Total Immersion Homestay in Ireland

Total Immersion

Total immersion is a tried-and-tested way to make progress in a foreign language, developing both fluency and confidence and exploring the culture, customs and history underpinning the language. As you make progress, you will share experiences with your host family and discover their way of life. Our partner guarantees that you will be the only native speaker of your first language in your Homestay, meaning you have absolutely no opportunity to revert back into your native language. All our partner school’s Homestays have at least one child in the family.

Flexibility and communication are key! In addition to that, students should be sociable, open-minded, responsive and very willing to share their lives and ideas with a new family. It is essential that you adapt to a new culture while you are there, as you will be completely immersed within a foreign culture and language constantly. To get the most out of your stay, we also recommend that students have at least 2 to 3 years’ experience of studying English.

English language level: for those who do not have a high enough level or English to be be able to communicate easily or fur students under the age of 14, it is advised that they take private English classes to ensure that they integrate into Irish life. These classes will be given by a teacher who will be able to give you lessons inside the host family’s home.

Combine your total immersion Homestay with an exciting activity programme to make the most of your time with your host family, which will be carefully matched according to personality and interests. Choose from horse riding, golf, sports or leisure activities, and many more.

Optional Extra

Private English lessons

You can also opt to take private English lessons in addition to your total immersion Homestay. Your teacher will usually teach you at your Homestay and your schedule will be arranged based on what is most convenient for you, your Homestay and your teacher. Please include this option on your booking form.

Total Immersion (ages 10-18)

Participate in daily family life and activities. No extra activities are planned.

Length: 1-4 weeks

Immersion & Excursions (ages 10-18)

This programme involves one day and two half days of specific excursions each week, to Irish places and sites of cultural, historical or sporting significance. This is in addition to the traditional immersion in the Irish family life. The cost of entry to activities is included. As with all programmes, one-to-one tuition can be added to this type of stay.

Length: 1-4 weeks

Immersion & Horseriding (ages 10-18)

Students are matched by their interests and riding ability to a welcoming family with children of the same age, where they are guaranteed to be the only student of his/her nationality in the family. There is a minimum of 8 hours of riding guaranteed per week; however in practice the students normally ride for much longer, usually an unlimited number of hours. In addition to having the opportunity to ride horses throughout their stay, students are immersed in the Irish family life, improving their English and experiencing the culture. It is recommend that students have some experience riding and taking care of horses, though they need not be very advanced.

Length: 1-4 weeks

Farmstay (ages 10-18)

Stay on an Irish farm and experience the Irish farming lifestyle – milking cows, feeding the animals, haymaking, gardening, harvesting, gathering eggs, etc. Students usually stay on small family-owned farms – milk farms, cattle farms etc.

Length: 1-4 weeks.

Immersion & Golf (ages 10-18)

This programme is suitable for both accomplished golfers and those who are looking to improve their game. Students stay with an Irish family, who also share a passion and enthusiasm for golf, and the student enjoys a minimum of three rounds of golf per week, accompanied by a family member or Irish golfers. This means the student is not in a golf group with other international students only but instead benefits from local expertise and spends their time golfing while also improving their English ability and learning the Irish culture.

Length: 1-4 weeks. Please specify your golfing ability on your booking form.

Immersion at the teacher’s home & Excursions (ages 10-18)

For people who wish to attend English lessons, we offer a programme at the teacher’s home.

students live at the teacher’s home and attend 10 private lessons per week – 2 lessons a day (50 minutes with a 10-minute break between the 2). The family also organizes 2 half-days + 1 full day of excursions per week. The type of excursions depends on the family you’ll be staying with. Visits vary from historical or cultural sites to leisure and sports activities, according to the interests of everyone.

Length : 1-4 weeks.

for the following programmes, the family drives the student to the camp and picks them up at the end of the day.

Immersion & Pony camp (ages 10-18)

Pony Camp takes place at a fantastic traditional ranch-style equestrian centre in Co Meath, a county famous for its equestrian pedigree. The centre is a hive of activity, and is a locally run business, which ensures each student receives personal attention. Students stay with host families, and spend Monday to Friday at the pony camp (10:00-15:00) with Irish students, learning new skills and improving their technique, as well as being surrounded by the English language and Irish culture. Students study different aspects of horse riding in groups of 8 or 9. The lessons each week culminate in a performance each Friday for family/friends to attend, giving a real sense of achievement.

Length: 1-4 weeks, specific start dates.

Location: Athlone, County Westmeath. Please specify your horse riding ability on your booking form.

Immersion & Tennis camp (ages 12-17)

The tennis programme is based in the Midlands and incorporates half days of lessons (10:00-17:00, lunch break 13:00-14:00, Monday-Friday) with one of the club professionals and the opportunity to play games and matches. As always, each student stays with an Irish family and the programme is always extremely popular with students who not only want to improve their tennis skills, but also like lots of activity and interaction with Irish students. 16-24 students attend camp each week, 25% Irish students, 75% international students. Students are split into 2 groups according to age, gender and ability.

Length: 1-4 weeks, specific start dates.

Location: Mullingar, County Westmeath. Please specify your tennis ability on your booking form.

Immersion & Rugby camp (ages 12-18)

Our rugby camp takes place at a prestigious rugby club in Dublin and is run by a highly qualified and experienced team from the Irish Rugby Institute. The camp is attended by Irish teenagers and focuses on core rugby skills, conditioning (strength, speed, agility and power), performance nutrition and sports psychology. The course runs for 5 days from 09.00-13:30.

Length: 2 weeks, specific start dates.

Location: Dublin. Please specify your rugby ability on your booking form

Immersion & Soccer camp (ages 10-17)

Our soccer camp takes place at Sligo Rovers FC. The camp is attended by 100 teenagers (99% Irish, 1% different nationalities in 2018) and focuses on warming-up, footballing skills, dribbling, shooting, defending, heading, 5-a-side football games, development of The course runs for 5 days from 10.30 am-3pm.

Length : 1-4 weeks, see Prices & Dates tab.

Location: Sligo, Sligo County. Please specify your footballing ability on your booking form

Immersion & Surf (ages 10-16)

Total immersion homestay and Surf Camp Monday-Friday, 09:30-12:30. The camp is held in Bundoran, Donegal, with around 30 campers per week – 90% Irish students, 10% international students. Students are grouped by age and ability. Beginners and advanced surfers alike can attend and all the surfing equipment is provided.

Length: 1-4 weeks.

Location: Bundoran, County Donegal.

Immersion, Surf & Aventure (ages 10-16)

Total immersion homestay & Surfing & Adventure camp, 10:00-16:00, Monday-Friday. Half of your day is dedicated to surfing and the other half to several outdoors activities such as forest trail, kayak, raft building, orienteering. Camps are held in the best surf sites of the Irish West Coast, with around 10 and 25 campers per week (80% Irish, 10% Spanish, 10% French in 2018).
Students are grouped by age and ability. Instructors are Irish Surfing Association graduates. Beginners and advanced surfers alike can attend and all the equipment is provided.

Length: 1-4 weeks, see Prices & Dates tab.

Locations: Donegal, Sligo, Mayo or Clare counties.

Immersion & Sports d’aventure (ages 12-18)

Total Immersion Homestay & Outdoor Adventure Camp, 09:30-17:00 (lunch break 13:00-14:00), Monday-Friday. 100-200 campers attend per week, 50% Irish students, 50% international students. The camp is reputed as being one of the best outdoor adventure sports centres in Ireland. Campers are split into age and nationality groups to ensure a good balance. Some of the many activities available include: flying fox, abseiling, climbing, high ropes, archery, zorbing, canoeing, sailing, windsurfing, laser tag, diving, and many more.

Length: 1-4 weeks.

Location: Carlingford, Country Louth

Immersion & MAD Camp – Music, Acting, Dance – (ages 9-17)

Immersion Homestay plus MAD Camp Monday-Friday, 10am-3pm. 45-minute lunch break. 50-70 campers attend per week: 80% Irish students, 20% international students. Students are split into age groups: ages 10-12, 13-17. Each group has 3 theme lessons per day. Music: breathing techniques, diction, harmonising, singing, dynamics, etc Drama: improvisation, miming, playwriting, etc Dance: hip hop, musical comedy, modern dance, etc Show at the end of your stay.

Length: 2 weeks.

Location: Athlone, County Westmeath

Immersion & Fishing camp (ages 10-15)

Accompanied and taught by our professional guide and coach, the programme involves fly and coarse fishing, for trout, bream, pike and other varieties of fish. The programme runs from Monday to Friday in small groups with the possibility of a night fishing option on the lake and potentially an end of week barbecue possible. Participants obtain a permit through being enrolled as members of the Angling Association. Please note there are no Irish students in attendance. Students’ fishing ability will be assessed on their first day.

Length: 2 weeks

Location: Kells, County Meath

You will stay with a carefully screened and interviewed Irish host family, sharing in their day-to-day life.

Single or shared room depending on the host family, full board. Guaranteed no same-nationality students in the same homestay.

Host families have at least one child of similar age to the host student (maximum 1-2 years’ difference).

Location: all over Ireland in small towns or the Irish countryside.

Getting There

Arrivals: Saturday or Sunday

Departures: Saturday or Sunday

For Total Immersion, Immersion & Excursions, Immersions & Horse Riding, Farmstay, Immersion & Golf and Immersion at the teacher’s home: dates are flexible. Contact us for more information.

Arrival airports and stations:

Dublin Airport

Accompanied return transfer from Dublin Airport to your destination is mandatory: see price list. Students should arrive 09:00-18:00 and leave 11:00-20:00. Additional fees apply for arrivals and departures outside standard times.

For those leaving early in the morning, the student will be accompanied to Dublin the day before, and will spend the night with one of the families selected by our partner organisation. The student will then be driven to the airport in the morning in order to catch their flight. Extra charge: please see ‘Dates & Prices’ tab.

Please note: Do not make travel arrangements until we have confirmed your enrolment in your chosen course.

For children under 16: some airlines, such as Ryanair do not allow children under 16 years travelling unaccompanied by an adult and do not offer the service UM (Unaccompanied Minor). It is therefore important to check with the company chosen before booking.

What You’ll Need

Immersion & Horse Riding and Immersion & Pony Camp: helmet, safety vest, riding boots, jodhpurs, raincoat.

Immersion & Pony Camp: The horse riding centre may be able to provide a helmet, boots and safety vest. However, we strongly recommend you bring your own riding gear.

Farmstay: Warm, comfortable, practical clothing

Immersion & Golf: appropriate golf wear and golf clubs

Immersion & Tennis Camp: 2 rackets, tennis shoes, appropriate tennis wear, change of clothes

Immersion & Rugby Camp: Rugby shoes, protective gear (shoulder pads, mouth guard, helmet), 3 changes of clothes (rugby shorts, socks, rugby shirt), light rainproof clothing

Immersion & Soccer Camp: shin guards, football boots, running shoes, rainproof clothing

Immersion & Surf Camp: swimming costume, towel

Immersion & Adventure Sports: gym kit (jogging bottoms, sweatshirt, trainers, 1 complete change of clothes, shorts, swimming costumes, T-shirts)

Immersion & MAD Camp: Comfortable clothing

Immersion & Fishing Camp: waterproof boots, waterproof trousers, warm jacket, waders for experienced students

Dates & Prices 2020

Dates 2020

Immersion Homestays take place throughout the summer months (June, July and August), in addition to Irish school breaks (except the Total Immersion & Camps programmes which are held at specific dates).

Start of Immersion & Pony camp sessions: 29/06, 06/07, 13/07, 20/07, 27/07, 03/08, 10/08, 17/08

Beginning of the Immersion & Tennis camp sessions: 06/07, 13/07, 20/07, 27/07

Dates of the Immersion & Rugby camp sessions (2 weeks): 29/06 to 10/07; 13/07 to 24/07

Immersion & Soccer camp (mixed camp) starts : 29/06, 06/07, 13/07, 20/07, 27/07, 03/08, 10/08, 17/08

Immersion & Surfing sessions start : 29/06, 06/07, 13/07, 20/07, 27/07, 03/08, 10/08, 17/08

Beginning of the Immersion, Surf & Adventure sessions: 29/06, 06/07, 13/07, 20/07, 27/07, 03/08, 10/08, 17/08

Start of the Immersion & Adventure Sports sessions: 29/06, 06/07, 13/07, 20/07, 27/07, 03/08, 10/08, 17/08

Session dates Immersion & MAD Camp (2 weeks): 29/06 – 10/07

Beginning of the Immersion & Fishing Camp sessions (1, 2 or 3 weeks): 29/06, 06/07, 13/07, 20/07

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

Prices 2020

Prices
Formula	1 week	2 weeks	3 weeks	4 weeks
Total immersion	€ 825	€ 1.190	€ 1.550	€ 1.955
Immersion & excursions	€ 940	€ 1.360	€ 1.780	€ 2.240
Immersion on the farm	€ 855	€ 1.215	€ 1.575	€ 1.995
Immersion & horse riding	€ 945	€ 1.360	€ 1.780	€ 2.240
Immersion & Golf	€ 855	€ 1.215	€ 1.575	€ 1.995
Total immersion & Excursions	€ 1.265	€ 1.995	€ 2.720	€ 3.495
Immersion & pony camp	€ 1.035	€ 1.545	€ 2.125	€ 2.695
Immersion & tennis camp	€ 995	€ 1.520	€ 2.085	€ 2.630
Immersion & rugby camp	-	€ 1.760	-	-
Immersion & Soccer camp	€ 1.050	€ 1.540	€ 2.125	€ 2.695
Immersion & surf	€ 1.055	€ 1.545	€ 2.120	€ 2.610
Immersion, Surf & Adventures	€ 1.095	€ 1.665	€ 2.260	€ 2.820
Immersion & sports adventure	€ 1.095	€ 1.680	€ 2.295	€ 2.890
Immersion & MAD camp	-	€ 1.420	-	-
Immersion & fish camp	€ 1.095	€ 1.680]	€ 2.295	-
Extra's
Return transfer (at specified hours)	€ 240
Arrival and departure outside specified hours	€ 65
Morning flight (with night in Dublin, night before)	€ 85
Private English course (per hour)	€ 35