We receive many questions from parents about our Junior Language courses – it’s understandable when you are placing your child in the care of someone else. To help you we have compiled and answered the most frequently asked questions below. The answers apply to all programmes we offer. If you would like to know more about a specific location we offer, or which one would suit your child best, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

• General

  Q: Can I contact someone who has booked that course in the past?

  A: Please contact us to let us know which destination you are interested in and we will find out if a past parent or junior student would be happy to help.

  Q: What is the children’s general daily routine?

  A: This will vary from one location to another but the following schedule will give you a good idea of a typical day.
  
  Sample day*
  07.30 Wake-up
  08.00 Breakfast
  09.00 Lessons
  10.30 Morning break
  11.00 Lessons
  13.00 Lunch
  14.00 Afternoon activities e.g. excursion, sports, or a visit to a local attraction
  17.30 Break
  18.00 Dinner
  19.00 Evening activities e.g. student disco or ten-pin bowling
  22.30 Back to accommodation
  
  * Please note this is a general guideline and may vary from one location to another.

• Transport

  Q: Is transport included in the prices quoted on the website?

  A: No, transport must be purchased separately. However Cactus can help and quote for flights or trains – please contact us.

  Q: Are airport transfers included?

  A: Depending on the locations they can be included or extra – please check the course information.

  Q: What about transport from the host family to the school?

  A: Students are taken to school or shown the way by their host on the first day. They usually make their own way on the other days, either on foot or by bus. The bus pass is not always included, please check the course page. Some courses are residential. In this case, students sleep on the same campus as where the lessons take place.

  Q: Is transport to the activities included?

  A: Yes. Students are taken to and from the place where activities take place with school staff/supervisors.

• Accommodation

  Q: How far will the host family be from the school?

  A: This depends on the city, it can be walking distance or a bus ride. The maximum, especially in capital cities, would be 45 minutes by public transport. The earlier you book, the easier it is to secure a host family closer to school! Some juniors courses have campus accommodation, where this is the case, residences are located on the same site as the school.

  Q: My child has a food allergy, how will this be handled?

  A: Any health and dietary requirements (allergies, special diets, medical conditions, etc…) need to be included in the booking form, so that we can inform the school at the time of booking. Staff and families will be aware of these and take them into account at meal times.

  Q: Will my child have his own room?

  A: No, junior students share a twin room with another student of the same gender but of a different mother tongue, unless specifically requested. Facilities (bathroom, lounge, kitchen, etc..) are shared with the family. For those programs with campus accommodation, students are placed in dormitories sharing with people of the same sex.

  Q: Will the family have children too?

  A: Not necessarily. The term host family is a generic term, but the hosts may be a retired couple, a single parent with a child, or even a single person.

  Q: What is the routine in the evening with regards to bedtime?

  A: In residences, students have a set time to go to their rooms (depending on the age, this can be between 10 and 11pm), followed by a bit of free time to read or chat. Lights out is usually 30 min to an hour later.
  In host families, hosts are instructed to make sure students are a in their room at a set time too. In selected locations for older teenagers, parents can sign a form to authorize them to go out in the evenings and go back to the accommodation later (up to 1am at week ends).

  Q: Can parents stay with the children in the residence or in family accommodation while they attend lessons?

  A: Only students and staff may stay in the residence. Hotel accommodation can be arranged but is subject to availability.

• Lessons

  Q: How long do lessons last?

  A: In most locations 1 lessons last 45 minutes. So 20 lessons = 15 hours of tuition. Some schools however do have longer lesson length (between 50 and 60 min), this information can be found on the course page.

  Q: When do lessons take place?

  A: Monday to Friday, usually in the morning (between 9am and 12.30am approx.). Selected locations operate a “double banking” meaning that lessons alternate between morning afternoon from one week to the next. If this is the case it will be specified on the course page.

  Q: How many students are there per class?

  A: The average is 12, maximum is 15.

  Q: What mix of nationality children are there?

  A: There is usually a maximum of 15% of any one language at school.

  Q: What do the lessons cover?

  A: They are a blend of the 4 main language skills that are speaking, reading, listening and writing, together with grammar, vocabulary and aspects of local culture. Most schools have a communicative approach and use diverse material (audio, video, DVD, newspapers, magazines…) to keep the lessons fun and interactive.

  Q: I’m not sure of my child’s level, what should I book?

  A: The level you book online is just a guideline for the school. There is a level test on the first day at school to make sure students are placed in the right level group. You can self-assess your child’s level depending on how much he has learnt and/or used the language in the past (please see our level section for help).

  Q: Are the teachers experienced?

  A: Yes, all the teachers have qualifications (University degree or Language Teaching qualification) and experience in teaching their language to young foreign learners.

• Activities & Excursions

  Q: Will my child be kept busy after the lessons?

  A: Yes! The extra-curricular programme is packed with fun activities (cultural, social or sports) and excursions. There are afternoon activities everyday after lunch (with one half day excursion included), 2 to 3 evenings activities during the week, and one full day excursion at the week end. Some free time is also scheduled for students to relax together, go shopping or use internet to keep in touch with their families.

  Q: Who arranges the excursions and activities?

  A: These are usually led by teachers and specialist  staff who coordinate the activity program. Activity co-ordinators have fist aid certificates. Where an activity requires a leader to have special knowledge or qualifications at least one leader will have the required expertise.

  Q: What kind of activities are arranged?

  A: The junior programs have varied activity programs so that they can cater for the wide range of backgrounds and interests represented by the course participants. Usually there is a mixture of sightseeing, cultural activities, sports, parties and fun. Each course location includes a sample schedule so please refer to these for location specific information.

• Welfare

  Q: What if my child is not happy with his accommodation?

  A: In this case it is important for the student to talk to the staff at school as soon as possible. They are there to listen and support, and will be happy to help. If there is a genuine reason motivating the desire to change families or dorms, then the housing coordinator will do their best to find a new family or dorm. If your child is not comfortable talking about it, then please contact Cactus and we will take care of it.

  Q: What if my child is homesick and wants to go home?

  A: The first couple of days are often quite daunting, as students adjust to a new country & customs, new language, and new friends. This is normal and usually goes away after they’ve settled in. If the homesickness persists however, your child can go home but please note that no refund will be possible and the school will not be held responsible for extra charges involved (change of flight etc…). Cactus recommends that you encourage your child to stay in the camp as we know from experience that after the initial fear of the unknown, most juniors don’t want to leave the camp at the end of their stay!

  Q: What should I do if my child needs to take medicine?

  A: By law your child should not take his or her medicine without supervision. Medicine should be given to a member of staff or the group leader with clear instructions. If your child feels unwell, he or she should contact a member of staff immediately. They will arrange a visit to the doctors if the First Aid Officer is unable to deal with the problem.

  Q: How do I contact my child?

  A: You will be provided with an address and a telephone number to contact him. You will also be able to be in touch by email as all students get some free time to use the internet.

• Safety and Supervision

  Q: How many supervisors are there in the camps?

  A: The staff/student ratio is usually between 10 or 15 student to every member of staff.

  Q: Which one adult will be taking responsibility for my child? Can I contact them if I need to?

  A: There is a supervision cover 1 staff for every 10 to 15 students, so students are looked after by the supervision team rather than by one individual. However there is also a camp manager that oversees everything and that can be contacted if needs be. You are also provided with an emergency number before your child goes, and you can also contact Cactus during office hours, and we will be happy to deal with any issues.

  Q: Have all the teachers got experience of teaching children? Is everyone police checked?

  A: Yes, the teachers are carefully recruited and selected for the qualifications and experience. Most of them return year after year, and all of them enjoy teaching to younger students. In the UK, teachers, staff and host families are CRB checked; however please note that such a procedure does not exist in Europe. The schools operate their own vetting and checking of the staff and hosts. You can be reassured though that your child will be in good hands as most families have been with the school for many years.

  Q: What rules do the students have to follow?

  A. The Law Of The Land – e.g. they cannot order/consume alcohol or smoke if they are under 18. School Rules – e.g. no smoking, no alcohol, no fighting, no swearing, no bullying and no name-calling.
  
  Students must respect the property of others. These rules exist not only to ensure the well-being and safety of other people, but also to ensure that your child has a happy stay on the course. Additionally, students have to accept the level of supervision appropriate to young people in a foreign country – their teacher or supervisor will always know where they are and what they are doing and will never be far away.
  
  Students are expected to keep their bedrooms tidy and put their litter in bins provided.  Students are not permitted to leave the campus unsupervised.
  
  Any absence from class is immediately reported to the Centre Manager or the Director of Studies and investigated.
  
  A list of school rules is available on request.

• Miscellaneous

  Q: What clothes should my son/daughter bring?

  A: Students should bring suitable summer clothes as well as a pullover, a raincoat, swimwear, trainers (sports shoes) and a towel for swimming.

  Q: How much pocket money will my child need to bring?

  A: As a general guideline £80/€90 a week is ample. Your child may wish to purchase souvenirs, drinks and snacks. Money can be given to staff or group leaders for safekeeping.

  Q: What can my child do with valuables?

  A: Passports, airline tickets, cameras etc can be given to staff for safekeeping.

  Q: Should insurance be taken out to cover my child’s stay on the course?

  Yes, it is highly recommended that every student have an insurance package before leaving home.

  Q: Are there any special items that my child should bring?

  A: Yes there are. One passport sized photo – in some places this is used to make student cards and to identify your child in busy places. A watch and alarm clock as we expect your child to be on time for lessons and meals etc. A hairdryer if needed. Remember to include a 3-pin adapter; this will be needed for a phone-charger as well. Swimming goggles if they are required for swimming and clean white-soled sports shoes for use in the sports hall. Students from outside the European Union must bring photocopies of the photo page of their passport and the UK Visa page.

  Q: Will my child be able to exchange currency while in England?

  A. Yes, staff will help the students change money into Pounds Sterling (local currency) at local banks and travel shops. It is a good idea to arrive with a small amount of English money for immediate needs such as phone cards.