Young Learner Student Pack: English Courses

© InTuition Languages Ltd 2021-24

Before your course

Insurance

Your course fee includes specialist travel and course cancellation insurance. Policy details are provided in your Confirmation Documents PDF.

Transfers

If you have arranged a transfer on arrival, we will arrange for your host tutor, a member of his / her family, or a taxi to meet you.

  • The driver will be waiting for you in the arrivals hall, holding a sign saying InTuition Languages and your name.
  • For your security, please check that (s)he has your name and accommodation address details.
  • If you do not see your driver as you exit, please go to the Information Desk and wait.
  • Listen carefully for any announcement calling your name.
  • You can contact your driver using the number provided in your transfer confirmation documents.
  • If your driver does not arrive within 15 minutes, please call the InTuition Languages emergency number: +44 207 033 2390. 
  • Do not take another taxi as we will be unable to refund the cost.

     If your travel arrangements change at the last minute (for example if you miss your flight or train), please contact us on +44 207 033 2390.

    Pre-arrival checklist 

    • Verify your identity using the link(s) provided in your Confirmation Documents (if applicable).
    • Contact your tutor to introduce yourself and arrange a convenient time for your Meet Your Tutor session.
    • Complete the Pre-Course Planner and the Dynamic Placement Test at least one week before your course starts. See your Confirmation Documents for more details.
    • Contact your host tutor to arrange a convenient time for your 30-minute Get to Know You session.
    • Complete the Travel Details form to ensure your tutor knows when you will be arriving.
    • If they have not already done so, you must ask your parent / guardian to complete a Parental Consent Form for your stay.

    Remember to bring:

    • Your Confirmation Documents.
    • EHIC card (if applicable)
    • Plug adapter for electronic devices
    • Clothing suitable for the season
    • Spending money (we recommend approximately £150 / €200 / $250 per week to cover the cost of excursions, shopping and socialising)
    • Your teacher will have materials and resources to teach you. You might like to bring a dictionary and a notepad for homework. Please bring your laptop/ tablet or iPad if you wish to access the internet.

    Pre-Course Planner 

    You can access your pre-course planner using the link provided in your Confirmation Documents or by visiting https://intuitionlang.wpengine.com/pre-course-planner. Please provide as much information as possible, to help your host tutor begin planning your course.

    During your course

    What’s included on your InTuition Languages course

    • Your course fee includes all your meals, tuition and your three accompanied activities per week, with an additional excursion at the weekend for courses longer than one week in duration.
    • Your tutor will suggest cultural activities and excursions which are available locally during the period of your course. If you would like to do a specific activity or excursion which is not suggested by your tutor, additional fees may be payable.
    • Your course fee also includes all study materials.

      What to expect after you arrive

      • Before you arrive, your host tutor will have prepared an outline plan of study based on the information you provide in your Pre-Course Planner and your Get to Know You session and the result of your Dynamic Placement Test. During your first lesson, they will discuss this plan with you and make any adjustments according to your requirements. they will also discuss the weekly lesson schedule with you.
      • Your host tutor and family are looking forward to your visit. They will want you to feel at home from the moment you arrive and will treat you as a member of the family. When you arrive, your host tutor will discuss the family’s daily routine and ‘house rules’ with you. You are expected to follow the customs and schedule of your host family – they will let you know about mealtimes, weekly commitments and expectations of behaviour while you are staying in their home.
      • Remember to speak only in English all the time, so that you are totally immersed in the language and culture. This way you will improve much faster.
      • It is your responsibility to keep your own bedroom and communal living spaces clean and tidy. Host families will provide a laundry service once a week.
      • All host families provide Wi-Fi internet for students’ use.
      • Some families will provide a house key, but this depends on each family’s house rules.
      • If there is anything you don’t understand or something you need, ask your host family. They will be very happy to help and want you to be comfortable at all times. We are always available to help with any questions, too.
      • Host tutors will always go out of their way to be with students in their free time or to give them opportunities for activities, to keep them happy and interested. The family will discuss possible activities and things which you may want to do once you arrive at their home.
      • A key benefit of an InTuition Languages course is that the student participates in the life of their host tutor and family after class. This means that you should not expect that every minute of the week will be pre-planned before the course. Playing a part in family life will include everyday activities, such as going shopping together, visiting friends or going on an outing. Each family is different and will offer different things.
      • There may be times you need to be independent as your host is also often the cook, house cleaner and shopper for the family, too! This time can be used for independent study and to do homework, which is an important part of the course.
      • Host tutors allow unaccompanied free time (where students are permitted outside the family home, unaccompanied, within set areas) according to their house rules. It is important that you respect any curfew and mealtimes if independent free time is permitted. If you are under 16 years old and your parent / guardian has not said that they are happy with you having independent free time on the Parental Consent Form, no unaccompanied free time will be allowed. If you are under 14 years old, unaccompanied free time is not allowed as standard.

      Learning Tips

      Storing vocabulary

      When you note down new vocabulary, you may be used to the system of writing the translation in your language, e.g.

      kitchen - cocina                

      to look at – regarder      

      to live - wohnen

      This may be adequate for simple words, but with more complex expressions you need extra information which will help you to learn more effectively. In addition, by translating into your own language you are stopping yourself from thinking in English. Here is a suggestion for a more useful way of storing new words:

      Word

      Pron.

      Example

      Similar word /

      My language

      put up with s.o / sth (vb)

      I don’t know how you put up with her rude behaviour

      tolerate

      drowsy (adj.)

      The room was so hot that I started to feel quite drowsy

      sleepy

      wealth (n)

      1. He is a man of great wealth

      2. There is a wealth of  possibilities

      rich (adj.)

      Û poverty

      many, a large number
      • When you write down new words, make a note of the parts of speech - is it a noun (n), an adjective (adj.), a verb (vb.), etc.?
      • You will need to know how to pronounce the word correctly, so write down the sound, either using your own system or the phonemic spelling. You can find a copy of the phonemic chart in this organiser.
      • Always try to put new vocabulary into a sentence, as this helps you to remember the word / expression more easily.
      • Make a note of the meaning of the new word. You can do this in many ways. For example, you could write a similar word (synonym), or the opposite meaning (antonym). If you want, you could also write the equivalent in your language - but be careful, as some words may look similar in your language but have a different meaning in English.

      Useful Expressions

      Write down any new expressions and idioms which you learn during your stay.  Test yourself everyday and by the end of the course you will have built up a useful list.

      Important Mistakes

      Not all the mistakes you make are important. The most important ones are:

      • if someone is going to misunderstand you
      • if you give the wrong impression, for example by sounding rude
      • your typical mistakes: things you repeatedly get wrong

      Learner diary: Impressions day-by-day

      A learning diary helps you to assess what you have learnt on a course. The following questions may help you write your learning diary:

      • What did I learn?
      • What did I find difficult about learning English?
      • Which lesson did I prefer or find most / least interesting?
      • What did I not understand?

      Reference Charts

      Phonemic Chart

      single vowels

      ɪ

      i:

      ʊ

      u:

      ship

      sheep

      book

      shoot

      e

      ɜ:

      ə

      ɔ:

      left

      her

      teacher

      door

      æ

      ʌ

      ɒ

      ɑ:

      hat

      up

      on

      far

      diphthongs

      eɪ

      ɔɪ

      aɪ

      wait

      coin

      like

      eə

      ɪə

      ʊə

      hair

      here

      tourist

      əʊ

      aʊ

      /

      show

      mouth

      unvoiced consonants

      p

      f

      θ

      t

      s

      ʃ

      ʧ

      k

      pea

      free

      thing

      tree

      see

      sheep

      cheese

      coin

      voiced consonants

      b

      v

      ð

      d

      z

      ʒ

      ʤ

      g

      boat

      video

      this

      dog

      zoo

      television

      joke

      go

      m

      n

      ŋ

      h

      w

      l

      r

      j

      mouse

      now

      thing

      hope

      we

      love

      run

      you

      Student Code of Conduct

      To ensure that your course passes in the most enjoyable and productive way, we ask that you respect our Code of Conduct throughout your stay.

      • Take responsibility for your learning, motivation, security and safety
      • Show respect for your host tutor and their professional opinions
      • Recognise and keep to the house rules your host tutor sets
      • Appreciate the culture of the country you are staying in
      • Stick to agreed timings for lessons and excursions – don’t be late. Any missed lessons will not be made up.
      • Complete any homework that your host tutor may set for you
      • Speak to your host tutor or our head office team if you are in any way uncomfortable or unhappy
      • Discrimination of any kind will not be tolerated. Any behaviour which is considered discriminatory on any grounds can result in your course being terminated and you being asked to return home.

      Repeated breaches of any part of the Code of Conduct may result in students being asked to leave their course and return home early.

      Sample timetable (Stratford-upon-Avon)

       

      Each InTuition Languages Home Tuition course is unique and designed around the student’s needs and requirements. Here is a sample of what a week programme in Stratford could be like.

       

      Day

      Morning

      Afternoon

      Evening

      Monday

      Lessons

      Tour of the local area Stratford Town Walk

      Film with the family

      Tuesday

      Lessons

      Free time

      Cinema

      Wednesday

      Lessons

      Back stage Tour of Royal Shakespeare Theatre

      Family entertainment

      Thursday

      Lessons

      Free time

      Garden BBQ

      Friday

      Lessons

      Warwick Castle

      Film with the family/Fireworks

      Saturday

      -

      Farmer's Market

      Family entertainment

      Sunday

      -

      Leamington SPA

      Sunday Roast Dinner

      Sample social programme (Lessons can be swapped for activities when agreed)

       

      • Sports (Tennis/Badminton – swimming – cycling, bowling)
      • A tour of the local area
      • Cinema
      • Museums/Exhibitions

      There are also visits to lesser known attractions depending on host tutor location.

      Staying in touch

      We recommend that parents communicate with their child via Skype or Zoom at set times, ideally early evening (mobile phones must be switched off during lessons!) We also recommend that students bring a laptop, tablet or smartphone for this purpose.

      If you have a problem… 

      • A member of our team will telephone you at your host family’s home during the first few days of your course. Your host tutor will leave you in privacy, so that you can discuss any concerns or issues you may have with us directly.
      • If you are unhappy about anything, please discuss it first with your host tutor - they will be very sympathetic. If this is difficult, please call our office or our 24-hour emergency number (+44 207 033 2390).
      • If an issue can’t be solved, we are able to move you to a new host tutor, quickly and discreetly. During your course, you are welcome to discuss any issues with InTuition Languages directly. Unfortunately, we cannot process complaints after a course has finished, if the problem was not mentioned to us during the course itself. See our Complaints Procedure at https://intuitionlang.wpengine.com/policies-and-procedures/ for more information.
      • Alexa Randell is our Designated Safeguarding Lead. If you are uncomfortable about something which has happened (been said or done) during your course, she is trained to deal with matters quickly, efficiently and discreetly. Call her on +44 7546 309501 at any time or email alexa@intuitionlang.com.

      Useful information

      We aim to provide a first-class service to all of our students. Please feel free to call us should you need any information or guidance that your host tutor cannot assist you with.

      Telephone Numbers

       

      UK

      Ireland

      Malta

      USA

      Canada

      Country code

      +44

      +353

      +356

      +1

      +1

      Emergency Services

      999 / 112

      999 / 112

      112

      911

      911

      Operator

      100

      10

       

      411

      411

      International Operator

      115

      114

      1152

      0170

      0170

       

      Travel in the UK, Ireland & Malta

      Rail: The UK has a complicated system of different rail companies and ticket prices vary widely, depending on the type of ticket and whether it is booked in advance or not. www.thetrainline.com is a good resource for buying tickets for all different companies. www.nationalrail.co.uk is useful for planning journeys and checking timetables. Most stations have ticket offices where the staff will be able to guide you towards buying the best ticket for your needs. In Ireland, train information and booking guidance can be found at www.irishrail.ie. Information about public transport in Dublin is available at www.transportforireland.ie. There is no train service in Malta.

      Coach and bus: In the UK, there are coaches to all major towns and cities. These are generally good value. The main coach company is National Express: www.nationalexpress.com. Very cheap fares are available from Megabus: www.uk.megabus.com. In Ireland, www.aircoach.ie provides services from Dublin airport to all major destinations. Public buses in Malta are operated by Malta Public Transport www.publictransport.com.mt.

      London:  London has an excellent integrated travel system – all trains, buses, riverboats, trams and the Overground and Underground networks use the same ticketing system. The cheapest way to travel is by purchasing a pre-paid Oyster Card. Full information is available at www.tfl.gov.uk.

      Driving

      Visitors to the UK, Ireland and Malta do not require an International Driving Permit for visits shorter than 12 months long. All three countries drive on the left.

      Renting a car is possible from most international airports and large stations (in the UK). Further information can be found here. Cheap rental deals can be found on several websites including www.rentalcars.com.

      Travel in the USA & Canada

      Public transport: Information about public transport within major cities can be found using the following websites:

      For travel between cities, a limited service is offered by Amtrak (https://www.amtrak.com/home) and Via Rail (http://www.viarail.ca/en). Greyhound (https://www.greyhound.com/) offers cheap, regular coach services between all cities in the US and Canada.

      Air travel is expensive by European standards, but regular services exist between all major cities. Southwestern (https://www.southwest.com/) is among the cheaper carriers. Other large airlines are American (http://www.aa.com), United (http://www.united.com) and Delta (http://www.delta.com).

      Driving

      Most states in the USA do not require an International Driver’s Permit, but some do. Check the relevant state’s information to see specific requirements: https://www.usa.gov/visitors-driving.

      In Canada, requirements also vary by province / territory, but an IDP is not generally required.

      You will usually not be able to hire a car if you are under the age of 21.

      Alcohol and Tobacco 

      The minimum age for purchasing alcohol in shops, pubs and restaurants is 18 in the UK and Ireland, and 17 in Malta. In Canada it is 19 in most provinces, and 21 in the USA.

      The minimum age for purchasing tobacco is 18 in the UK, Ireland and Malta. In the USA and Canada it varies by state or province. All these countries prohibit smoking indoors in all public places, including pubs, bars and restaurants.

      Police and Legal Matters

      In the unlikely event that you are arrested on suspicion of committing a crime, you have the right to be supplied with information in your own language, to tell someone where you are, and free legal advice. In the UK, see https://www.gov.uk/arrested-your-rights for more information. In Ireland, see http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/justice/arrests/.

      Healthcare

      UK

      Non-EEA visitors who become ill while in the UK are eligible for free emergency treatment in the Accident and Emergency departments of National Health Service hospitals. If you are admitted to hospital as an in-patient, even from an Accident and Emergency department, or referred to an out-patient clinic, you will be required to pay. Visitors from the EEA are covered by the EHIC scheme.

      Since 01 January 2021, Swiss nationals are no longer able to use the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) scheme in the UK.

      Ireland and Malta

      Visitors from the EEA / Switzerland / UK who require emergency treatment during their stay are covered by the EHIC scheme.

      Visitors from other countries are not entitled to any free healthcare in Ireland or Malta.

      USA and Canada

      Visitors to the USA and Canada are not entitled to any free healthcare.

      Electricity

      The standard electrical voltage in the UK, Ireland and Malta is 240v A/C, 50Hz. A type G plug adaptor is required.

      The standard electrical voltage in the USA and Canada is 120v A/C, 60Hz. A type A/B plug adaptor is required.

      After your course

      Transfers

      If you have arranged a transfer on departure, either your host tutor will drive you to the airport / station or we will arrange for a taxi to collect you from your host tutor’s home.

      Your feedback

      We welcome your opinions! During your course, we will email you a feedback form to complete once your course has finished. Please take a few minutes of your time to share your experiences and feedback with us.

      End of Course Report and Certificate

      During the week after you finish your course, we will email you an End of Course Report from your host tutor. The report provides you with a summary of what you studied, how much you progressed, and what you can do to keep improving your English in the future.

      We also email you a secure e-certificate which you can print or add to social media.

      Continuing your Studies

      All students can continue studying with an InTuition tutor after returning home with our online learning programme, InTuition Online Programme (IOP). As a home tuition student, you receive a 10% discount if you choose to continue your lessons online. Use the code provided in your Confirmation Letter to apply your discount.

      We are happy to provide advice on continuing your studies in the UK or other countries, should you decide that you would like to return for a further English language course or university studies. Please contact the Director at simon@intuitionlang.com with any queries.

      We recommend the following websites to help you keep practising and developing your English:

      bbc.co.uk/news

      Good quality English – vocabulary, grammar, excellent synonym use and clear, concise writing style.

      bbc.co.uk/worldserviceradio

      Interesting radio broadcasts / podcasts from around the world.

      bbc.co.uk/learningenglish

      A range of lessons aimed at developing skills, grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation.

      poemhunter.com

      Fantastic variety of poems from different poets and genres. Excellent for learning rhythm and stress.

      tedxesl.com

      TED Talks: watch with or without subtitles. The presentations are very clear, and there is great vocabulary in each one.

       

      Policies and Terms & Conditions

      Our policies can be found on our website, at https://intuitionlang.com/policies-and-procedures

      For full terms and conditions of InTuition Languages Home Tuition programmes, please visit https://intuitionlang.com/terms-and-conditions