Year Round Mature Teen Homestay Program in St. Petersburg, Russia

  Russia

• St. Petersburg: 
St. Petersburg

Durations of Program: 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks, 9-12 weeks, 3-6 months and 7-12 months
Dates: Inquire for dates.

Description: The young and energetic Tsar Peter I found Moscow old-fashioned, backward and constricting. He wanted to open 'a window to Europe', but for this he needed a site with access to the sea. In the spring of 1703, he wrested the Neva Delta from the Swedes and immediately laid the foundations of St. Petersburg. The area was virtually unpopulated, thick with forests and marshland and most thought a thoroughly unsuitable place to establish a city. But the Tsar had a vision. He would not only build a military base, naval construction site and trading centre, but a glittering Russian capital!

Gradually, St Petersburg evolved from a swampy backwater into a modern European city, Russia's 'window to the West'. Unlike Moscow's red bricks and onion domes, St Petersburg's network of canals and baroque and neoclassical architecture give the city a distinct European flavour. Today, citizens are breaking down the barriers of generations past and exploring new ideas, investigating the possibilities of consumerism, creativity and career. It's not only the unique architecture that entice visitors, but also edgy art galleries, underground clubs and delectable dining.

The School:

The school is in the historical city centre, close to the well-known Nevsky Prospekt and a mere 300 metres from the Ligovsky Prospekt metro station. The school occupies the 4th floor of a 19th century building (there's no elevator so you'll get fit climbing all those stairs!) and offers 15 classrooms, a self-study centre with library, small cafeteria, Internet café and a booking desk for excursions, tickets and travel. The in-house cafeteria is usually open from 9:00 AM till 9:00 PM (05:00 pm during summer and on Fridays).

Courses:

The Standard course option provides 20 lessons per week, divided into 4 lessons per day with each lesson 50 minutes in length. Group size is maximum 10 students per class and there are 6 language levels (8 in the summer months) available from beginner to advanced. Beginners are asked to be familiar with the Cyrillic Alphabet.

Starting dates are every second week for students with some Russian language skills; beginners, please see the dates listed above. The course focuses on a communicative approach and covers all areas of language comprehension - vocabulary, grammar, listening, reading, and writing.

Teachers:

All teachers are selected based on proper qualification to teach Russian, their enthusiasm, and previous success teaching students. The school is a member of both the International Association of Language Centres (IALC) and the European Association for Quality Language Services (EAQUALS).

Accommodation:

All accommodation, whether homestay family or local apartments and flats, have been inspected by school staff for cleanliness and suitability for students.

A homestay family experience is perfect for the student who has little time and is looking to maximize the opportunity to be immersed in the Russian culture. Like many parts of the world there is not a "typical" host family in St. Petersburg. However, we encourage you to apply well in advance of your study period to ensure that you secure the best family based on your preferences. You can choose asingle or double room (if you're coming with a friend) and either breakfast or half- board (full-board on the weekends) meal options.

If you would prefer to stay in an apartment, you can stay in a single room in a shared apartment (flat). All flats are fully furnished and come with sheets and towels. Shared flats have three or more bedrooms and bathrooms are shared with other students.

Cost in US$: From USD 1770 for 2 weeks

Additional costs:

- Travel to and from St. Petersburg
- Optional activities and excursions: USD 15 to USD 80 per activity (can usually be covered by pocket money)
- Departure transfer: TBD
- Pocket money: USD 150 to USD 200 per week (this depends on the personal spending habits of the participant)
- Meals: for students who choose homestay with breakfast only, we recommend that you allow for USD 8 to USD 10 per lunch and USD 10 to USD 15 per dinner; for students who choose homestay with half-board (breakfast and dinner), please allow for USD 8 to USD 10 per lunch; for students who choose the apartment option with no meals please allow for USD 5 per breakfast, USD 8 to USD 10 per lunch and USD 10 to USD 15 per dinner
- Entry visa if required

Experience Required: no

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel to Russia Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work in Groups of Max. 10 students per class

Application Process Involves:

• Phone Interview
• Written Application

Post-Program Services Include:

• Re-Entry Debriefing at Home

The Learning Traveller's Mission Statement: The Learning Traveller offers the finest full-immersion language study programs in the best and safest locations worldwide. Our priority languages are French, Spanish, Chinese (Mandarin), German, Italian, Japanese, and Russian. Our programs focus on summer programs and academic year courses. Depending on language level, start dates are every Sunday. Accommodation options are homestay or student residence. All schools offer rich and diverse cultural activities and excursions. We aim to provide an unparalleled counseling service before, during, and after an individual or group's language study experience.

Year Founded: 2003