English in Dublin | 12-17 years | Homestay

Discover Dublin

As the capital city of one of the most dynamic members of the EU, Dublin offers an exciting and enriching backdrop in which to improve your English. The Irish National Museum and the Irish National Gallery offer fascinating glimpses into the long history of the island from the Bronze Age through the Celts, up to modern times, and the world famous illuminated medieval Book of Kells can be viewed at Trinity College.

Dublin is also a wonderful base from which to discover the rest of Ireland, as almost all the roads and railways in the country lead to this central hub.

Dublin also has a large cultural scene, with numerous theatres, its literary tradition (James Joyce, Oscar Wilde) and music. There are plenty of entertainment venues, like the Temple Bar district which is home to many of the famous pubs and restaurants.

Our partner school is accredited by the Advisory Council for English Language Schools. For 40 years, foreign students wishing to improve their English have been welcomed in a friendly and stimulating atmosphere.

All teachers are qualified to teach English as a foreign language. Specific programmes have been developed for all levels.

Blackrock is located on the outskirts of Dublin. A fashionable seaside resort in the eighteenth century, the town gets its name from the black rocks that lies off-shore which once marked the city limits. An ancient Celtic cross still stands in the main street.

Blackrock College, including Willow Park, is a large educational complex built in 1860. It has extensive wooded parklands and playing fields of some 64 acres, with a magnificent view of Dublin Bay.

The school’s sports facilities include football, rugby, tennis, basketball and volleyball courts, an athletics track, an indoor swimming pool, a games room and a common room.

The stay at Blackrock college includes:

15 hours of English language tuition per week (morning lessons from 9am to 12.50pm or afternoon lessons from 2pm to 5.50pm) with a maximum of 15 students per class
5 half days of activities per week: Arts & Crafts, Sports, ATC Projects workshops (Vlogging, Photography, Gamezone) or cultural visits (e.g. Chocolate Factory Experience, Dublin Wax Museum, Croke Park, Dublinia and The Viking World, Dalkey Castle) supervised by activity leaders
1 World of Work workshop which aims to guide students towards their future professional life can replace 1 half day of activity per week (for 16+)
1 day of free time with the activity leaders per week
1 day trip per week (e.g. Glendalough and Wicklow Gaol, Powerscourt Villa and Gardens and Wicklow Gaol, National Heritage Park and Ferns Castle, Kilkenny and Smithwick Brewery)
2 evening disco activities each week
Student card
Certificate of participation at the end of the stay

English language courses: the basics

Language levels: beginner (A1) to advanced (C1)

Courses take place from Monday to Friday with 4 lessons per day in the morning or afternoon (every other week).

Maximum number of students per group: 15

On the first day, a placement test is carried out to assign all students to a group that matches their level of English. Weekly reports are made by the teachers to monitor progress. Visits and excursions are planned in class, so that students can make the most of them.

In addition to the 15 hours of lessons per week, the students will carry out various projects on different themes in the afternoon after their lessons.

Highly qualified and experienced teachers have been carefully selected for their dynamic and energetic teaching approach, guaranteeing an engaging and rewarding student experience. Projects take students outside the classroom. They are encouraged to present their findings from each project to the class in the form of a presentation followed by a debate where the whole class is given an opportunity to ask questions about the presentation.

2-3 topics per week will be covered during the lessons, including:

Crime & Punishment
Music, Movies & Art
Pop Culture & Social Media
Irish Culture
History & Folklore
Adventure & Travel
Shopping
Money & Advertising
Health, Medicine & Science

Some example of activities organised during the ‘English in Action Projects’ are mentioned below:

Tourist Office Visit
Garden of Remembrance Excursion
Art Exhibitions
Street Surveys
Interviews
Local Markets Visits

A placement test will be help upon arrival to place the students into their corresponding class level.

Activity programme includes (per week):

5 half-days of leisure, cultural or sports activities
2 organised evenings
1 full day excursion

Some of the many activities available include:

Interactive games
Museum visits
Talent shows
Irish dancing
Treasure hunt
Shopping
Sports (swimming, football, basketball, volleyball, rounders)
Historical crypts and churches visits
Evenings: table quiz, disco night, movie night, live theatre, live music

Excursions programme includes:

Kilkenny city & castle
Causey Farm (farm museum)
Galway city and bay, scenic visit of Connemara (a true Celtic wilderness)
Glendalough region (where the films “Braveheart” and “P.S. I love you” were shot)
Bray Air Show (biggest Irish open air show)
Belfast city (birthplace of the Titanic)

Important: This programme is given as example and may vary according to the actual availabilities at the moment of the stay.

Homestay (Host Families)

Room shared with another student of about the same age but from different nationality and mother tongue, full-board (breakfast, packed lunch, dinner)

All families are carefully selected by the local representative and live in the same area of Dublin (within 35 minutes by public transport from the college) so that students can commute together to the campus and never travel alone.

Participants are supplied with a weekly transportation pass included in the programme price.

Transport

Arrivals: Sunday

Departures: Sunday

Arrivals are scheduled between 03:00 and 22:00 and departures after 9:30 and before 03:00. An extra fee will be charged for arrivals and departures outside these hours (see Prices & Dates tab.)

Arrival/Departure place:

Dublin International Airport

Notes:

Some airlines, such as Ryanair do not allow children under 16 years to travel unaccompanied by an adult and do not offer the UM service (Unaccompanied Minor). It is therefore important to check first with the chosen company before booking.
Do not make travel arrangements until we have confirmed your enrolment in your chosen course (around 4 days after payment has been made).

Travel documents

Valid ID card or passport

Dates & Prices 2020

Dates 2020

The programmes is available for a duration of 1 to 7 weeks, from Sunday to Sunday, between June 28 and August 15.

Prices 2020

Stay in Dublin - Course, homestay accommodation, shared room, full board and activities	#colspan #
Duration	Price
1 week	€ 1.040
2 weeks	€ 1.850
3 weeks	€ 2.655
4 weeks	€ 3.465
5 weeks	€ 4.275
6 weeks	€ 5.080
7 weeks	€ 5.890
Optional extras	#colspan #
Single room	€ 40
Late transfer (between 10 p.m. and 3 a.m.)	€ 40