International Summer Fun!

Finding affordable and interesting ways for your teen to spend their summer can be challenging.  If your teen isn’t old enough for a summer job and camp is not an option, it’s tough to find a summer's worth of activities to keep them busy with constructive activities.

In the summer of 2011, my family hosted Agnes and Anaelle, from France for 2 ½ weeks through EF Educational Homestay Programs. The girls were 17 and 16 year-old respectively and my two teenaged daughters were thrilled to have an extended sleepover with their new friends. The girls attended English classes in the morning and went on field trips around our area in the afternoons. My daughters joined the group of 25 French students (and other host teens) for the afternoon trips to Lake Compounce, the beach in Rhode Island, hiking and more during the week. They made friends with everyone in the group and to this day maintain contact though social media.

Last summer we hosted again for 2 ½ weeks – this time 16 year-old Julia from France and 15 year-old Vicky from Spain. My daughters became fast friends with the girls and joined the group on many of the same field trips. The group last summer had 103 students from Spain, France, Hong Kong and China, so my daughters got a broader perspective on world cultures and now have social media “friends” in Asia, too. They marvel at the posts from their friends in China that are in Mandarin characters – the “translate” button gets a workout!

Both of my daughters are enthusiastic about their language classes and I think these summers have helped them to get excited about language learning. The junior studies Spanish and Latin and the sophomore studies French and Latin – I’m sure our exchange students have a role in this.

Today is a big day – the school field trip to Connecticut State Latin Day MMXIII. I reminisced about fraternity parties, as I watched both girls adjust their tunicas before heading off to school this morning.  While they mostly looked forward to the breakfast of unlimited donuts, I’m sure the day will offer some educational benefit (I hope).

We’re looking forward to hosting students again this summer – and one of the students will have to be from Spain – because my 7^th grade son needs all the help he can get in Spanish!

For more information on the hosting opportunity in Trumbull this summer call Harold Zawadski at 203-258-8585 or email h.zawadski@snet.net. Details can be found at http://www.ef.com/ehp/news-and-offers/promotions/trumbull/