Welcome to the Summer Language School 2020 !
Applications for the SLS 2020 are open!
Apply now and experience an unforgettable summer adventure.
Information on the Coronavirus (Covid-19) and how the school deals with the current situation can be found here. We are currently working on alternatives, so that the Summer Language School 2020 can take place one way or another.
Summer Language School 2019 - The ultimate video - Join us also in 2020 and experience great adventures, fun and growth !
Join us on your way to independence.
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Anyone aged 13-17 can apply, whether you go to a Steiner / Waldorf school or not!
Our Summer Language School 2020 (for Classes 7-12) features a 3-week English language and activity course, designed to help students ‘live the language they learn’. A weekend camp on our beautiful, large school grounds and a 3-day trip to London in the end of the course are some of the highlights you will experience during our SLS 2020. Apply now, join the exciting 3-week programme and develop your English language skills, build confidence, join great trips and activities, make international friends and have fun! |
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Our long established Summer Language School is designed for students from Steiner/Waldorf schools from around the world and for all non-Steiner/Waldorf students who want to improve their English and have fun at the same time. Here you can learn English and live it!
You will :
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Over the last few years we have had students here from Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Holland, Hungary, Italy, Israel, Japan, Latvia, Norway, Peru, Portugal, Spain, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Russia and the Ukraine.
Our courses are designed to be educational and fun. They combine morning classes with a programme of varied activities in the afternoons, some evenings and parts of the weekend. The evenings, when there are no activities, are spent with the host family or together around a cosy campfire during our camp weekend.
Our school is located in the beautiful Devon countryside in the south-west of England between the Dartmoor National Park and the sea. The fantastic beaches and wild scenery ensure students will discover a beautiful part of the UK.
Our courses are designed to be educational and fun. They combine morning classes with a programme of varied activities in the afternoons, some evenings and parts of the weekend. The evenings, when there are no activities, are spent with the host family or together around a cosy campfire during our camp weekend.
Our school is located in the beautiful Devon countryside in the south-west of England between the Dartmoor National Park and the sea. The fantastic beaches and wild scenery ensure students will discover a beautiful part of the UK.
We have wonderful beaches within a 40 minute drive; this one is Bantham Beach, which we will visit during our SLS 2020.
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Our school is only a 10 minute drive from the magnificent Dartmoor National Park.
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Our closest town is historic Totnes which visitors simply just love!
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Course & Activities
Summer Language School 2020
Designed for Waldorf/Steiner students (other students are welcome to apply)
Age range: 13-17 years old
English class size: 12 students
Course: 3-week course – Sunday 26 July - Sunday 16 August
Our successful SLS course is designed for Steiner/Waldorf students from Class 7 to Class 12. Students from other schools are welcome, but need to be prepared to join in all the activities, including singing and learning verses as well as enjoying our beautiful surroundings.
Summer Language School 2020
Designed for Waldorf/Steiner students (other students are welcome to apply)
Age range: 13-17 years old
English class size: 12 students
Course: 3-week course – Sunday 26 July - Sunday 16 August
Our successful SLS course is designed for Steiner/Waldorf students from Class 7 to Class 12. Students from other schools are welcome, but need to be prepared to join in all the activities, including singing and learning verses as well as enjoying our beautiful surroundings.
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English Lessons
Don't just learn English – live it ! English classes are held every morning in achievement groups of up to 12 students, to ensure that individual help can be given. The lessons promote growth in vocabulary, fluency, confidence and are fun, providing students with the tools required to successfully navigate everyday matters! All lessons are designed to be interesting and engaging and mostly focus on speaking and listening. There will be opportunities for students to improve on grammar, learn new vocabulary and acquire communication abilities with people from different cultures. Our teachers are qualified native English speakers and have many years' experience. The first lesson in the morning is more formal with some written work and grammar but the emphasis will still be on speaking English. The second lesson is more practical and creative. During those lessons English is taught through language games, writing stories, singing songs, researching typical English recipes for our ‘British Group Cooking’ during the camp weekend and creating the course magazine. At break times, basketball, volleyball, football, table-tennis and table football are available.
On the first morning there will be a placement assessment to decide on classes. At the end of the course, students will receive an attendance certificate and a short report with linguistic advice from their main teacher. |
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You want to know how former SLS students think about the English lessons? Click here or read on.
Activity Programme
Following the SLS 2020 theme Mary Poppins, our recipe for this year’s SLS is one cup of intellectual input, some practice, a bit of fun (and some more fun), imagination – according to feel, one cup of creativity and action, a pinch of openness, a slight change of perspective and a spoon full of sugar – stirred fluffy in a shiny bowl of youthful excitement: the perfect mix!
It’s the perfect mix of fun and practice, and you meet a lot of very nice people. (Clara, Germany, SLS 2019)
Our 2020 course is packed with a variety of activities, excursions, sports, arts and crafts. Students can enjoy a programme designed to help them practice their English, gain confidence in managing everyday challenges in the foreign language, make new friends and have fun! Don't just learn English - live it ! We want to enable our young learners of English to step out of school routine and immerse themselves in the reality of the spoken language.
Following the SLS 2020 theme Mary Poppins, our recipe for this year’s SLS is one cup of intellectual input, some practice, a bit of fun (and some more fun), imagination – according to feel, one cup of creativity and action, a pinch of openness, a slight change of perspective and a spoon full of sugar – stirred fluffy in a shiny bowl of youthful excitement: the perfect mix!
It’s the perfect mix of fun and practice, and you meet a lot of very nice people. (Clara, Germany, SLS 2019)
Our 2020 course is packed with a variety of activities, excursions, sports, arts and crafts. Students can enjoy a programme designed to help them practice their English, gain confidence in managing everyday challenges in the foreign language, make new friends and have fun! Don't just learn English - live it ! We want to enable our young learners of English to step out of school routine and immerse themselves in the reality of the spoken language.
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Don't just learn English – live it ! 3-week course – Sun 26 July - Sun 16 August: “There’s a different point of view awaiting you, if you just look up.” Jack – Mary Poppins Returns Each challenge also offers a teachable moment. If you find yourself faced with a challenging situation, figure out what you can learn from it. See challenges as platforms for growth. When you change your point of view, your experiences will change with it. Students will live and learn throughout our programme. The 3-week course offers many educational, creative, sportive and team building activities and participants will learn English on their way towards independence alongside P.L. Travers famous Mary Poppins stories. Literature is a great key when learning a language and immersing oneself into a foreign world or culture as it contains the country’s history and an immaculate language to broaden the students’ vocabulary. Following our 2020 theme, Mary Poppins, the programme offers active and creative drama sessions during which students will work in four different groups, able to decide whether they would like to act, craft fancy costumes, create the play’s stage and stage props, or make music. There will be drama sessions each week, theatrically interpreting the SLS theme and working towards a presentation for the day of the Final Closing Ceremony in the end of the 3-week-course. Many great trips and sportive as well as creative activities will help students to improve their English language skills, get to know the British culture and the international group. Following Mary Poppins’ footsteps and the stories' adventures, the students will join an Art Workshop focused on Sidewalk drawing. Throughout the workshop, they will be creating exciting Street-Art that one wishes to become part of through jumping into the image. Throughout a Craft Workshop students will be working on a Mary Poppins handbag with unlimited abilities in small activity groups. One of the highlights of this year’s Summer Language School is a sleepover at school on the first course weekend. All students will either be camping in our roomy canvas bell tents on the large school fields or will be accommodated in one of our new school buildings, if the weather isn’t suitable for camping out. The building is surrounded by the school’s fields and the school’s large vegetable garden as well as a small woodland with a fire pit, ideal for campfire evenings. The building has a large and fully equipped kitchen as well as girls’ and boys’ toilets and showers. Boys and girls will be allocated to separate tents or rooms and a team of experienced adults will be supervising the international group at all times. During the camp weekend, the group will enjoy optional Slack Lining–not as high up as on roof tops, but in our lush and soft green school fields–and Kite-Making activities. Students will be able to explore the magical surroundings through outings to the nearby River Dart and an afternoon trip to Dartmoor National Park, which is historical habitat and an ideal place to immerse oneself in British history and heritage. You can even see some of the famous Dartmoor ponies there. One of the adventurous camp days will be closed with a Grand Family Group Dinner. Supervised by our chef and camp supervisors the group will be planning and preparing a majestic multiple-course menu for supper, using vegetables and fruits from the ample school garden. The camp evenings will be spent around cosy campfires, singing songs, making music and celebrating an exciting outdoor movie night. The camp weekend is a great opportunity to live the foreign language and to spend time with international friends - the students simply love it! Britain is full of culture and traditions which have been around for hundreds of years. Our active course will not only help students to improve their language skills, but also increase their understanding of British culture and traditions. Students will discover British traditional foods during the camp’s British Group Cooking session and participate in a Cream Tea Cooking workshop.
During the 3-week course, the students will enjoy walks in local places of natural beauty, including Dartmoor National Park and the South Devon coast. We will visit Looe, a characteristic and charming Cornish fishing village, spend an afternoon in the cultural nearby Exeter and explore stunning beaches on the beautiful South Devon heritage coast. The programme further offers creative crafting and art activities as well as exciting sport challenges such as Outdoor Rock Climbing, Archery, High Ropes and Zip Lining. The students will experience a beach barbeque and cook pizza in the school’s onsite outdoor kitchen. 
We will visit the magical Dartmoor National Park for a hike and a picnic.
Most evenings will be spent with the host family to experience daily British life and practice the spoken word. Some evenings, students will meet up for an evening canoe trip on the beautiful river Dart which will include a barbecue! One of the greatest highlights of the course is the trip to London. We will visit London for 2 nights and 3 days during the Summer Language School 2020. London is one of the most culturally vibrant cities in the world. Following the literary thread, the group will join a Street Art Tour through London, hopefully discovering Mary along their way, join an evening walk and boat trip along the river Thames and visit great sites of interest. Some hours will be free for individual activities in small groups of friends. Students will be able to visit attractions, maybe one of the many free museums in London, walk alongside the river front, go shopping or just enjoy the flair of the city. A London Transport Travelcard will be provided which will allow the students to use buses and underground (Tube) trains. The London trip will be on the last weekend of the course. All students will depart from London on Sunday 16th August. 
Visit one of the many free museums during our London trip.
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Inspired by our SLS theme 'Mary Poppins' the students will be planning and performing a theatrical play–choosing to either make music, work on the stage set up and props, create costumes or to actually take on a role.
Drama Workshop SLS 2019
3D Sidewalk Painting. Jump in and experience the world of arts.
Cosy campfire during the Summer Language School Camp 2017.
Cream Tea Cooking during the SLS 2018-Students learn about English traditions and tasty British specialties.
Bantham South Devon Coastal Walk and Beach BBQ during the SLS 2019.
London Street Art Tour during the London Trip 2020.
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Crazy Games with our school’s sports teacher.
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Slack Lining during the SLS camp 2020.
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Evening Canoeing and BBQ
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(Please be aware that the programme is provisional and that there might be changes to course arrangements)
Click here for more information on our course and the 3-week course timetable: Don't just learn English – live it!
Visiting St Martin's Theatre in London during the SLS 2018.
Outdoor Rock Climbing
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Art Workshop during the SLS 2019.
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“We are all made of the same stuff, remember, we of the Jungle, you of the City. The same substance composes us—the tree overhead, the stone beneath us, the bird, the beast, the star—we are all one, all moving to the same end. Remember that when you no longer remember me, my child.”
― P.L. Travers, Mary Poppins
― P.L. Travers, Mary Poppins
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Important information
Host Families Our students stay in host families, who are mainly members of our school community and are very welcoming, friendly and supportive. As our school is in the countryside, they live in different places – some in the nearby towns of Totnes, Buckfastleigh and Ashburton, and some in smaller villages or in the countryside. The families provide all meals (including packed lunch) and take responsibility for getting the student to and from school or other activities. They welcome the students into their family, and give them as many opportunities as possible to speak in English and using the English language in day-to-day life. Each family hosts more than one student at a time (usually 2-4 students) who will all have different mother tongues to ensure that the language of the home is English! Usually bedrooms are shared between two students. As far as possible we try to place students with those of a similar age and interest, and in families where we think they will have a good time. Camp Supervisors During our camp weekend, a set team of supervisors will join the international student group during day and night. Most of the supervisors are members of our school community who are usually hosting international students; some others will be SLS teachers or SLS staff. All of our supervisors are very supportive, friendly and a lot of fun to be around! The camp weekend allows our Summer Language students to spend a great and unforgettable time together with their international friends (they can live in different places–sometimes fairly far apart–when living with their host families as our school is located in the countryside). During the camp weekend, we will provide all meals (inclusive of breakfast, lunch and dinner) at school, take responsibility for getting the students to and from trips and activities and ensure that the language spoken most is English! In the event of camping out, boys and girls will be allocated to different bell tents and our large bell tents are shared between a maximum number of 10 students. If the weather doesn’t allow camping, boys and girls will be allocated to different indoor rooms. As far as possible we try to place students with those of a similar age and interest. For more information, click here. |
Students cooking together at their host family.
Students playing music and singing around the camp fire during the Summer Language School camp 2017.
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Prices & Dates How much does it cost? Download 'Costs and Payment Details' for more info here. Course fees include: 3-week course: Don't just learn English – live it !
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Total: £2, 280.00
* Students will receive a SLS folder equipped with all necessary course materials such as blank lined paper, a map of the school, the SLS timetable and activity group list, a host family list and much more. Further, will the teachers provide necessary lesson materials for all students.
10% Sibling Discount – save up to £228 when applying together with a sibling !
Please be aware that we will just accept one discount per student. We won't be able to offer the Easter Discount where the Sibling Discount applies, sorry!
* Students will receive a SLS folder equipped with all necessary course materials such as blank lined paper, a map of the school, the SLS timetable and activity group list, a host family list and much more. Further, will the teachers provide necessary lesson materials for all students.
10% Sibling Discount – save up to £228 when applying together with a sibling !
- We offer a Sibling Discount of 10%. If you book for two children or more you pay the full price for one child and 10% off the course fee for every additional child.
Please be aware that we will just accept one discount per student. We won't be able to offer the Easter Discount where the Sibling Discount applies, sorry!
* Short term study: If you are from a non-EEA country, you are advised to take out medical insurance as you will be liable for NHS charges for the treatment you receive in the UK except for in a medical emergency and this is limited. EEA nationals are covered by the NHS but should obtain a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). The UK's Department of Health has produced a leaflet on Health Care Information for students from the European Economic Area for EEA and Swiss nationals. EU, EEA and Swiss students can of course additionally take out medical travel insurance.
Availability of Places
We have a limit of 12 students with any one mother tongue, with the aim of encouraging everyone to speak English.
This overview will be updated each time an application is received.
3-week Summer Language School course (Sun 26 July - Sun 16 August 2020)
We have a limit of 12 students with any one mother tongue, with the aim of encouraging everyone to speak English.
This overview will be updated each time an application is received.
3-week Summer Language School course (Sun 26 July - Sun 16 August 2020)
| Number
of places left on course (out of 48) |
Languages of students booked | Places
left for that language (out of 12) |
Ages of students booked (at start of course) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22 Applications accepted until 31/05/20 26 students booked 8 boys 18 girls |
12 German speakers* 1 Luxembourgish-German speaker 2 Dutch speaker 1 Hungarian speaker 5 Spanish speakers 5 Italian speakers |
0* 0 10 7 7 |
Age 13 - 2 Age 14 - 11 Age 15 - 7 Age 16 - 3 Age 17 - 3 |
* If you are a German speaker and you wish to apply, please contact us directly via email as there might be an opportunity for you!
For details on our 2-week
Easter Language School 2020 - Sunday 29 March until Sunday 12 April
please take a look in the bottom of the page or click here.
Easter Language School 2020 - Sunday 29 March until Sunday 12 April
please take a look in the bottom of the page or click here.
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Enrolment & Payment
Applications are now open and accepted until 31/05/2020 ! Can I apply? We look forward to receiving your application if you can answer ‘yes’ to these questions:
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How do I apply for a course?
Please read all the information on the website as well as the Application Procedure pdf and follow the stages described.
You can download the 'Application Procedure SLS 2020' here and 'Notes to help you filling in the forms' here.
Stage 1
- Check that there are spaces for people speaking your language here (*Note 1)
- Download and complete the 'Enrolment Form SLS 2020' here (*Note 2)
- Download and fill in the 'Parental Consent Form SLS 2020' (*Note 2)
- First, send the signed Enrolment Form and Parental Consent Form along with a copy of your ID card or passport (whichever document you will be using when travelling to Devon) by email to jacqueline.buehler@livelearnlanguage.co.uk. This is very important as the forms may not be received if sent directly by post and we might be unable to process your application.
- DO NOT SEND ANY MONEY AT THIS STAGE.
Places for each language will be allocated in the order we receive the forms. We will send you an email to say you have a place reserved and a Financial Agreement which forms part of the further application process (or an email to say there are no places left for your language group). Please see below how to secure your place.
Stage 2
- Complete and send the Financial Agreement (which must be signed by a parent or guardian)
- Along with an up-to-date portrait photo via email to jacqueline.buehler@livelearnlanguage.co.uk.
- Then, please transfer the full fees within one month of receiving the Financial Agreement to secure your place.
Stage 3
- You will get a letter of confirmation with a receipt for the fees once we have received your payment as well as all completed application documents via email (completed Enrolment Form and Parental Consent Form, the Financial Agreement, a copy of your passport or ID card and an up-to-date portrait photo). Please ensure that the Enrolment Form is signed by you and all documents are signed by a parent or guardian.
Stage 4
- Please also send all application forms (completed and signed Enrolment Form, Parental Consent Form, Financial Agreement, a copy of your ID card or passport you will be traveling with and 2 up-to-date passport-sized photos) by post to:
Live & Learn Language - Summer Language School
Jacqueline Buehler
South Devon Steiner School
Hood Manor
Dartington, Devon TQ9 6AB
United Kingdom
It is important that we receive all your original application documents latest by the beginning of July so that you can join all activities and participate in the programme. I am working offsite 10 months of the year and I will only be present onsite shortly before, during and after the Summer Language School. Please use the 'Checklist of documents to send via post' here to ensure you send all necessary documents via post. I will only be able to check whether your original application documents have arrived via post in July, so please make sure you send them and thoroughly check if they are complete and signed (*Note 3). I will get in contact if we have not received your application documents via post by the beginning of July.
What’s next?
- More information about the course programme and your host family will be sent about 4-6 weeks before the start of the course.
- Once your place is confirmed, please book your travel and remember to send your travel details to me so that we can inform your host families about arrival and departure times and location jacqueline.buehler@livelearnlanguage.co.uk.
How can I pay for the course?
Payment can be made by the following methods (please also see 'Application Procedure SLS 2020'):
- Via bank transfer (you must ensure that all costs are payable by the sender and please keep a copy of the receipt in case of any problems with the payment arriving). Our bank details are in the Financial Agreement you receive when you send an application.
- By MoneyGram (see www.moneygram.com to find sending points near you).
This works in a similar way to Western Union. Please email for details if you would like to pay this way. - If you wish to pay by another method, such as TransferWise or similar websites, please email for advice.
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How do I get to Devon?
Please download details about 'How to get to Devon' here. You need to arrange your own travel, but on this sheet you will find advice about how to get to us by air, rail and coach. Once the course is fully booked, we will send a list of contact emails, so you are able to arrange to travel with other students in your area, or to meet up with other students at an airport to travel to Devon. 3-week course: Don't just learn English – live it ! Day of Arrival: Sunday, 26 July 2020 Day of Departure : Sunday, 16 August 2020 (from London, Victoria Coach Station) Please be advised that all students will depart from London on 16th August 2020. Please book a bus to your airport of departure (the London airport you will return home) from London Victoria Coach Station. More details on buses and trains leaving Victoria Coach Station can be found on the ‘How to get to Devon’ sheet. If you depart via international train or coach, please see the options on the ‘How to get to Devon’ sheet. Our supervisors will join students to Victoria Coach Station from where they will travel further on their own or in small groups to their individual destination of departure (airport, international coach station or train station). The best time to depart is midday or in the afternoon. Please note that our host families will be able to collect students from nearby train stations, bus stops or from Exeter airport on arrival. Please try to book your travel for the dates shown above. If you need to arrive earlier or leave later than these dates, please let us know. Extra nights when arriving earlier than 26 July are charged at £20 per night; this additional fee is payable directly to the host family on arrival. Additional nights when departing later than 16 August are charged at £20 per night plus the Youth Hostel overnight accommodation fee; this extra amount is payable directly to the us on arrival. |
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Frequently Asked Questions
I want to come with my friend/brother/sister – can we stay in the same host family?
No, sorry – everyone staying in a host family has a different mother tongue, to encourage everyone to speak English.
When will I know who my host family is?
We will work out the host families in June, as only then will we know everyone's language, age, sex and interests.
If there are still a lot of applications coming in, it may take up to the end of June to organise the host families, but you should know details of your family by the beginning of July. If there are still spaces after the host families have been allocated, you may apply, but we may not be able to accommodate all your requests as regards the host family (being near a friend, for example), and you will only be able to come if there is a space in an appropriate family (so you are sharing a room with someone of the same sex, but of a different mother tongue).
When do I pay the host family money?
The host family fee is paid to us, together with the tuition and course fees and we will pay the host families.
How do I know that my payment has reached you?
Once we have received your payment as well as all necessary application documents (completed and signed Enrolment Form, Parental Consent Form, Financial Agreement, a copy of your child’s ID card or passport–whichever document your child is traveling with, an up-to-date portrait photo of your child) via email, we will send you a letter confirming your child’s place on our Summer Language School course stating the exact payment we have received from you. Please make sure your child carries this letter of confirmation along with the ID card or passport (stated on the letter) when travelling to Devon in July as it might become useful for customs. Please note that it is important to also send the original documents (completed and signed Enrolment Form, Parental Consent Form, Financial Agreement, a copy of your child’s ID card or passport–whichever document your child is traveling with, 2 up-to-date passport-sized photos of your child) via post in June, as we will need the documents latest by the beginning of July to ensure your child can participate in all activities and join the trips.
The cheapest flight for me arrives a day earlier / leaves a day later than your arrival and departure dates – what shall I do?
As long as you tell us when your flight dates are, we will make sure you get a host family who can accommodate your travel arrangements. The accommodation fees are for the dates shown – extra nights are payable at £20 per night (this additional fee only is paid directly to the host family on arrival and to us, along with the overnight accommodation fee for the Youth Hostel in London, for departure). Sometimes you may have to stay with a different host family for the extra nights when arriving early.
Can I pay the fees in Euros?
No, sorry – as the exchange rate fluctuates so often, we can only accept payment in pounds sterling. If it is cheaper at your bank to pay in euros, you may estimate how many euros you need to pay. We will then tell you how much arrives in pounds, and the difference can be paid to us or refunded to you at the beginning of the course.
How much pocket money should I give my child?
All their food and accommodation is paid for, so they don't actually NEED any money to be here. However, it is nice for them to have some money to spend on snacks and souvenirs, or to do things with their friends on their days off. It is always difficult to put a sum to it, as it depends on your individual financial situation. To give you an idea, a cinema ticket is about £10, a cool drink in a restaurant is up to £4 or £1.50 in the supermarket, a bus fare is £2.50, a sandwich is between £2 and £6, and ice cream is about £2. To buy and post a postcard will cost between £1.50 and £4. It should also be noted that we can't be responsible for keeping your child's money safe for them. You know how responsible they are with money, so please judge how much to give them based on that. If your child has a bank account with a bank card, they will be able to access it here, but they may not be able to get to a bank before the first weekend of the course. Please ensure, that you provide enough pocket money for your child. In case they are likely to need more, please provide a bank card so that they can withdraw money. It is not possible to transfers pocket money into the SLS bank account!
For the weekend trip to London:
The travel to and in London is paid for and food is provided for all days. We will join a London Street Art Tour and a River Thames Boat Trip which is paid for. Other attractions the students wish to visit will need to be paid for. These can be up to £30 or more for an entrance. It may be useful to look online with your child at what sorts of things he/she might be keen to do in London, and based on that, allocate money for that trip.
What does my child need to bring for the camp weekend?
We will send a detailed packing list of things to bring to Devon for the course, including the camp weekend, latest by June. As we will be camping in our canvas bell tents or indoors, if the weather does not allow camping out, students need to bring a camping mat and a sleeping bag. Sometimes, host families are able to provide a sleeping bag and camping mat but you would need to check with your host family as they are hosting more than one student; it might be that they don’t have enough sleeping bags or camping mats for all students. Please also bring a day bag for hikes, excursions and for the camp weekend.
I want to come with my friend/brother/sister – can we stay in the same host family?
No, sorry – everyone staying in a host family has a different mother tongue, to encourage everyone to speak English.
When will I know who my host family is?
We will work out the host families in June, as only then will we know everyone's language, age, sex and interests.
If there are still a lot of applications coming in, it may take up to the end of June to organise the host families, but you should know details of your family by the beginning of July. If there are still spaces after the host families have been allocated, you may apply, but we may not be able to accommodate all your requests as regards the host family (being near a friend, for example), and you will only be able to come if there is a space in an appropriate family (so you are sharing a room with someone of the same sex, but of a different mother tongue).
When do I pay the host family money?
The host family fee is paid to us, together with the tuition and course fees and we will pay the host families.
How do I know that my payment has reached you?
Once we have received your payment as well as all necessary application documents (completed and signed Enrolment Form, Parental Consent Form, Financial Agreement, a copy of your child’s ID card or passport–whichever document your child is traveling with, an up-to-date portrait photo of your child) via email, we will send you a letter confirming your child’s place on our Summer Language School course stating the exact payment we have received from you. Please make sure your child carries this letter of confirmation along with the ID card or passport (stated on the letter) when travelling to Devon in July as it might become useful for customs. Please note that it is important to also send the original documents (completed and signed Enrolment Form, Parental Consent Form, Financial Agreement, a copy of your child’s ID card or passport–whichever document your child is traveling with, 2 up-to-date passport-sized photos of your child) via post in June, as we will need the documents latest by the beginning of July to ensure your child can participate in all activities and join the trips.
The cheapest flight for me arrives a day earlier / leaves a day later than your arrival and departure dates – what shall I do?
As long as you tell us when your flight dates are, we will make sure you get a host family who can accommodate your travel arrangements. The accommodation fees are for the dates shown – extra nights are payable at £20 per night (this additional fee only is paid directly to the host family on arrival and to us, along with the overnight accommodation fee for the Youth Hostel in London, for departure). Sometimes you may have to stay with a different host family for the extra nights when arriving early.
Can I pay the fees in Euros?
No, sorry – as the exchange rate fluctuates so often, we can only accept payment in pounds sterling. If it is cheaper at your bank to pay in euros, you may estimate how many euros you need to pay. We will then tell you how much arrives in pounds, and the difference can be paid to us or refunded to you at the beginning of the course.
How much pocket money should I give my child?
All their food and accommodation is paid for, so they don't actually NEED any money to be here. However, it is nice for them to have some money to spend on snacks and souvenirs, or to do things with their friends on their days off. It is always difficult to put a sum to it, as it depends on your individual financial situation. To give you an idea, a cinema ticket is about £10, a cool drink in a restaurant is up to £4 or £1.50 in the supermarket, a bus fare is £2.50, a sandwich is between £2 and £6, and ice cream is about £2. To buy and post a postcard will cost between £1.50 and £4. It should also be noted that we can't be responsible for keeping your child's money safe for them. You know how responsible they are with money, so please judge how much to give them based on that. If your child has a bank account with a bank card, they will be able to access it here, but they may not be able to get to a bank before the first weekend of the course. Please ensure, that you provide enough pocket money for your child. In case they are likely to need more, please provide a bank card so that they can withdraw money. It is not possible to transfers pocket money into the SLS bank account!
For the weekend trip to London:
The travel to and in London is paid for and food is provided for all days. We will join a London Street Art Tour and a River Thames Boat Trip which is paid for. Other attractions the students wish to visit will need to be paid for. These can be up to £30 or more for an entrance. It may be useful to look online with your child at what sorts of things he/she might be keen to do in London, and based on that, allocate money for that trip.
What does my child need to bring for the camp weekend?
We will send a detailed packing list of things to bring to Devon for the course, including the camp weekend, latest by June. As we will be camping in our canvas bell tents or indoors, if the weather does not allow camping out, students need to bring a camping mat and a sleeping bag. Sometimes, host families are able to provide a sleeping bag and camping mat but you would need to check with your host family as they are hosting more than one student; it might be that they don’t have enough sleeping bags or camping mats for all students. Please also bring a day bag for hikes, excursions and for the camp weekend.
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Terms & Conditions, SLS Rules & Behaviour Guidelines
Terms & Conditions We, Live & Learn Language Ltd., reserve the rights to make changes to course arrangements without liability. Live & Learn Language Ltd. reserves the right to refuse to accept a student. No confirming documentation will be issued until we receive the course fees in full. Students will not be permitted to start the course unless full payment has been received. Parents or guardians must inform Live & Learn Language Ltd. in writing of any cancellations. Students who withdraw from the course will only receive a refund if we are able to fill their place again. We reserve the right to terminate without notice the course of any student for persistent misconduct in classes, during activities or in their accommodation. There is no refund of fees to students whose courses are terminated in this way. Additional travel costs must be paid for by the student’s own family. |
Summer Language School students solving the puzzles of the Dartmoor Treasure Hunt 2018.
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SLS Rules & Behaviour Guidelines
You can download 'Rules & Behaviour Guidelines' here.
SLS Rules & South Devon Steiner School Rules
Students on the Summer Language School are expected to follow the SLS Rules and South Devon Steiner School Rules while at the school and on organised trips and activities. These are the same rules that apply for English students at the South Devon Steiner School during term time. The South Devon Steiner School Behaviour Policies can be found on this school website. Click here.
- no smoking,
- no alcohol,
- no drugs,
- no iPhones, iPods or MP3 players etc. or other electronic devices during the school day or on outings etc.
- no mobile phones are allowed to be used on the school grounds (even during break time). If you have a mobile for the journey to school, this should be switched off and will be collected during the hours you are in school.
These rules apply to all students and teachers, and form part of the Student Agreement on the Enrolment Form. Any mobile phones or electronic equipment, that hasn’t been handed in and is found to be used during the day, will be taken by the teachers or the SLS director, and will be returned at the end of the day.
British Licensing & Smoking Laws
In Britain it is forbidden by law to sell alcohol to people under the age of 18. You can enter a pub (bar) if you are between 14-18 (if the bar manager allows this), but not to consume alcohol, only to play pub games and drink non-alcoholic drinks. It is also illegal for young people under 18 to buy cigarettes or tobacco. Since 2007 it has also been illegal (for anyone) to smoke in a public place (this includes all public transport, cafés, shops etc.). Our school is a totally smoke-free zone, and this includes the grounds. Most of our host families are also non-smokers, so if students smoke, they may be asked to do so outside. Anyone who appears to be under 25 will be asked for identification if they try to buy either alcohol or cigarettes.
PLEASE NOTE: If a student is involved in drunkenness, illegal drugs, shoplifting or other inappropriate behaviour, the SLS director will be informed immediately. Serious misconduct of a student may lead to an immediate return home (in such cases there will be no refund and fares will be charged to the student’s own family). Such occurrences have luckily been extremely rare.
Design Your Own Bag Workshop
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Create Your Personal Mug Workshop
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Singing during our Morning Gatherings.
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Host Family
If you apply before the Host Family Requests deadline (30th June 2019), we will try to take into account any requests (to be near a friend for example). After this deadline applications will only be accepted if there is a suitable space left in a host family, but it will be unlikely that we will be able to accommodate extra requests.
We expect students to fit in with the family as far as is reasonable – but the following guidelines should help students to clarify areas of uncertainty:
Speaking English:
The host family welcomes the students into their family, and gives them as many opportunities as possible to speak in English, and the students should try their best to speak only English, even with fellow students of the same mother tongue. If a student does invite a friend or brother or sister who speaks their language to the host family's home, they should speak English to each other when other people are present, as it is considered rude to speak a foreign language in front of people who do not understand it. The same applies during the weekend camp and in regards to camp supervisors and other international students.
Meals:
The host family provides breakfast, a packed lunch (including a drink) and a cooked supper. The students are expected to share the evening meal with the family. Should a student, as an exception, wish to have a meal at another student’s house they must discuss this first with their own host family, who will then contact the other host family if appropriate. During the camp weekend we will provide all meals (including breakfast, lunch and a cooked supper). The students are expected to share the evening meals with the group.
Phone and Internet usage
When students arrive, they can expect to make a short phone call to their families, to say they have arrived safely (if they want to talk for longer, please call them back). After this it is strongly recommended that families do not contact the student more than once a week (or twice at most). From experience we find that daily contact leads to students becoming homesick, and not engaging fully in the experience of learning English (it is normal to feel frustrated and upset after a few days of speaking a foreign language, but this soon passes if contact with home is not too frequent).
Similarly, although students will usually be able to receive emails in their host family (and if necessary during the camp), it is not advisable to email them every day (the same applies to texts of course). Students should not expect to be able to use the Internet, Facebook or similar networking and social media sites. Our course is intended to follow Steiner's principles; we try to give the students a real experience of English life, and we would prefer it if they are not 'virtually' somewhere else!
If you apply before the Host Family Requests deadline (30th June 2019), we will try to take into account any requests (to be near a friend for example). After this deadline applications will only be accepted if there is a suitable space left in a host family, but it will be unlikely that we will be able to accommodate extra requests.
We expect students to fit in with the family as far as is reasonable – but the following guidelines should help students to clarify areas of uncertainty:
Speaking English:
The host family welcomes the students into their family, and gives them as many opportunities as possible to speak in English, and the students should try their best to speak only English, even with fellow students of the same mother tongue. If a student does invite a friend or brother or sister who speaks their language to the host family's home, they should speak English to each other when other people are present, as it is considered rude to speak a foreign language in front of people who do not understand it. The same applies during the weekend camp and in regards to camp supervisors and other international students.
Meals:
The host family provides breakfast, a packed lunch (including a drink) and a cooked supper. The students are expected to share the evening meal with the family. Should a student, as an exception, wish to have a meal at another student’s house they must discuss this first with their own host family, who will then contact the other host family if appropriate. During the camp weekend we will provide all meals (including breakfast, lunch and a cooked supper). The students are expected to share the evening meals with the group.
Phone and Internet usage
When students arrive, they can expect to make a short phone call to their families, to say they have arrived safely (if they want to talk for longer, please call them back). After this it is strongly recommended that families do not contact the student more than once a week (or twice at most). From experience we find that daily contact leads to students becoming homesick, and not engaging fully in the experience of learning English (it is normal to feel frustrated and upset after a few days of speaking a foreign language, but this soon passes if contact with home is not too frequent).
Similarly, although students will usually be able to receive emails in their host family (and if necessary during the camp), it is not advisable to email them every day (the same applies to texts of course). Students should not expect to be able to use the Internet, Facebook or similar networking and social media sites. Our course is intended to follow Steiner's principles; we try to give the students a real experience of English life, and we would prefer it if they are not 'virtually' somewhere else!
Laundry:
The host family will either wash the students' clothes (at least once a week), or provide washing and drying facilities for the students to do this themselves.
Transport:
The host family provides transport to and from school. This can be by car or by bus, or even by bicycle for those who live close. (If the student catches the bus, the fares to and from school are paid for by the host family - the host families will show the students where to get off the bus and how to get home). Hitch-hiking to and from school is not allowed.
Afternoons & Evenings:
A responsible adult from the host family is expected to be at home when the students return from their activities. Students are invited to share in the family’s afternoon and evening activities. If they wish to meet up with fellow students they might be given a lift by the host family (or be collected in the evening – all within reasonable distances), but should not expect to do this every day.
All students are asked to be at home in the evenings by 10:30pm on weekdays, and by 11pm, at the latest, on Friday and Saturday. It is vital that all students and families keep to this arrangement and have clear arrangements for contacting each other. Students should carry the home number and mobile number (if applicable) of the host family – host families should have student mobile phone numbers for emergencies.
Free days and free afternoons:
The host family is responsible for the students on the free days and afternoons after school. Some students like to spend this time with the family; others like to go out with their new friends. If they are going out without the family, students must talk to their family, before the free day, about where they wish to go and when and how they will return (be aware of English public transport and its limitations!).
Illness:
Should a student be unwell, we ask the host family to inform the director of Live & Learn Language Ltd., who will be at school each day of the course. If there are any medical problems the host fami
lies, being ‘in loco parentis’, are asked to treat students as they would their own family, i.e. to treat at home for minor illness, and to use the family doctor or the A&E department at the hospital for more serious matters or emergencies. We will, of course, inform the student’s own family if a student is ill, or has an accident, but we ask parents to fill in the Parental Consent Form, detailing your preferences for treatment, in case it is not possible to contact you before treatment is needed.
We hope that ongoing communication and trust will make it an enjoyable time for students and host families alike. Staying in a host family is an important part of our programme, and gives the students a chance to practice what they have learnt in an informal setting, and it is usually a very happy experience.
The host family will either wash the students' clothes (at least once a week), or provide washing and drying facilities for the students to do this themselves.
Transport:
The host family provides transport to and from school. This can be by car or by bus, or even by bicycle for those who live close. (If the student catches the bus, the fares to and from school are paid for by the host family - the host families will show the students where to get off the bus and how to get home). Hitch-hiking to and from school is not allowed.
Afternoons & Evenings:
A responsible adult from the host family is expected to be at home when the students return from their activities. Students are invited to share in the family’s afternoon and evening activities. If they wish to meet up with fellow students they might be given a lift by the host family (or be collected in the evening – all within reasonable distances), but should not expect to do this every day.
All students are asked to be at home in the evenings by 10:30pm on weekdays, and by 11pm, at the latest, on Friday and Saturday. It is vital that all students and families keep to this arrangement and have clear arrangements for contacting each other. Students should carry the home number and mobile number (if applicable) of the host family – host families should have student mobile phone numbers for emergencies.
Free days and free afternoons:
The host family is responsible for the students on the free days and afternoons after school. Some students like to spend this time with the family; others like to go out with their new friends. If they are going out without the family, students must talk to their family, before the free day, about where they wish to go and when and how they will return (be aware of English public transport and its limitations!).
Illness:
Should a student be unwell, we ask the host family to inform the director of Live & Learn Language Ltd., who will be at school each day of the course. If there are any medical problems the host fami
lies, being ‘in loco parentis’, are asked to treat students as they would their own family, i.e. to treat at home for minor illness, and to use the family doctor or the A&E department at the hospital for more serious matters or emergencies. We will, of course, inform the student’s own family if a student is ill, or has an accident, but we ask parents to fill in the Parental Consent Form, detailing your preferences for treatment, in case it is not possible to contact you before treatment is needed.
We hope that ongoing communication and trust will make it an enjoyable time for students and host families alike. Staying in a host family is an important part of our programme, and gives the students a chance to practice what they have learnt in an informal setting, and it is usually a very happy experience.
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Testimonials
93% of our students would recommend the Summer Language School to friends and fellow students. This is what they would say:
Contact Details
for our Summer Language School and Live & Learn Language Ltd.
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For more information, please contact us on +49 (0)177 339 7878 or +44 (0)7961487370, email us jacqueline.buehler@livelearnlanguage.co.uk or visit the Summer Language School on Facebook or Instagram.
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Live & Learn Language Ltd. is using and underlying the South Devon Steiner School's policies.
