As primary schools across the globe incorporate English instruction, language schools in English-speaking countries are offering courses for young learners. In the UK, most courses are open to ages 10-11 and up, with a few accepting children as young as seven. However, parents may wonder when is a reasonable age to send their children overseas to study, particularly when adult learners find the experience of travelling to an unfamiliar country, let alone communicating with people who speak a strange language, daunting.
The answer, according to Ann Alexander, who operates Alexander’s International School, one of the UK’s oldest and most established centres for young learners, depends on the character and disposition of each child. Children’s levels of independence vary, and Alexander explains that parents must be mindful of their child’s maturity and readiness to embark on a learning trip.
Alexander says that much of a child’s readiness is influenced by their upbringing. Children who have been exposed to new experiences and are already independent are more likely to thrive, but until the child arrives, it is impossible to predict how they will react.
Moreover, Alexander suggests that parents follow their child’s enthusiasm for learning as a simple guide. If a child enjoys studying English, they are more likely to enjoy a study trip. However, if the driving force comes from parental motivation, children may easily resent being sent away and avoid English learning for life.
Alexander believes that the best approach for parents is to lead by example. If parents speak English at home and have an active interest in English-speaking countries’ culture, their children are more likely to feel comfortable experiencing the country for themselves. Children who have accompanied their parents on foreign trips are also generally more prepared for a solo study trip.
Alexander also advises parents to view a young child’s study trip as the first step in a long-term process of learning the language and culture. Although her courses for 11-year-olds will have children "speaking English" within a month, they need parents’ support and encouragement when they return home to continue making progress.
In the UK, schools participating in the British Council’s English in Britain Accreditation Scheme have undergone inspections of their young learners’ courses’ quality and teaching and welfare provision standard. However, parents should still research individual schools and courses before making a final decision.
Parents should consider teacher training, as English in Britain accredited schools have no requirement to employ teachers with specific young learner teaching training, even though teaching children requires distinct skills. Parents must select schools with a policy of employing teachers with ELT young learner training or primary-level teaching qualifications.
Welfare is another area that parents must scrutinise. In the UK, laws regarding children’s care and supervision require schools to maintain high safety and security standards for young learners. The Association of Recognised English Language Services recommends that members carry out checks with social services and the police on families hosting young learners.
Since caring for young learners demands commitment and management, parents should only choose schools that provide detailed descriptions of all aspects of care and teaching. Parents must also inquire about staff age, experience, and length of service.
Tony Thompson, director of English Language and Cultural Organisation in the UK, advises parents to seek schools that provide everything a child needs, from meeting them at the airport and taking them to their host families to including entrance tickets in the course fee. Thompson offers a variety of lodging options, such as specially selected host families and residential centres for young learners. Parents must provide detailed information about their child’s specific needs, allergies, or preferences in advance.
For any child, a study trip abroad should be an exciting adventure. The value of encountering new experiences and managing them is as critical as the English they learn. Above all, children should have an enjoyable experience.
