birds, in fact, that the ticos say they make up for the country's lack of an army! We also offer specialty classes including tango, flamenco or samba lessons, wine tasting, cooking and more. For interesting Spanish programs in Latin America, check out this.

Short Trip Packing

By Connie Marianacci You can travel on a short vacation or a long vacation, on business, to visit friends and family, or to study abroad. Depending on which type of travel you do, you pack different things and in different ways. When traveling for a short period of time either to just one location or many locations, my IDEAL way to pack is by using "cloth envelopes" as I call them. Believe me, this method was not easy to find but once I decided this was the way I was going to travel, it made it so much easier! And don't get me wrong, these are not paper envelopes I am talking about. Rather, cloth envelopes of many shapes, colors and sizes made by various manufacturers. You may find some great ones at our Get Ready page. You have an envelope for the shirts, an envelope for the pants, a smaller envelope for the socks and an envelope for the underwear plus the toiletry bag, everything neatly packed into your bag or suitcase. Now each time you have to dress for a different occasion, you have all the options to wear available at your fingertips without any hassle of taking all the clothes out of the suitcase because "the shirt you need to wear for the dinner is all the way at the bottom!". My most hectic experience was traveling through Germany for about 3 months. I spent 1 week in London & Brighton, 2 weeks in Berlin, 2 weeks in Hamburg, 4 days in Cologne, then I went Canada for 4 days(don't ask why..J ). After than, I went to Frankfurt for 2 weeks, then to Bamberg for 2 weeks and back to Berlin for 1 week. At each German location, I took a German language course but at the same time had to work in England and Canada on other days, which meant I also had to pack my office clothes, and they couldn't get wrinkled! The "envelope packing technique" saved me from stressing out each time I changed location and also saved my job by allowing me to be ready quickly! (Specially if I hate to iron as much as I do). Try it!

Why Homestays?

By Kayla Allen There are plenty of good reasons to stay with a family when traveling and I'll tell you what they are. If you've decided to do a language immersion program the first thing you should embrace is the idea of immersing yourself in another culture. Homestays offer a really easy way of doing this. Usually the families have had long standing relationships with their school and even though they don't speak English they've had many students before you arriving to their homes not knowing their language. They're used to this process and won't be offended if you can't say everything you should to be a polite guest or to carry on a conversation. They know that this will come in time. Helpful hint: do try to use what little language skills you may have. It's always nice to try to communicate even if it sounds broken and nonsensical, they won't hold it against you. Once you've got a little vocab and grammar under your belt though that's when living with a native speaking family really comes in handy. What could be more effective and efficient than living and eating with people who know and will ask you to use the language your whole trip is based around learning. It's like a 24-hour classroom. Hint: try to intentionally incorporate the vocabulary and grammar that you're learning in class into your conversations with your hosts, this will help reinforce what you're learning in school and hear what responses it elicits from your hosts as well. This will help to broaden your knowledge base of the language. Along with it's other potential benefits, choosing a homestay is invariably the most inexpensive way to go; unless of course you have a second home in your chosen study location. If this is your good fortune why ball means, stay there, and kudos! All of the above are reason enough to choose a homestay but it's hard to evaluate just how potentially meaningful living with native speaking family can be. There is something so amazing about traveling to another country and getting to know someone truly on their terms. You're learning their language, living in their home, eating their food and experiencing their culture and they are sharing it with you. Living with a family can put a whole new prospective on traveling abroad and add a positive element to your language program you just might not have expected.

Popular Study Abroad Questions

Part 2 - By Alexa Boyce Back by popular demand, I've decided to answer a few more frequently asked questions here! How much money should I bring with me? This depends on several factors, including which country you are visiting, if your lodging includes meals and how many, how many excursions you plan to participate in and what kinds of extra souvenirs you plan to purchase. Countries in Central America such as Guatemala, Costa Rica and Panama should be fairly inexpensive. The cost of living in the southern part of South America, however, is probably more comparable with the US or Europe. If you are staying with a homestay, generally between 1 and 3 meals per day is included. Please check the individual location pages on our website for details. Excursions can cost between $30 USD and $200 USD, depending on the distance and time you plan to travel. Check with the school upon your arrival for a schedule of upcoming trips Please note that we recommend a combination of cash (you can exchange dollars at the airport upon your arrival or at a travel agency ahead of time), credit and traveler's checks. While traveler's checks are waning in popularity, they are still recommended in case your wallet is lost or stolen or you visit a remote area that does not offer ATMs. What is the difference between the Spanish taught in Latin America vs. the Spanish taught in Spain? Grammatically, the biggest difference is the use of the 'vosotros' subject in verb conjugation in Spain. The accents also differ as well as colloquialisms and slang terms. These differences I would equate to the difference between British English and American English. The two dialects are mutually intelligible and won't pose a problem. Please keep in mind that the same differences exist between countries in Latin America, similar to regional dialects in the US. Program-Specific FAQ Lists can be found at the following links: * Volunteer/Intern * Teenager Summer Abroad * SALUD Medical Spanish * Business Language Immersion * MAESTRO Programs for Educators

Popular Study Abroad Questions

By Alexa Boyce While we enjoy speaking directly with our clients, we do often answer the same few questions. I have decided to answer them here for those students who haven't asked them yet: How do I get credit for an AmeriSpan program? The easiest way to get college or high school credit for our programs is to receive it directly through your home institution. This avoids any problems in transferring credits. Upon request, we will send you a syllabus for the specific location you are interested in, as well as any other information your school requires. You simply take this to your study abroad office or academic advisor and inquire about the process for granting credits for off-campus programs. We also offer credit through Brookhaven College and Seattle Central Community College. You can find out more information about which programs are eligible for this credit here. Should I get a cell phone? If you are traveling for less than 4 weeks, a calling card should be sufficient. The AmeriSpan phonecard can be used in over 130 countries. Please contact us and we will send you a card containing 10 bonus minutes. To get started right away, please visit ekit. If you plan to be in country for a longer period of time, a cell phone might be a good idea. Beware of using your regular phone abroad, as international fees might apply. We recommend a Telestial cell phone, because all incoming calls are free and local calls are at local rates. Please visit our Staying in Touch page. Do I need a visa? In many countries, a tourist visa is granted automatically upon arrival to US citizens and is good for 90 days. Your participation in an AmeriSpan program does not require a student or work visa. Each student is responsible for ensuring their legal status in the country. Please check with your local embassy for information on entrance requirements. You may find contact information for embassies at here. For help on obtaining visas, airfare and other helpful predeparture tips, check out our Get Ready page. For more frequently asked questions, please see our FAQ list

Study Abroad Questions

by Alexa Boyce While we enjoy speaking directly with our clients, we do often answer the same few questions. I have decided to answer them here for those students who haven't asked them yet: How do I get credit for an AmeriSpan program? The easiest way to get college or high school credit for our programs is to receive it directly through your home institution. This avoids any problems in transferring credits. Upon request, we will send you a syllabus for the specific location you are interested in, as well as any other information your school requires. You simply take this to your study abroad office or academic advisor and inquire about the process for granting credits for off-campus programs. We also offer credit through Brookhaven College and Seattle Central Community College. You can find out more information about which programs are eligible for this credit here. Should I get a cell phone? If you are traveling for less than 4 weeks, a calling card should be sufficient. The AmeriSpan phonecard can be used in over 130 countries. Please contact us and we will send you a card containing 10 bonus minutes. To get started right away, please visit ekit . If you plan to be in country for a longer period of time, a cell phone might be a good idea. Beware of using your regular phone abroad, as international fees might apply. We recommend a Telestial cell phone, because all incoming calls are free and local calls are at local rates. Please visit our Staying in Touch page to see more tips. Do I need a visa? In many countries, a tourist visa is granted automatically upon arrival to US citizens and is good for 90 days. Your participation in an AmeriSpan program does not require a student or work visa. Each student is responsible for ensuring their legal status in the country. Please check with your local embassy for information on entrance requirements. You may find contact information for embassies here. For help on obtaining visas, airfare and other helpful predeparture tips, please see this page. For more frequently asked questions, please see our FAQ list.

The European Union

By Beth Klemick

The European Union, formerly known as the European Communities (EC) or the European Economic Community (EEC), was founded on November 1, 1993 to enhance political, economic and social cooperation amongst 25 democratic countries known as member states. The Union today has a common single market, consisting of a customs union, a single currency (the euro) managed by the European Central Bank (adopted by 12 of the 25 member states), a Common Agricultural Policy, a common trade policy, a Common Fisheries Policy, and a Common Foreign and Security Policy.

There are four important EU institutions which are comprised of the Council of the European Union, the European Commission, the European Court of Justice and the European Parliament. Althought the European Parliament origins date back to the 1950s, it was not until 1979 that its members were elected by the citizens of the European Union to represent their interest. Since 1979, elections into the European Parliament have taken place in five year intervals with the last election held in 2004 which returned 732 Members from the 25 European Union countries.

The European Union's activities cover all areas of public policy, from health and economic policy to foreign affairs and defense, the extent of the EU powers differs between many countries. As an example, take the United States - it will always be categorized and function as a constitution-based federal republic. The EU on the other hand can be categorized as a federation, a confederation, or an international organization depending on the area of interest. Probably the most important current issue of the EU today is establishing the European Constitution. To date, the future of a consitution is unknown. Countries like France and the Netherlands have failed to win popular support which has caused many other member countries to delay their own ratifications procedures.

The European Union has been extending its influence east; Romania and Bulgaria are scheduled to become members in 2007. Supporters of the European Union argue that the growth of the EU is a force for peace and democracy. With that said, there is much controversy as the EU continues to grow eastward and the candidate countries' accessions are more difficult. Attempts to unite the nations of Europe precede modern times. Given Europe's collections of languages and cultures, these attempts usually involved military subjugation of unwilling nations, leading to instability. Today, however, with the establishment of European Union, things like passport customs checks have been abolished at most of the EU's internal borders, thus creating a single space of mobility for EU citizens to live, travel, work and invest.

Check out Wikipedia for more information on the EU.

Professional Development for Educators

By Elizabeth Gregory

In today's world, it can be tough to stay ahead in your field. This is especially true in occupations that interact with LEP (limited English proficiency) clients, students, etc. Many educators are finding themselves in classrooms around the country where some of their students are non-native English speakers. In particular, for them communicating with the parents of these students can be difficult. As a former ESL teacher, I can attest to that personally.

While many states require professional development credits, they do not always require what areas these credits are in. Educators need to choose their options not based on "what's easy" but rather "what's beneficial to me, my career, and my students?"

Many organizations are offering special workshops and courses for improving interaction with educator and LEP student. Others offer the opportunity for teachers to gain cultural insight into the minority students' backgrounds.

AmeriSpan is one such organization. We have broken our programs for educators into 2 areas. One is for Spanish teachers. These programs allow teachers to focus on sharing and improving their methods and methodology in the Spanish classroom. The other area is for teacher who do not teach Spanish be deal with students who speak Spanish as their native language and may not be strong English speakers. Educators in these areas will gain an understanding of the students' culture and language background. Information on our programs for educators can be found here on our website.

There are many workshops and programs which afford educators the opportunity to improve professionally in a beneficial way. Choose carefully when fulfilling professional development or CEU requirements.

Italian Inventions

By Beth Klemick

During the closing ceremonies Winter Olympic ceremonies in Torino, Italy I learned through the commentary that confetti was originated/invented in Italy. This intrigued me and I decided to do a search to learn of more inventions. After further research here is a list of ordinary and not so ordinary Italian inventions we may use daily and their well-known and not so well known inventors.

Barometer, invented by Evangelista Torricelli in 1643
Cologne, invented by Johann Maria Farina in 1709
Eyeglasses, invented by Salvino Armati in 1280
Ice cream cone, invented by Italo Marcioni in 1896
Parachute, invented by Leonardo da Vinci in 1480
Telephone, invented by Antonio Meucci (A G Bell) in 1871
Thermometer, invented by Galileo Galilei in 1593
Zamboni, invented by Frank J. Zamboni in 1949

Question of the Week

By Beth Klemick

Summer certainly seems far away, but the Teenager Program Department here at AmeriSpan is in full swing preparing and booking teens to travel abroad this summer. As the Director of our Teenager programs, the number one questioned asked by parents is: what if something goes wrong?

In the event of an emergency AmeriSpan will do everything we can within our realm of expertise and position to assist in time of crisis or conflict. Our aim is to provide a quality, fun, supervised, international education experience, and maintain as best as possible the safety and well being of all students. We have several support services in place, for example, our emergency message service (24-7), in-country emergency contacts, BETA travel assistance program (includes medical evacuation, lost/stolen passport assistance)

Over the years we have had a very low rate of incidents. If students adhere to all of program guidelines and use common sense they should be fine. However, that being said, there are inherent risks in any kind of travel and we cannot account for everything. We, along with our educational partners, will attempt to minimize these risks in every possible way.