Student HandbookWelcome to the beginning of your trip with STS! This guide was written so you know what to expect, and to answer any questions you might have.

Both you and your parents should read through all of the infor-mation. It contains very important information about your stay abroad, as well as lots of useful advice and tips.

If you have any questions, please contact your local STS office. Contact details can be found on the website.

We hope you a have a great time during your stay with STS abroad.

ABCGUIDE

2www.sts.eu

BEFORE YOUR JOURNEY MyPage ........................................................................ 2Host family, Resort or Campus ................................. 2Facebook and Instagram .......................................... 2STS Leaders ................................................................. 3Sickness and allergies ............................................... 3Passport ....................................................................... 3VISA .............................................................................. 3Online test ................................................................... 3Packing ........................................................................ 4Money .......................................................................... 5

YOUR JOURNEY Departure .................................................................... 6Arrival ........................................................................... 6

ACCOMODATION Host family ................................................................... 6Campus ........................................................................ 8Resort ........................................................................... 9Adventure trips ......................................................... 10

YOUR CENTRE STAFF Activity Leader .......................................................... 11Teacher ...................................................................... 11Centre Manager ....................................................... 11Assistant Centre Manager ...................................... 11Director of Studies/Lead Teacher .......................... 11Student Welfare Officer .......................................... 11Accomodation Officer ............................................ 11

YOUR WELFARE Student Welfare Officer .......................................... 11Other staff ................................................................. 12Free time .................................................................... 12

YOUR ACADEMIC PROGRAMME UK – Teachers ............................................................ 12UK – Lessons .............................................................. 12Rest of the world – Teachers .................................... 12Rest of the world – Lessons...................................... 12Outside of class ........................................................ 13Feedback questionnaires ....................................... 13STS Intensive ............................................................. 13STS Junior .................................................................. 13STS Chelsea Foundation Football Camp .............. 13STS Real Madrid Foundation Football Camp ...... 13STS Dyslexic course ................................................. 13STS Riding ................................................................. 14STS Photo .................................................................. 14

YOUR SOCIAL PROGRAMME Afternoon/morning activities................................. 14Half day excursions .................................................. 14Evening activities ..................................................... 14Student disco ............................................................ 14Included excursions ................................................. 14Optional excursions ................................................. 14Overnight stay in London ........................................ 15Overnight stay in Paris ............................................. 15Overnight stay in Los Angeles ................................ 15Overnight stay in Miami........................................... 15

STUDENT RULES ..................................................... 15

TIPS AND ADVICE.................................................... 16

BEFORE YOUR JOURNEYMYPAGEMyPage is where you will be given detailed information about your course town and practical details about your trip. There are some documents that need to be printed, filled out and brought on your trip. Always print out two extra copies, one to keep at home and one to bring with you to your destination. Please make sure that you have all the documents needed for your trip!

On MyPage you will also find: – A summary of your booking– The contact details to your host family/campus/resort and hotel.– Flight info and departure times– Your leader and his or her contact information– You will also be able to buy your own STS t-shirt, sport courses etc

HOST FAMILY, RESORT OR CAMPUS DETAILSWe will put the details of your host family, campus or resort on MyPage one or two weeks before your departure. This will be your home for your time abroad.

FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAMFollow STS on Facebook and Instagram for the best experience. On Facebook you can ask questions to our STS employees working at our Head Office very quickly, which can very helpful. You can also post pictures, find others who are travelling to the same destination and meet former STS students.

Follow us on Instagram @stsworldwide. Get inspired by other students and post your own photos using the hash tag #sts (followed by your course town, e.g. #stsbrighton).

3www.sts.eu

STS LEADERS DETAILSWe will put the details of your Leader on MyPage a week before you travel. Make sure you get their details and familiarise yourself with who they are.

SICKNESS AND ALLERGIESIf you suffer from any sickness or allergies which you have not previously mentioned you must inform your local STS office about this immediately! Please bring a translated document from your doctor detailing what sickness/allergies you have and your current health status. Keep in mind that although our staff will do their best to see to your specific needs we cannot guarantee to fulfil them all.

If you do not tell us of any allergies or illnesses before you arrive, then it will be difficult to accommodate you properly when you first arrive. It is very important you let us know of anything that could affect your health and comfort.

STS aim to accept all participants with medical conditions disclosed prior to departure, as well as pro-vide appropriate support for any physical conditions. STS cannot act as physicians or medical staff in the event of any incurred emergency due to the participant’s medical condition. Please note that any changes of allergies/illnesses (physical and mental), or medication, after the original booking was made must be communicated to STS prior to the departure. If any serious medical conditions, such as diag-nosed mental illnesses etc., are not disclosed prior to participation, STS reserves the right to remove the student from the course immediately with no refund. Additional costs in in relations to the removal will not be covered by STS.

STS aim to accept all participants with allergies disclosed prior to departure. STS will do its utmost to provide suitable nutrition and environment for the participant but cannot guarantee that the participant will not be exposed to their allergy during the course. STS cannot take responsibility for any injuries re-lated to the participant’s allergy, in instances out of our control.

PASSPORTCheck that your passport is valid for the duration of your journey and for at least three months (Europe) and six months (Rest of the world) after your arrival back home. Take two photo copies of your passport. Bring one copy with you and keep one copy at home in case you lose your passport. It is your own responsibility to keep your passport safe at all times.

VISADo not forget your VISA or other important travel documents. If you are a foreign citizen you should already have contacted your embassy in order to know what regulations apply to you, regardless of destination.

USA – Since 2009 it is mandatory for everyone travelling under the Visa Waiver Program to USA to notify their trip online at latest 72 hours before departure. ESTA is the electronic VISA needed to travel to the United States. You will receive a document about how to apply to your MyPage. Make sure that your Visa is for the correct dates!

CANADA – All STS students will be required to provide pre-trip information via the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) website prior to departure so that your travel is “authorized” by the Canadian Depart-ment of Homeland Security.

You will receive a document about how to apply to your MyPage. Make sure that your Visa is for the correct dates!

ONLINE TESTPlease ensure you have completed your online test at least a week before you arrive in the centre. This is so we can place you in the correct level before you arrive.

You will receive a separate email about your online test. Make sure you follow the link and complete it as soon as you can. If you need any assistance, then follow the instructions in that email.

PACKINGCheck the luggage allowance for the airline you are flying with. The maximum weight (and sometimes the size) varies depending on the destination and the airline. This also applied to the number of bags you can take.

You are usually allowed one bag to check in and one piece of hand luggage to take to your seat. The weight allowance for check-in luggage is usually limited to 15–20 kg and hand luggage is limited to 8–10 kg. Bear in mind that the airline can charge you extra if one of your bags is overweight. On MyPage

4www.sts.eu

you will find a list of airlines and their luggage allowances. However, it is your own responsibility to make sure you follow the updated allowances published on your airlines webpage.

Your hand luggage should contain the following items: all travel documents, money, passport plus photo copy, possible medication and prescriptions, this guide, phone charger, spare underwear and a toothbrush, and anything else that you know you will need during the journey.

Checklist of things to remember:

Required

¨ Passport + possibly Visa¨ Travel Documents ¨ This Guide

Suggested

¨ Jeans¨ Trousers¨ T-shirts / Tank tops¨ Shirts ¨ Jumper¨ Skirts / Dresses¨ Shorts¨ Coat / Jacket¨ Underwear / Socks

¨ Shoes¨ Swimwear ¨ Sportswear¨ Beach Towel¨ Toiletries (in

100ml container)

¨ Sunglasses¨ Raincoat¨ Umbrella

¨ Camera¨ Mobile Phone¨ Charger¨ Adapter ¨ Notepad and Pen¨ Money¨ Name and address during

your stay¨ Sunblock

STS Adventure – Additional packing

¨ Sleeping Bag ¨ Pillow¨ Eye Mask

¨ First-Aid-Kit¨ Hiking Boots¨ 1 or 2 Books

¨ Bug Spray¨ Wet Wipes¨ Small Flashlight

You are not allowed to carry sharp objects in your hand luggage. If you have any, these will be confiscated at the security check. Note the rules which apply for liquids in hand luggage. All liquids are limited to 100 ml/containers which need to be put in a transparent, sealable 1 litre plastic bag. These bags are usually available at the airport.

These rules apply both to and from your course town, so leave some space for bringing back souvenirs.

If your luggage is lost or damaged during the flight, please report this directly at the airport concerned as claims cannot be reported later. If you have travel insurance your insurance company will pay com-pensation. Ask your course leader for assistance in reporting lost and damaged luggage and filling in claim forms.

STS Chelsea Football Camp and Real Madrid Football CampBring two sets of sportswear, appropriate coveralls, football shoes for astro turf (metal studs are not allowed), sneakers, shin pads, football socks and preferably your own tape.

STS RidingBring boots or shoes with heel. Helmets and safety vests can be provided if you do not have one.

STS PhotoDuring this course, there will be one week of language learning combined with two weeks of photography classes. The photography class will teach you to handle your system camera and how to use it to the best of its ability. The language course is run on the same lines as STS Original. Please bring a camera.

Packing for sport coursesParticipants for the sport courses should consider bringing an extra towel, a water bottle and sunscreen. See below for specific details for each course.

BEACH VOLLEYBALL: Bring swimwear, shorts and t-shirts.

MULTI WATER: Bring swim wear, a towel and sun block. A life jacket, hanging harness, wetsuit etc can be borrowed on location.

WINDSURFING: Bring swimwear. A life jacket, hanging harness, wetsuit etc can be borrowed on location.

WAVESURFING: Bring swimwear. All necessary equipment including wetsuit will be available on location.

MULTISPORT: Bring sports clothing and suitable shoes.

TENNIS: Bring with you a tennis racket and suitable clothes.

5www.sts.eu

STAND UP PADDLING: Bring swimwear.

DIVING: Bring swim wear, a towel and sun block. We recommend that you also use a t-shirt when diving. The diving equipment you need will be provided for you. Bring the following documents with you to the dive center on the first day:– Medical Questionnaire Diving, 2 pages (Signed by a doctor)– The Liability Release Diving– The Standard Safe Diving Practices SOU

All pages need to be signed by Parent or Legal Guardian! If you don’t have these forms with you, you will not be able to take part in the course and will unfortunately not get any refund! You find the docu-ments on MyPage.

MONEYThere are different currencies depending on your destination:

UK = Pound (GBP)Rest of Europe = Euro (EUR)USA = US Dollar (USD)Canada = Canadian Dollar (CAD)Japan = Yen (JPY)Bali = Indonesian Rupiah (IDR)

It is much better to exchange your money locally than at the airport.

It is up to each student how much to spend in the course town. If you want to do a lot of shopping and buy lots of souvenirs, then make sure you have enough money left over for that.

A guideline to how much pocket money you approximately should take is:

• GBP £100–150 per week in the UK.• EUR 150 per week in Malta, France, Cyprus and Spain. • JPY 30000 per week in Japan (excluding costs for excursions over several days).• USD 250 per week in USA (excluding costs for excursions over several days).• IDR 2.000.000 per week on Bali (excluding costs for excursions over several days).• CAD 200 per week in Canada (excluding costs for excursions over several days).• If you are travelling via Paris we recommend you have about EUR 150 extra pocket money for food

and local transport costs.

Cash or Bank Card?It is not advisable to bring too much cash. Bring just enough to cover the expenses of your journey and first few days.

Most banks offer young people the option of having their own bank card. This can be very convenient to have on the trip as it means you won’t have to carry a lot of cash. There will be several banks and ATMs at your destination. Contact your bank prior to departure for more information and advice. Have your bank’s contact details available in case your bank card gets stolen.

OptionalsThere will also be excursions offered to you on site, these are called ”optionals” and cannot be booked before arrival. Make sure to bring extra money if you plan to participate in any of these optional activities. More information about these are found on MyPage or from your leaders when you are in the course town.

YOUR JOURNEYDEPARTUREYou will have the flight times and information on MyPage. You will need to be at the airport at least two/three hours before your flight in order to meet your Leader and the other people you will be travelling with. You will check in and then say goodbye to your parents/guardians.

Your Leader will look after you while you wait for your flight and on board. Remember that you may not be able to use your phone on the plane or when you first arrive to your final destination.

ARRIVALWhen you arrive you will need to go through passport control and pick up your baggage.

6www.sts.eu

Your Leader will take you to the coach to transfer you to your course town. Depending on any delays or other flights that have been booked, you may have to wait at this airport for other groups to arrive.

It will not necessarily be the same Leader that travels with you on the plane to your course town, so be prepared for staff members to change.

Your host family will meet you upon arrival at your destination and take you home. In exceptional cases, if the family has been prevented from meeting you, they will arrange for another host family to pick you up or a taxi to drive you home.

If you are staying on campus or resort (rather than in a host family) then your coach transfer will take you directly to the campus/resort you are staying at. You will be given your key and shown where your room is, where you will then have time to unpack.

ACCOMODATIONHOST FAMILYStaying with a host family is an important part of your language trip. All families who receive STS students are carefully picked. They have been visited and interviewed by our Local Agents before they become STS host families. Most families have several years’ experience looking after STS students.

Our host families are selected primarily for their suitability, and only secondly for location. This often means that you may need to take the bus to school. Travel times will vary according to the size of the course town, the distance involved and local traffic conditions.

Daily LifeThe host family’s role is to integrate you into their everyday life. You should adapt to their culture and way of living. Be prepared for your host family’s lifestyle to be different to what you are used to at home. Discovering new customs and traditions is an important and exciting part of your experience.

Always try to speak in the local language in front of your host family, even if you live together with students from the same country as you.

UK – Meal TimesYou will eat most of your meals (except lunch) with the host family.

Breakfast usually includes juice, toast and cereal but it varies between different host families.

Dinner can be anything from spaghetti bolognaise to chicken curry, from fish and chips to pizza. There is a huge variety of the types of foods that people eat in the UK, so it’s impossible to say what you’ll be eating.

You must go back to your host family for dinner every weekday with no exceptions.

In the UK, it is impolite to refuse food you are given. Make sure you try the food you are given, it is part of the experience of living in the UK.

You may also find that families eat earlier in the evening than your families at home. It is not uncommon for British families to have their dinner between 5 and 6 pm, so be prepared to eat your dinner a little earlier than usual.

You will be given a packed lunch to take with you every day.

A packed lunch normally consists of a sandwich, a small bag of crisps, something to drink and a small dessert of fruit or chocolate. This is a typical lunch box for teenagers in United Kingdom. If you are used to a bigger lunch, we recommend you bring some pocket money to complement your lunch box.

UK – Transport to SchoolJourneys between where you are staying and where lessons take place will be made independently. This means you will need to know how to get to the school and what time you need to leave. This will be explained in detail when you arrive at your destination.

Your host family will help you with directions and timings.

As our host families are selected primarily for their suitability and only secondly for their location, the school may not be on your door step. Depending on where your family is located you will either walk to school, or take public transport.

If you need to take the bus then you will be given information on the route and which number bus you need by the host family.

7www.sts.eu

Rest of the world – Meal TimesYou will eat most of your meals (except lunch) with the host family.

Breakfast usually includes juice/water, toast and cereal but it varies between different host families.

Lunch is not included if you are going to Spain, France or Japan and is something you will buy yourself. There are plenty of options to choose from around the schools and there is something for everyone.

If you are going to Malta, San Diego and Orlando you will get a packed lunch from the host family to bring with you. It usually consists of a sandwich, a small bag of crisps, something to drink and a small dessert of fruit or chocolate. If you are used to a bigger lunch, we recommend you bring some pocket money to complement your lunch box.

Dinner can be anything from pasta, pizza, salad to hamburgers. There is a huge variety of the types of foods that people eat abroad, so it’s impossible to say what you’ll be eating. You must always try the food you are given, it can be looked upon as rude if you do not even try the food prepared for you. It’s a part of the cultural exchange and experience.

Rest of the world – Transport to SchoolThe host family will not be taking you to school every day. Instead, journeys between where you are staying and where lessons take place will be made independently. This means you will need to know how to get to the school and what time you need to leave. San Diego and Orlando host family are the exceptions where the host families will bring you to and from school on weekdays.

Your host family will help you with directions and timings.

As our Host Families are selected primarily for their suitability and only secondly for their location, the school may not be on your door step. Depending on where your family is located you will either walk to school, or take the bus.

If you need to take the bus then you will be given information on the route and which number bus you need by the host family.

San Diego and Orlando host family are the exceptions where the host families will bring you to and from school on weekdays.

Special Diets and AllergiesIf you are in need of a special diet it is important that you inform your local STS office of this when book-ing your trip. Special diets must be booked and paid for before departure, in order for us to guarantee your placement with a suitable host family.

In the UK and the USA for example it is common for households to have a pet and carpeting. It is impor-tant therefore, that you have indicated possible allergies or symptoms at the time of booking.

LaundryYour host family have been asked to help with your laundry. Try and decide together on which day is best.

RoomsSTS cannot guarantee that you will have your own room. Most students share a room with other students of the same gender.

BreakagesIf you accidentally break something in the home it is important that you tell your host family. Don’t forget that you can always ask your leader for help. Remember to contact your insurance company too. This also applies to those who have subscribed an insurance via STS.

TransportAll students, regardless of age, are expected to travel to and from school and other activities either by themselves or with other students.

Teaching and teachersYour studies are an important part of your language trip and you will get to know the teachers and make many new friends. All of our teachers come from an academic background and have been carefully selected for their ability to deliver fun, engaging lessons.

CAMPUSIf you have booked STS Campus, you will stay on a university campus together with your new friends and your leader. You will receive more detailed information about your specific campus before you depart.

8www.sts.eu

Daily LifeYou will be in school during the morning or afternoon. Classes are held on campus, a short walk from your bedroom. The afternoons (or mornings) are filled with activities which could take place on or off the campus area.

UK – MealsDuring the week, all meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) will be at the campus’ canteen facilities. At weekends, you will receive a packed lunch to take with you on excursions. Breakfast and dinner will still be at the campus’ canteen facilities.

The food may be different to what you are used to at home, but remember that you are here to learn about British culture, including eating habits.

Rest of the world – MealsBreakfast and dinner are included and will be served at the campus’ canteen facilities as a buffet.

Lunch is included for students going to Madrid, Los Angeles, West Palm Beach and New York and will be served at campus. If you are going to Los Angeles you will need to buy your own lunch at the weekends. On days when you have full day excursions you will get a packed lunch to bring with you.

Lunch is not included for students going to Tokyo and Alicante and is something you will buy yourself. There are plenty of options to choose from around the schools and there is something for everyone.

Dinner can be anything from pasta, pizza, salad to hamburgers. There is a huge variety of the types of foods that people eat abroad, so it’s impossible to say what you’ll be eating. You must always try the food you are given, it can be looked upon as rude if you do not even try the food prepared for you. It’s a part of the cultural exchange and experience.

Special Diets and AllergiesIf you are in need of a special diet it is important that you inform your local STS office of this when booking your trip. Also make sure you inform your leader upon your arrival, so they can liaise with the university chefs.

LaundryYour Leaders will inform you about how to do your laundry and how much it will cost you during your stay.

RoomsStudents will generally receive a single room or a double room on campus in a block of flats with same gender students. The rooms will either have a private bathroom or shared bathroom between the flat. STS cannot guarantee that you will have your own room.

All rooms are single sex only and have usually been allocated in advance by the staff on site. Bed linen is provided but you may need to bring a towel with you. Bed linen is changed once a week. Exceptions are West Palm Beach and LA where the bed linen is changed once during the stay. Use a suitcase with a combination lock so you can lock away your possessions.

KeyYou will receive a room key on campus, so you will be able to lock your room at any time. Be careful with the key and notify staff immediately if you lose it. You will have to pay for a replacement if lost.

BreakagesIf you accidentally break something in the residence, it is important that you tell your Leader immediately. Don’t forget that you can always ask your leader for help.

CleanlinessAlways keep your room tidy so that the campus staff can clean it properly. In order for the sheets to be changed, we advise you not to leave things lying on your bed during the daytime. Remember to close windows and switch off the lights whenever you leave the room. Communal areas are cleaned frequently. You are held personally responsible for the upkeep of your room.

Wi-fiAll of our centres have access to wi-fi. When you arrive, ask your leader and they will give you the details of where and how to access.

BehaviourAlways respect the rules of the campus and STS rules. Remember that there will probably be other stu-dents around, not just students travelling with STS. Be polite to staff and anyone else you meet around campus, they will always appreciate a friendly greeting!

9www.sts.eu

TransportAll students, regardless of age, are expected to travel to and from school and other activities either by themselves or with other students.

Teaching and teachersYour studies are an important part of your language trip and you will get to know the teachers and make many new friends. All our teachers come from an academic background and have experience of working with young people.

Deposit – only for UK and USAStudents staying on campus are required to pay a deposit of £40/$50upon arrival to your centre. This would be used to cover any damages or lost keys. Upon inspection and before you depart, you will receive your deposit back if nothing has been broken or lost.

RESORTIf you have booked resort, you will stay on a resort together with your new friends and your leader. You will receive more detailed information about your specific resort before you depart.

Daily LifeYou will be in school during the daytime. Classes are held at a nearby school. You will either be picked up by bus, use public transport or walk to school every weekday. The afternoons are filled with activities which could take place on or off the resort area.

MealsYou will have breakfast and dinner together with your leader in the resort restaurant. Some resorts students have their own dining area. The food may be different to what you are used to at home but remember that you are there to learn about your host country’s culture, including eating habits. Break-fast usually consists of a buffet with coffee, tea, juice, toast and cereal. Dinner is also usually a buffet. You can buy lunch at one of the hotel’s snack bars or at a diner close to the resort/school.

Special Diets and AllergiesIf you are in need of a special diet it is important that you inform your local STS office about this when you book your trip. Also inform the hotel personnel upon your arrival. You can always ask your leader to help you talk to the personnel on site.

LaundryYour course leaders will inform you about how to do your laundry and how much it will cost you during your stay. Laundry service for students staying at Resorts on Malta is very expensive. Bring or buy some washing powder so that you can wash in the sink for example.

RoomsSTS cannot guarantee that you will have your own room. Most students share a room with two or three friends. We have learned from past experience that it is best to share a room with students of the same nationality. All rooms are single sex only and have usually been allocated in advance by the STS staff on site. If you are staying at a hotel you will be provided with sheets and towels but it is a good idea to bring an extra towel to have on the beach or by the pool. Use a bag with a combination lock so you can lock away your possessions. Hotels often have safety deposit boxes which you may use at charge.

KeyYou usually share a key with your roommates. Be careful with the key and notify the hotel immediately if you lose it. On some course placements you must pay a key deposit which is returned to you upon departure.

BreakagesIf you accidently break something in your room it is important that you inform your leader and the hotel immediately.

AdviceAlways keep your room tidy so that the hotel staff can clean it properly. In order for the sheets to be changed we advise you not to leave things lying on your bed during the daytime. Remember to close windows and switch off the lights whenever you leave the room.

Always respect the rules of the hotel. In all other cases STS rules apply. Remember that there will probably be other tourists around, not just students travelling with STS. The staff will always appreciate a friendly greeting!

10www.sts.eu

TransportAll students, regardless of age, are expected to travel to and from school and other activities either by themselves or with other students.

Teaching and teachersYour studies are an important part of your language trip and you will get to know the teachers and make many new friends. All our teachers come from an academic background and have experience of work-ing with young people.

ADVENTURE TRIPSIf you have booked an adventure trip you will experience several different accommodation arrangements (camping, hotels and hostels). When staying at a camp site you will share a tent with another student. The tent will be provided but you will be responsible for bringing your own sleeping bag and pillow. You will be provided with a sleeping pad but if you want more comfort you need to bring an extra sleeping pad as well. You will receive more detailed information about your specific trip before you depart.

You will be able to use a shower at the camp site but it may sometimes cost approximately USD/CAD 2–3 to shower in hot water. Remember to bring some coins! You will not be given any towels so remem-ber to bring your own. Always obey whatever rules apply at the camp site.

MealsOn your first day you will hand over money for food, a so called “food kitty”, to your leader, who will be responsible for this money during the trip. The money will be used for breakfast and dinner when you are camping. Everyone is responsible for helping to prepare dinner. When staying at a hotel or hostel you will have to pay for food out of your pocket money. If you are attending European Tour breakfast and dinner is already included and you will stay at hotels during the trip.

TransportYou will travel by bus. In USA and Canada there will be mini vans with 13 seats available plus one seat reserved for an STS leader and on European Tour there will be one big bus. There can be as many as four buses doing the same journey so make sure that you get on the right one. All your luggage will be transported in a trailer hooked to the back of the bus. Use your STS backpack to carry essential items that you will need during the day. You will spend a long time on the road so bring along a snack such as crackers or fruit. Bare in mind that there probably will be students with nut allergies, so avoid buying nuts. There may be many different nationalities on board the bus so try to speak English at all times.

LaundrySome of the hotels and hostels and a few of the camp sites provide access to a washing machine and washing powder in exchange for a small fee. Remember to bring some coins! We suggest you bring your own washing powder in a small plastic bag. Your leader and the group will decide together on laundry arrangements.

YOUR CENTRE STAFFHere is a breakdown of the staff you could meet, and what their role is. If you ever have a problem and need to speak to somebody about it, the best person is always your Leader.

ACTIVITY LEADERThe Activity Leaders are the people who you will spend the most time with. They will be leading social programme, meaning they will run all your activities and take you out on excursions.

You will be given a designated Activity Leader who will be responsible for you and up to 19 other students. This person will be your main contact for if you need anything, so make sure you get their phone number and introduce yourself.

TEACHERThese are the people who will be delivering your lessons. You will not have the same teacher for your entire stay.

CENTRE MANAGER This is the person in charge of running the centre. They will meet you on the first day when you arrive,

11www.sts.eu

and will have an office at the school where your lessons are. They will have specific open office hours, so you can go and speak to them if you have any problems.

ASSISTANT CENTRE MANAGERThe Assistant Centre Manager is in charge of the social programme. If you have any questions about the social programme at all, then this is the person to speak to.

DIRECTOR OF STUDIES / LEAD TEACHERThe Director of Studies / Leader Teacher is in charge of the academic programme. If you have any questions about the academic programme at all, or you are finding it too difficult/easy, then this is the person to speak to.

STUDENT WELFARE OFFICER – ONLY UKThis person is there to look out for your welfare. See below for more information.

ACCOMODATION OFFICER – ONLY UKThis person is responsible for making sure you are happy with your host family. If you have any issues with your host family, then this is the person to speak to.

Please note that some of our smaller centres will not have a separate person for each of the above roles, as some of them will be combined.

YOUR WELFAREAt STS, your welfare is our top priority. We want to ensure your safety throughout your entire time abroad, and it is very important that you feel you are able to talk to us about any problems you may be having, no matter how big or small.

STUDENT WELFARE OFFICER Most of our centres in UK will have a Student Welfare Office, it is very important you are aware of who this person is.

This person will have special training in order to help you with any issues or problems you may be hav-ing. If you are worried about anything at all or need to speak to somebody about any problems you may be having (whether it’s homesickness, problems with other students, personal problems) then this is the person to speak to.

The Student Welfare Officer can also just be a good person to talk to for any general advice. If you are finding it difficult to get used to life in the UK, it might make it easier to speak to somebody.

We cannot guarantee that everything you say will be kept confidential (as if there is something worrying, other members of staff may need to be notified), but everything you say will be treated with respect.

For other destinations please talk to your leader.

OTHER STAFFAll of our other staff also receive safeguarding training, so everybody knows what to look out for in cases where your welfare could be in trouble. You can speak to any of our staff about issues you have and they have been trained to deal with your issue properly.

You will also find welfare information relevant to your centre on your centre noticeboard.

FREE TIMEBecause of your very busy schedule, there is no appointed time for ‘free time’. This means that when on activities and excursions, you will always be supervised by the Activities staff. They are there for you whenever you need anything and are there to help you.

If you don’t arrive at any point of the day, they will try to contact you. If you have deliberately skipped a lesson or activity (and are not sick) then you will be disciplined accordingly.

12www.sts.eu

YOUR ACADEMIC PROGRAMMEYour studies are one of the main focuses on your trip. While in class you will improve your English, French, Spanish, Japanese, learn about the world around you and make new friends.

UK – TEACHERSAll teachers in UK are employed to meet British Council standards. Their understanding of English is carefully checked before they are hired and they are given training before meeting any of our students.

While studying, you won’t have the same teacher throughout your stay. Teachers will be paired up, so that you have two teachers per day. This is partly so you get the experience of learning from different teaching styles, but it is also to expose you to a variety of accents.

You may find that your teacher doesn’t have the standard British accent you may expect. We employ people with a wide variety of accents, and it is best for your listening skills if you get a chance to spend time learning from teachers who may not have a London/South East England accent.

UK – LESSONSOur lessons are all one hour long. Each weekday you will have three lessons, with two fifteen minute breaks. After your three lessons, there will be a twenty minute session dedicated to revision or asses-ment (depending on which day of the week it is).

Your class will be made of people who are the same level as you (or as close as possible) and there will be a maximum of 15 students per class.

You will given one of our course books from the ‘E is For…’ series, which if yours to keep and take home. The book is based around using a communicative approach to teaching, and includes exercises, games and listening comprehension tasks.

Even though you are given a book, you will need to make notes and write things down separately. Make sure you bring a notebook and a pencil case with you!

All of our classrooms are equipped with interactive whiteboards and access to the internet, so your teacher will be using technology to show you videos and play songs etc. during class (this is not the case in Jersey).

You will receive a short test at the end of each week. This will be used to let your teachers know how you are progressing.

You will receive a certificate confirming you have completed the course at on your final day in class.

REST OF THE WORLD – TEACHERSAll teachers are employed to meet our STS standards. Their understanding of different languages is carefully checked before they are hired and they are given training before meeting any of our students.

While studying, you might not have the same teacher throughout your stay. This is partly so you get the experience of learning from different teaching styles, but it is also to expose you to a variety of accents.

REST OF THE WORLD – LESSONSEach weekday you will have three lessons. They are 45–60 minutes long with a break of 15 minutes.

Your class will be made of people who are the same level as you (or as close as possible) and there will be a maximum of 15–20 students per class.

Even though you are given a book, you will need to make notes and write things down separately. Make sure you bring a notebook and a pencil case with you!

You will receive a certificate confirming you have completed the course at on your final day in class.

OUTSIDE OF CLASSYou won’t be given any homework during your time with us, as you will be busy with your social pro-gramme. However, you should use this opportunity to practice your language as much as possible.

While you are out on excursions and doing activities, make sure you always speak in the local lanuage. This practice will be invaluable in improving your language and you will find you remember a lot more from your classes if you put it into use.

FEEDBACK QUESTIONNAIRESWe will ask you to complete a few feedback questionnaires while you are here. One will be 3 days into your course, and one at the end. It is important to us that you are enjoying your course town, and these help us to evaluate if there are any issues that need to be fixed.

13www.sts.eu

STS INTENSIVEIf you have booked your course in Oxford, you will be on the STS Intensive programme.

As well as the 15 hours of tuition a week, you will have a further five hours of lessons. These lessons will take place instead of an activity, and will be run by different teachers.

These lessons have a focus on task-based learning. You will receive language input and then need to use your skills in order to complete a task. Your teacher will help you along the way and be sure to correct any errors you make in the process.

We aim to provide students with the tools to take their learning further, while surrounded by an environ-ment that actively promotes study and engagement with English as a tool. There are a number of clear differences that establish this course as a separate programme, with the main ones listed below.

If you have booked on the Intensive course, you also have the opportunity to take the Trinity GESE exam. This is a short speaking exam which is recognised Worldwide as an indication of how good your English speaking skills are. If you are interested in having something to prove to future employers or schools what your level of English is, then you should definitely consider taking the GESE.

If you want to take the exam then you must book with your local office at least a week before your course is due to start. They will be able to give you more information when you get in touch.

STS JUNIOR At STS Junior you are taught in a group with other students between the ages of 10 – 11. The course is run in the same way as STS Original but is designed for younger learners.

STS CHELSEA FOUNDATION FOOTBALL CAMPOn the Football Camp course, you will be studying from a different programme and timetable. Football practice is in groups of 12–15 players and is run by Chelsea FC’s own trainers. Practice takes place every weekday in the morning, with English lessons in the afternoons (this will swap in the second week).

The Academic Programme for the Chelsea Football Foundation Camp is different to a standard course. Rather than using our usual textbook, you will be using materials developed especially for this course. The theme of each lesson is based on some area of football English, and the language will be much more football focused.

STS REAL MADRID FOUNDATION FOOTBALL CAMPOn the Football Camp course, you will be studying from a different programme and timetable. Football practice is in groups of various sizes depending on exercise and is run by Real Madrid own youth train-ers. Practice takes place every weekday with one session in the morning and one in the afternoon.

The Academic Programme for Real Madrid Football Foundation Camp is different to a standard course. Rather than using our usual textbook, you will be using materials developed especially for this course. The theme of each lesson is based on some area of football, and the language will be much more foot-ball focused.

STS DYSLEXIC COURSEOn the STS Dyslexic course, you will not be using our course books. Instead you will use a computer programme called Units of Sound for part of your tuition. This programme is designed specifically for Dyslexic students, and helps break down words into sounds and make them much more manageable.

The rest of the time in class will be spent on more conversational classes. Rather than using a book, lessons will be focused on the white board, and will encourage much more conversation than the standard classes.

Classes for the dyslexic course will have 10 students per class.

STS RIDINGThis course gives you the chance to combine two weeks of horseback riding with one week of language learning. The language course is run on the same lines as STS Original. Your horse riding lessons will just take the place of your English lessons for the other two weeks, meaning you will get three hours a day.

STS PHOTODuring this course two weeks of language learning will be combined with one week of photography classes. The photo graphy class will teach you to handle your system camera and how to use it to the best of its ability. The language course is run on the same lines as STS Original.

14www.sts.eu

YOUR SOCIAL PROGRAMMEYour social programme is incredibly important for getting to know your new friends, and for improving your language outside of the classroom. All of the activities that we offer are mandatory, so that you get the full experience out of the time that you are here.

AFTERNOON/MORNING ACTIVITIESOutside of lessons you will have a packed social programme. A big part of this will be Afternoon/ Morning Activities. These can be anything from visiting local attractions to playing sports in the park, from photo scavenger hunts to dress up competitions. You will be able to find out what is in your Social Programme by taking a look at one of the notice boards in your Centre and referring to the schedule you are given on arrival.

Remember that you don´t always get a chance to go home after lessons, so make sure what you are wearing is appropriate for both lessons and for your activity.

HALF DAY EXCURSIONSRather than Afternoon/Morning Activities, you may half a Half Day Excursion instead. This just means that instead of doing something in your Course Town, you will take a coach to visit somewhere nearby. This will usually involve visiting a nearby attraction or city.

EVENING ACTIVITIESIn the evening, after dinner, you may have evening activities. This is when you will meet up with all of the other students and do something as a big group. Evening activities can range be anything from a quiet movie night to a party on the beach.

STUDENT DISCOAt most of our destinations there will be some student discos at a local club. This disco is for students under 18 years old only, and will be in the time slot of your Evening Activity.

You might want to bring some smarter clothes for the Student Disco, but it’s not a requirement. There may also be a theme for the Student Disco, so make sure you check the notice board.

INCLUDED EXCURSIONSAt the weekend you may have the chance for a full day excursions away from the Course Town. This means that you will be taking a coach to a nearby city to have a look around and see the sites. These excursions have already been paid for, so you will find details of where you will be going on your schedule.

OPTIONAL EXCURSIONSThere will be Optional Excursions. These are trips that are not included as part of your course fee, so you will need to pay extra to go on them. These attractions may be similar to Included Excursions, or they could be to local attractions such as theme parks.

Your Activity Leaders will speak to you during the week to let you know what Optional Excursions are going to be running that weekend. You will then need to give them the correct amount of money when you confirm your interest.

For all Activities and Excursions it is important that you don’t leave the group and walk away on your own. You must always stay in groups of at least three, and if there is anything you want to stop and look at you must tell your Activity Leader.

OVERNIGHT STAY IN LONDON If you are travelling to Bournemouth you will spend two nights in London. You will stay at a centrally located hostel with breakfast and dinner included in the price. You will be roomed with other students of the same gender, and will be given instructions on the premises when you arrive.

If you are in one of the other centres in the UK, trips into London will be included as weekend excursions.

OVERNIGHT STAY IN PARISIf you are travelling to Jersey, Bournemouth or Brighton via Paris you will spend two nights in Paris. You will stay at a hostel in Paris with breakfast included. Other meals will be taken together with your friends and leaders at a nice restaurant (not included in the price). There will be a guided sightseeing tour and you will have some spare time for shopping. During the day you will have the opportunity to visit

15www.sts.eu

Disneyland Paris. If you have not pre-booked your tickets to Disneyland you can buy them from your leader (estimate an additional EUR 50). Tickets are non-refundable. Expect a further EUR 12 for transfer by express train to and from the amusement park. You will leave Paris in the evening and travel to your final destination. Your host family will meet you in your course town in the morning. Don’t forget to bring pocket money for food and local transport.

OVERNIGHT STAY IN LOS ANGELESIf you are travelling to San Diego you will spend two nights in Los Angeles. You will stay at a hostel in LA with breakfast included. Other meals will be taken together with your friends and leaders (not included in the price).

OVERNIGHT STAY IN MIAMIIf you are travelling to Orlando and West Palm Beach you will spend two nights in Miami. You will stay at a hostel in Miami with breakfast included. Other meals will be taken together with your friends and leaders (not included in the price).

STUDENT RULESThese rules have been designed and agreed in order for you to have a safe and pleasant stay. Although some of the rules may seem harsh, remember that they are there for your own safety. Read them carefully. It is very important that these rules are followed!

1. ALL LESSONS, ACTIVITIES AND MEAL TIMES ARE MANDATORYLanguage studies are mandatory, as are all activities. If you are on one of our sports courses, attendance is mandatory at all training sessions. Leaders will keep an attendance list. If you are sick, you must inform your leader immediately!

If you are in a host family, you must also go home every weekday for dinner. If you fail to do so then disciplinary action will be taken.

2. NO BUYING CIGARETTES OR OTHER TOBACCOIt is strictly forbidden to smoke or use any tobacco products in all STS course towns. It is illegal and strictly forbidden to smoke by the schools STS uses in USA. This means that students are not allowed to purchase or consume any tobacco. Offenders will immediately be sent home at their own expense and will not be refunded for the remaining time. The student will not be accompanied by a leader for the journey back home.

3. NO ALCOHOL OR DRUGSSTS has zero tolerance for alcohol and drugs. This means that students are not allowed to purchase or consume alcoholic beverages or drugs. Offenders will immediately be sent home at their own expense and will not be refunded for the remaining time. The student will not be accompanied by a leader for the journey back home.

4. DON’T BE LATEIf you are running late for something, or are not able to show up at all, you must inform your host family or the Group Leader as soon as possible. This is most important for your morning lesson/activity, your dinner at your host family and your evening curfew. If you are 10–11 years of age you must be home by 9pm at the latest. Curfew for UK 12–14 years old is 10pm and 15–17 year olds is 11pm. For other destina-tions the curfew can vary from 9pm to 12pm.

5. BE INCLUSIVEWe welcome students from all different backgrounds and parts of the world. Any student found discriminating on the basis of nationality, sex, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, physical ability or age will be asked to leave the course.

6. BE FRIENDLYWe want the atmosphere on our courses to be friendly and welcoming. Anybody who is found bullying another student will face disciplinary procedures.

You should also be polite and respectful to your host family, Teachers and any other staff members.

16www.sts.eu

7. RESPECT YOUR HOST FAMILYMake sure you keep your room clean and tidy and do not leave your things lying around.

Remember that electricity and water are expensive in many countries, so ask the family before taking a bath or a shower. If you break anything then make sure you tell your Group Leader as soon as possible.

8. RESPECT YOUR ENVIRONMENT Please respect your host family´s home, the campus where you have your lessons, the resort staff and the Course Town you are staying in.

Always put litter in a bin. Don’t take food and drink into your classrooms or bedrooms. Do not vandalise or draw graffiti.

9. DO NOT STEALStealing is a criminal offence. Do not take anything from your host family, local shops or anywhere without asking or paying.

10. NO LIFE CHANGING DECISIONSDo not undertake any big decisions while you are abroad which could alter your life. This includes: getting a tattoo or piercing, getting married or pregnant. Students are expected to refrain from sexual activity while on the programme.

If you are found to be breaking any of the serious rules then you will be sent home immediately. If you are found to be continually or repeatedly misbehaving or not following the leaders’ instructions, then it’s possible you will be sent home.

In the event you are get sent home, it will be at your own expense. The student will not be accompanied by a leader for the plane journey home.

TIPS AND ADVICE• The weather could vary from 15 to 30 degrees in summer. It’s not unusual for it to rain and be sunny

in the same day, so be prepared for all situations!

• The plug could be different from those used in your home country. You may need to bring plug adapters with you in order to use your plugs and charge your phones etc.

• It is customary to tip 10% in restaurants in the UK. In the US you must give a min of 15%.

• In some countries the cars drive on the left hand side of the road. Make sure you look right before you cross the street, as the cars will be coming from another direction than you’re used to.

• You can download an offline map of your Course Town on Google Maps. You can use that to find your way around town even if you don’t have internet.

• Stay internet safe. Don’t go on any sites that show explicit material or talk to any strangers on the internet.

• Bring clothes for all kinds of weather, and if you can, bring two pairs of shoes in case one gets wet.

• Pack a book or something to keep you entertained during your flight. You may not be able to use your phone while on the flight, so you might want something else to do.

• Bring a suitcase with a lock to keep your valuables safe while in transit.

• Follow us on Instagram and Facebook to see what your fellow students are up to.

• Always sit on the bottom deck of the bus and try to travel in at least groups of three.

• Be friendly to everyone you meet. Always remember to say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’.

• Try everything once, you will have much more fun!

Please contact your local STS office if you have any questions.