• If the student is between 12 and 15 years old and travelling without an adult, they must fly to Dublin with the Irish national airline Aer Lingus (www.aerlingus.com) or with their own national airline. Students over 16 can also fly directly to Dublin with Ryanair (www.ryanair.com).
• Most students on the Junior Total Immersion (aged 12-16) courses travel together on the same flights, arriving on Sundays. Most students on the Senior Total Immersion (aged 16-19) courses travel independently or in small groups arriving on Sundays. If you need assistance booking flights, please contact: info@thelanguageplace.ie
• Students on the Total Immersion courses will be picked up at Dublin airport by a private bus on Sundays. A representative of The Language Place will meet the students at the airport and take them directly to DKIT (www.dkit.ie). Their host families will meet them at DKIT.
• If a student arrives before or after the start of their course, i.e. on any day other than a Sunday, a representative of The Language Place or one of their teachers will pick them up at the airport and take them directly to their host family house. There is an additional charge of €75 for each private airport transfer. Dundalk is 70km from Dublin airport and the journey takes about one hour.
• Students can travel with their passport or national identity card. In most European countries, minors need written permission from their parents/guardians to fly unaccompanied. For more information regarding children flying unaccompanied, please check with your local police station.
• To avoid problems when checking in, as well as their checked-in luggage, students can take on board one piece of carry-on luggage, which cannot weigh more than 8-10kg nor exceed the standard measurements of carry-on luggage allowed by airline companies (55cm x 40cm x 20cm). In all cases, it is strictly prohibited to take in your hand-luggage any type of liquid or gel etc. or any sharp objects such as scissors, nail files, knives etc.
• Once the student has arrived in Ireland and has been met by a representative of The Language Place, we will send his/her parent an SMS or WhatsApp to let them know that their child has arrived safely.
• Should a student miss their flight due to a problem with their luggage, not having the correct documentation etc., The Language Place cannot be held responsible. The student will have to book another flight and pay for the cost of a private transfer (€75) from the airport to Dundalk.
• Similarly, The Language Place cannot be held responsible for a student losing their passport or any other documentation needed to return home, nor will they be responsible for replacing this documentation. Responsibility for replacing any necessary documentation such as passport, etc. will lie solely with the parents of the student and can be expensive. For this reason, we recommend that all students leave their passport or equivalent in a safe place in their host family house while they are in Ireland. They do not need to carry this documentation with them during their stay in Ireland.
• Students on the Total Immersion programme stay with Irish host families with teenagers. This is the best way to guarantee total immersion in English and to get to know Irish culture.
• All of our host families are carefully chosen after a long interview process. We visit the families in their homes, and we gather information about their ages, professions, hobbies, pets, etc. The information which the student provides us on their application form and in an interview with us via Zoom helps us to match them with the host family most suitable to them.
• Usually, host families for teens have teenagers of the same age, or a little older or a little younger. These teenage hosts will spend time with their student in the evenings. The teenage hosts who are participating in our multilingual camp in the DKIT may also accompany students on some afternoon activities and weekend excursions.
• All our host families live in very comfortable houses in Dundalk or very near Dundalk. It is important to know that many Irish families do not live in the centre of towns. Some of our host families live in the countryside about 5-10 minutes by car from the centre of Dundalk. These families usually have bigger houses than normal with an extra bedroom to accommodate another boy or girl.
• Students will have their own bedroom. Some students will have their own bathroom, but most will share a bathroom with the host children. If two students of different nationalities are staying with the same host family, they will have their own bedrooms. If two friends of the same nationality are staying with the same host family, they will usually share a bedroom.
• If a student would like to stay an extra night with their host family before the course begins or after the course finishes, they must let us know in advance of their arrival in order make the necessary arrangements with the host family. Extra nights cost €40 per night.
• Irish people generally have breakfast between 7.00am and 9.00am, lunch between 12.00pm and 2.00pm and dinner between 6.00pm and 8.00pm. Breakfast and dinner are the main meals of the day. Lunch is usually light and typically consists of a sandwich, a salad, a yoghurt or fruit.
• The host family will prepare the student’s breakfast each morning and dinner each night. The student has an organised activity or excursion each day and the host family will prepare a packed lunch for the student to take with them.
• Before arriving, the student can tell us about their likes and dislikes on their application form. We will pass this information on to the host family. The student can also give extra information when they arrive. If they have forgotten to include anything in their application form (for example, they like salads but not tomatoes), they can tell their host family when they arrive.
• Irish food is much more varied than it used to be in the past. However, If the student has any problems with the variety of their food/meals, they should mention it politely to their host family.
• Of course, all hosts want their student enjoys their meals, but it is normal that some students who are used to eating everything in their own country may not like absolutely everything they are given to eat by their Irish host family. Students should bear in mind that they are in a different country, with different ways of preparing food; this is part of experiencing another culture.
• The host family will buy all the food the student will need for breakfast, lunch and dinner. They will also provide snacks between meals. If the student eats out, this is not the responsibility of the host family and must be paid for by the student.
• There is a section on the application form for allergies and food restrictions. The host family will know of these dietary needs before the student arrives. In some cases of additional dietary needs, a supplement will be charged.
• Students on the Total Immersion programmes will be taken by car to the DKIT by their host family to begin their activities at 9.30am Monday to Saturday.
• Students will travel to and from activities and on excursions by private bus.
• Students on the Total Immersion programmes will be picked up at the DKIT at 5.30pm by their host family each afternoon after their activities
• Students on the Junior Total Immersion programmes will be picked up at the DKIT at 7.00pm by their host family on Saturdays after their trips to Dublin/Belfast.
• Students on the Senior Total Immersion programmes will be picked up at the DKIT at the time agreed with their host families after their weekends in Galway/Belfast.
• All students on the Total Immersion programmes have to be in their host family’s house every evening at the time they have agreed with The Language Place, usually no later than 6.00pm. From this time on, the student will remain with their host family. Usually they spend their free time with their Irish teenage hosts and their friends. This time with the Irish teenage hosts is very important for the student because they can practise the English they have learned during the day in a very natural way. Students are not allowed to meet up with other students of The Language Place in the evenings or at weekends without their Irish teenage hosts or a teacher from The Language Place.
• The host family or a representative of The Language Place must know where the student is at all times. No student is allowed to go on any trip or participate in any activity that has not been organised by their host family or The Language Place.
• The host family will do all their student’s laundry.
• The weather in Ireland in July and August is quite changeable (between 12° and 24°). When packing their suitcases, the student should include warm clothes, for example, a fleece or a jacket, some sweaters, as well as some light clothes like t-shirts and shorts. It can be sunny but also cloudy and because we are so close to the Atlantic, and further north, we have rain quite regularly. The best thing is to be prepared for all types of weather.
• Students should take a swimsuit and a swimming hat as they will be doing some water-based activities. The activity centres will provide wetsuits, lifejackets and helmets. The student’s host family will provide towels. We recommend the student brings swimming shoes which can be worn in the river and the sea (not flipflops).
• Students should also bring some leggings or tracksuit bottoms and suitable footwear for horse-riding.
• It is essential for the student to have a sufficient level of English to enable them to communicate in English with their host family, the other students on the course and other teenagers they will meet. Therefore, we recommend that students on the Junior Total Immersion course have at least A2 level (Cambridge KET) according to the Common European Framework of Reference for languages. Students on the Senior Total Immersion course need at least B1.2 level (Cambridge PET).
• Students must commit to speaking in English at all times.
• All host families are there to help their students improve their communication skills in English; they are friendly and patient. However, if a student has an intermediate level of English, it is normal that they will not understand everything or everyone on the first day. During their stay, they will learn to communicate better and gain more confidence.
• The Language Place team wants our students to enjoy their experience learning English in Ireland and we are here to help them at any time with any problem.
• All classes and workshops are specially designed to suit the needs of the students. Students enjoy all the facilities of a 3rd level campus and spend three hours a day in class practising their speaking, listening, reading, writing and grammar skills. Activities include surveys, interviews, discussions, quizzes, competitions, debating, music workshops and producing short films.
• Students on the Junior Total Immersion courses will practice for Cambridge PET and First, students on the Senior Total Immersion courses will practise for Cambridge First and Advanced. All teachers are trained Cambridge examiners with a minimum of five years’ experience.
• The cost of class materials is included in the course price. Students will get a folder to keep their class materials in. Students take home a portfolio of work at the end of their course.
• Students must attend all classes unless they are ill. Usually our students enjoy their classes and prefer not to miss any!
• Students will receive a Certificate of Attendance at the end of their course.
• According to the aims and objectives of the Total Immersion courses, we guarantee that students will have maximum opportunities to learn English during the whole day and will take part in a great variety of activities in English.
• It is essential that students have a sufficient level of English to understand the instructions for the activities – horse riding, karting, quad biking, adventure sports, etc. given that participation in these activities with Irish teens and teens from other countries forms an integral part of the course. Again, we recommend that students have at least A2-B1 level.
• The activities and excursions are great fun and students usually take part in all of them. However, if a student does not want to take part in a particular activity or go on a particular excursion, they can let us know beforehand and the student can stay with their host family or supervised in the school.
• Punctuality is very important. Students must arrive on time for activities. If they arrive late, they run the risk of missing the bus which takes the group to the activity locations. If they miss the bus, students will have to remain supervised in the school until 5.30pm, the agreed time for their host family to come and pick them up.
• On activities and excursions students are not permitted to leave the group for any reason without the permission of their teachers and must always return to the meeting point at the specified time.
• Some Irish teenagers participating in our multilingual programme at the DKIT will join us for afternoon activities and excursions on Saturdays.
• We will always endeavour to do the activities and excursions as they are planned in the programme but sometimes the days can be changed depending on weather conditions. If we have to change an activity because of adverse weather conditions, we will do the activity on another day.
• If a student becomes ill and needs medical attention, a representative of The Language Place or their host family will take the student to the doctor.
• If the student is from the EU and has a European Health Insurance card or equivalent, EU regulation 1408/71 stipulates that all carriers of the EHI medical card or equivalent are entitled to free medical care during a temporary stay in Ireland. If a student does not have this card, they will have to pay for any medical care they receive so students must ensure they have the necessary medical cards before travelling. Medical care in Ireland is more expensive than in other countries. A simple visit to a local doctor can cost €50 while a visit to emergencies could cost over €100.
• If a student has a medical condition which requires regular medication, it is imperative that the student makes sure they have enough medication to last the duration of their stay in Ireland. It is also imperative that the directors of The Language Place know in advance (before arrival) if a student needs to take any form of medication.
• It is also imperative that the directors of The Language Place know in advance if a student is NOT permitted to take any particular form of medication such as paracetamol or ibuprofen.
• If a student becomes really ill and has to return home without finishing the course, The Language Place will offer a credit note for a course at a later date.
• In case of an emergency, a representative of The Language Place will take the student to hospital or accompany them in an ambulance. The student’s parents will be contacted immediately.
• Although it very rarely happens, in the case of a host family having an emergency (an accident, a serious illness, a death in the family etc.), there is the possibility of changing the host family before finishing the course. Usually the student will go to another host family but if this is not possible, the student will be hosted by the directors of The Language Place.
• The Junior Total Immersion programme has everything included in the price, so students on the Junior Total Immersion programme do not have to buy anything during their stay and do not need to take much money with them. Students will have the opportunity to go shopping in Dublin and Belfast but given that they are not permitted to take much luggage on the airplane, it is better for them to bring just a little money.
• The Senior Total Immersion programme has everything included in the price, except some meals during the weekend trip to Galway, which students will need to buy themselves.
• Loss and theft: The Language Place does not accept responsibility for any loss or theft.
• Injuries: There is a Personal Accident Insurance policy for minors included in the course price, so students are covered while on excursions or doing activities with The Language Place. This policy covers against injuries incurred while in The Language Place buildings, on excursions with The Language Place and on most activities with The Language Place. Unfortunately, this policy does not cover students against injury on the following activities due to them being viewed as risky sports: karting and horse-riding. Nor does the policy cover students against injury in their host family’s home or while doing activities with the host family. Therefore, students must take out a good travel insurance policy in their own country which will cover them sufficiently against accidental injury while in Ireland, and against loss and theft.
Parents must give their authorization in order for their children to do the following activities in Ireland: horse-riding, karting and adventure sports. The centres require this authorization when students are minors.
• We ask all parents to remind their children that they are in Ireland for total immersion in English and that speaking and thinking in English is part of this experience. It is normal to feel a little nervous during the first couple of days, but it will not take the students long to get used to life here.
• During the first few days and throughout the course communication between students and parents should not be excessive. Parents should not contact their children by phone during the day. In this way, their children will be able to better experience total immersion in English.
• Host families have broadband and The Language Place offers free Internet access in the school to all our students.
• Students should respect the rules of their host family with respect to use of phones in their home.
• So that parents can keep abreast of everything that is happening during the Total Immersion programme we will post photos, videos and comments on our Facebook and Instagram pages. If parents or students would prefer us not to use their photo on these social media site, please email us at: info@thelanguageplace.ie
• If a parent would like to speak to a director of The Language Place, we are available after 18.00 (19.00 CET) from Monday to Sunday. In case of emergency please contact us on: 00 353 87 229 7476 or 00 353 87 229 7473 and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
• During their stay in Ireland, students will be under the responsibility of the directors of The Language Place and so all students must respect them and their rules at all times.
• Students must behave at all times in a respectful and polite manner with their classmates, teachers and host family.
• If two students of the same nationality ask to share a host family, they must be especially careful to make every effort to communicate together in English and avoid using their mother tongue to speak together. This is not only for their own benefit but also out of courtesy to their host family.
• Students must not enter Irish pubs or consume alcohol during their stay in Ireland. Laws in Ireland forbid under 18s from consuming alcohol.
• The law also forbids minors from being in possession of, or drinking alcoholic drinks (including beer), as well as drugs of any description. Failure to comply with this rule will result in immediate expulsion from the programme without refund and the cost of a return flight will be the responsibility of the parents.
• Smoking and vaping is strictly forbidden in the buildings of The Language Place, the host family’s house and all other public buildings and spaces.
• Theft or robbery in a shop or other retail outlet, in the host family house, the buildings of The Language Place or anywhere else will result in the student responsible being immediately sent back to their country without a refund and the cost of a return flight and airport transfer will be the responsibility of the parents.
• Senior students on weekend trips to Galway and Belfast must comply with any rules set by their leaders with regard to not leaving their bedrooms or dormitories at night or behaving in any way that could endanger their safety or the safety of another student. Failure to do so will result in immediate expulsion from the programme without a refund and the cost of a return flight and airport transfer will be the responsibility of the parents.
• Students must respect and adhere to any other laws in Ireland. Failure to do so will result in immediate expulsion from the programme without a refund and the cost of a return flight and airport transfer will be the responsibility of the parents.
• Students on the Total Immersion programmes will be taken to Dublin airport by private bus three hours before their departure time. A representative of The Language Place will accompany the students to their check-in desk. They will see them off at security control. Students must go directly to their boarding gate. If there is a delay with their flight, the representative will send an SMS or WhatsApp to the students’ parents.
• If a student misses their flight because of a problem with their DNI, passport or other documentation, or if they miss their flight because they did not go directly to their boarding gate after having gone through security control, The Language Place will not accept any responsibility. The cost of another return flight and airport transfer will be the responsibility of the parents.
• If a student has to stay in Ireland longer than planned for whatever reason (illness, strike, etc.), they will have to pay an additional €40 per night and as well as the airport transfer of €75. Unfortunately, if we are not told in advance, we cannot guarantee that students will be able to stay with the same host family.
• An invoice will be sent by email and payment can be made by bank transfer or by Square via our website.
• Students must pay a deposit of €300 to reserve a place on the Total Immersion programme. This deposit is part of the full payment and is non-refundable but may be transferred to alternative dates subject to availability.
• Final payment must be made at least 28 days before the course start date.
• Students can cancel their course up to 28 days before the start date and The Language Place will refund them the cost of the course less the €300 deposit.
• If a student cancels their course with less than 28 days’ notice, The Language Place will not refund the cost of the course, but in the case of illness or family emergency, we will usually offer a credit note for a course at another time subject to availability.
| telephone: | 00 353 42 9320729 |
| mobiles: | 00 353 87 2297476 |
| 00 353 87 2297473 | |
| email: | |
| address: | 2 jocelyn place, |
make secure payment with Square
