Full Immersion English Summer Camp in Asheville, North Carolina (Ages 13-17)

 “I was able to meet a representative of these programs in person recently, and very much welcomed the opportunity to present them to my clients. There are a number of parents who are interested in sending their children to the United States on what can be considered an “authentic” experience, in which they send them to destinations that are not “touristy” and huge at the international level, in which they can stay with host families without traveling long distances to get to them. They also ask me for families who have children of their own, so that their children can live the life of the family alongside them. This Asheville program accomplishes exactly this. Asheville itself, with its location in the mountains, is a vacation destination for Americans. It has been consistently ranked as one of the best places in America to visit—it is a small, walkable town full of art galleries, classic Southern Architecture, top-level restaurants, many venues for outdoor activities, and the famous, turn-of-the-century Biltmore Estate is nearby. For Italians, North Carolina is also reachable by at least one direct flight from Italy, from Rome. In Asheville, teenagers will feel safe, and always have something to do. However, the best part of this program is the fact that the host families are primarily selected for the fact that they have children of their own, most of whom participate in the program with the international students, and for the fact the families they are volunteers. The latter aspect attests to their ability to provide a high quality home and experience through a genuine desire to host teenagers from other countries, and not “do it for the money” (parents can also be assured that the families are thoroughly investigated before being allowed to host children.) The fact that the accommodation is offered by volunteers also significantly brings down the cost of this type of program. I have often seen similar types of “full immersion” experiences in America available at a much higher price.
An additional note: The percentage of Italians in the nationality chart is determined by one group from Italy who participates in the program every year during the first session. For the fact that students are accommodated in host families and that children from America and other countries also participate in the program, the course participants will still have the opportunity to speak English all day long. Parents sending their children on an individual basis can also be reassured by the presence of an Italian-speaking adult who is accompanying the group during that time.”