Summer holidays are impatiently awaited by children and teens throughout the year, but can be a headache for parents who must find attractive and affordable holiday plans for their children. Finding a place that is truly beneficial for their education and their personal development can sometimes be a challenge. A Teen Travel Abroad may be a good option.
Language, educational, or sports camps abroad are some of the options available. They allow teens to spend fun and attractive holidays abroad, and parents to add academic and personal benefits for their children. Each program completes your child's academic learning journey and personal development. Students gain maturity, language skills, as well as sports or cultural knowledge.
What type of program or summer camp should you choose? For how long? Consult our Guide to help you select the most suitable High School Summer Abroad program for your child.
Step 1: Understand your Teen's needs
First of all, think about what your Teen expects from this trip abroad, and what you as a parent, want for his vacation: relaxation, fun, meeting new friends, cultural immersion, and/or language improvement. The most important is to take into account his motivation, his needs, and his personality.
A. Educational Benefits
Educational holidays complete school learning to the extent that they allow young people to develop a passion for the discipline explored and thus progress faster.
It’s a real compromise between parents and children since it's a vacation during which children will continue to learn but also have fun. Your Teen must already have an attraction to languages or sports. If you impose your choice on him, he will not always be willing to progress. For example, if your Teen wants to improve his French and is rather resourceful, an immersion in a French-speaking country including language courses in morning and afternoon activities can be a great way to improve his language skills and practice French informally.
B. Social Experience
Language camps also offer valuable social opportunities for your Teen. During a summer camp abroad, your child will be able to make new friends with young people from all over the world, socialize with other teens his age, and develop a sense of cooperation and teamwork.
Some programs focus on group activities and collaborative projects, which can promote the social development of your child and also take him out of his comfort zone. For example, if your child is shy, traveling in a group is generally beneficial. It also allows your Teen to open up to the world and differences. In addition, going on a trip abroad is a life-changing event, so teenagers who participate often form strong bonds that lead to lasting friendships!
C. Personal Objectives
Perhaps your Teen is not comfortable with the idea of speaking in a foreign language. This is often explained by the fear of making mistakes or being made fun of in class. The problem is that the fear of error prevents progress. Many young people struggle to express themselves in another language while speaking fluently without complexes is advantageous in a professional context. Sending your Teen on a language trip unlocks the world and its opportunities. Teens realize that the objective is not to make any mistakes but to manage to get by, and that’s how that they will improve!
D. Passions and interests of your Teen
Is your child passionate about languages, culture or sports? Is he calm in nature or hyperactive? Some summer abroad programs offer activity-based programs or specific sports. This is ideal if your Teen wants to devote himself to his passion while developing new skills. Taking into account your Teen's interests, you will be able to choose a program that will allow him to get fully involved and flourish!
E. Your Teen's personality
The personality of your Teen is a key element to take into account when choosing a High School Summer Abroad program. For example, some children are autonomous and independent. They like to make decisions for themselves and feel responsible. For these children, a program that promotes autonomy is ideal. This helps them develop their self-confidence and to take initiative, while benefiting from the necessary supervision. They feel fulfilled by taking an active part in planning their teen travel abroad.
Other children are naturally curious and have a great thirst for discovery. They are excited about the idea of going abroad or discovering new locations. For these children, a language camp can be an incredible opportunity to satisfy their desire to travel.
Finally, some children may be afraid of being in a group with young people they don’t know.
It is important to emphasize that these summer programs are often an opportunity to meet new people and make new friends. Group activities and collaborative projects allow
children to develop their sense of communication, cooperation and teamwork.
Step 2: Understand your expectations as a Parent
You may have several expectations and objectives:
- Language learning: The goal is that your Teen improves his skills in a foreign language. Parents wish that their child returns with a better mastery of the language, both oral and written.
- Progress in their favorite sport or in discovering new passions: Teen Travels abroad allow children to improve in the practice of their sport, or on the contrary to discover sports or cultural activities that they have never practiced.
- Cultural immersion: In addition to learning a foreign language, parents want their
children to be exposed to a new culture. This develops cultural understanding and a deeper appreciation of the culture of the host country, discovering its traditions,
cuisine, lifestyle, etc.
In addition, these programs develop their “soft skills”, skills that are useful both in their personal and professional lives:
- Self-confidence, independence and autonomy
- Open-mindedness
- Enriching life experience
- International networking
In conclusion, there are many benefits for the development of Teens who go on a Teen Travel Abroad, both in terms of skills and personal growth.
Step 3: Learn more about the different types of Teen Travels Abroad
Convinced? Your Teen will definitively go on a High School Summer Abroad program? That's the first step! Let us help you find the most suitable program for your child. What type of summer program will best allow your child to have fun while progressing quickly?
A. Individual Programs
Your Teen will experience an individual program and not join a group abroad. He will live with a local host family eager to share their life, home, language, and culture with your child. Those programs are called Cultural Immersion programs or Homestay Immersions Abroad.
While language improvement comes from constant immersion into the foreign language, this program may also be completed by one-to-one language classes, either attended at the host family's home or in a local language school.
They allow a deep cultural experience, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to integrate into a family different from yours, and an efficient language-learning process.
B. Group Programs
Your Teen will join a group abroad. He will live with Teens his age and be supervised by adults responsible for his safety and welfare. Those programs are called language camps or more generally summer camps abroad. They usually include foreign language classes and a complete program of sports, cultural activities, or visits and excursions.
Sports Training camps are programs with activities designed for Teens who have a talent or interest in sports. These programs provide Teens with the opportunity to participate in
a variety of sporting activities, such as football, basketball, gymnastics, tennis, and much more.
Sports camps usually attract Teens who are energetic, competitive, and enjoy challenges.
These programs not only allow Teens to develop their sports skills but also encourage their
team spirit, their self-confidence, and their ability to work in a group. Learn more about the benefits of the sports summer immersions in France thanks to our dedicated article.
The Sports Camps Abroad are ideal for children who love movement, who are motivated by sports, and who wish to spend their summer vacation having fun while focusing on their passion for sport. They either join local participants and are thus immersed in the local language, or they join a group of international campers. These sports trainings may include language lessons for further language progress.
Should you choose a host family or residential accommodation? Learn more about the Pros and Contras thanks to our dedicated article. Consult Nacel advisors to identify the best Teen Travel Abroad for your child.