Am I ready? This is one of the most important questions to ask yourself when considering an immersion program. Although each of the immersion programs listed on our site have been designed for a specific age range, you cannot determine your readiness on age alone. Nor can you measure your readiness based on the fact that your best friend is planning on attending an overseas immersion program this summer.
So, how do you know if you are ready? From our years of experience working with parents and teens we've compiled a list of six questions that you should carefully consider, no matter how old you are or and how much you want to be ready for an overseas adventure:
Are you mature enough? You need to be able to handle new and unexpected situations in a safe and effective manner without parental assistance. Unexpected things can and do happen, no matter how hard you plan. You need to have the self-sufficiency to handle a number of situations such as delayed flights or missing luggage while in transit or getting lost or separated from the group while on the program. Think about occasions when you have had to problem-solve independently and how well you managed.
Do you have a positive attitude? No matter how much you have travelled, each experience is unique and you need to be able to maintain a positive attitude, even when things get uncomfortable. Travel involves jet lag, culture shock, unfamiliar foods, unpleasant weather and lots of strangers! You need to be OK with the fact that your parents aren't going to be there to fix things that go wrong and or make things go smoothly. Think about how flexible and adaptable you have been to new and unfamiliar situations.
Do you possess the necessary social skills? Not all students attending immersion programs need to be extremely outgoing or extroverted but it is important that you have the confidence and social skills to approach other students you don't know and make friends without adult intervention. Think about how you handle social situations where you don't know other participants.
Can you cope with homesickness? There is a very good chance that you will experience some degree of homesickness while you are abroad. Interestingly enough, it doesn't matter how old you are or how many overnight camps or programs you have previously attended; homesickness can catch up with anyone at anytime. For the most part it resolves itself, but serious homesickness can be very debilitating. If you have a history of homesickness, or if this is your first time away from home, you may want to consider a shorter stay (2 weeks) or encourage a friend to attend the program as well. Think about the last time you were away from home and how well you coped with homesickness.
Who wants you to attend this program? It is absolutely essential that you want to attend an overseas immersion program. Your mom or dad may have fond memories of an exchange experience or immersion program they attended when they were a teen or they may heard or read about the many benefits of an immersion program, but your experience will be unique and it is crucial that you want to have this experience as much if not more than your parents want you to. On the other hand, your parents may be the ones with reservations about you attending an overseas immersion program. Perhaps, they are concerned about your readiness for being so far away from home. If this is the case, it is important that you understand their concerns and that you explore together why you want to attend and why you think you are ready. Think about who wants you to attend an immersion program and why.
Do you have the ability to advocate for your special needs? Some of the programs we offer are better equipped than others to deal with children who have special needs, whether these are physical or learning-based. These needs must be clearly communicated to us prior to booking so we can explore the appropriate program options. No matter what program is selected it is very important that you are comfortable being an advocate for your special needs without parental assistance. Program staff are always available for the safety and well-being of program participants but you need to be able to ask staff directly for support or assistance if your needs are not being met. Think about how well you advocate for your special needs without parental assistance.
We really appreciate you taking the time to consider your readiness for an overseas language immersion program; failure to assess your readiness for an overseas program can cause a great deal of stress for both you and your parents! The six questions we have listed above represent the areas of consideration that we think are most important but we understand that you may additional considerations that are unique to you. If this is the case, we would be more than happy to discuss these with you.
Questions about your readiness? Call us toll-free 1 888 386 1411
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