2009 Junior Summer Program Abroad - GERMANY

Introduction

With Cultural Embrace's junior summer program in Höchst, Hintersee and Berlin, Germany is the ideal choice for all those who want to discover a foreign language and at the same time make new friends from all over the world. Participants will study German in the mornings and spend their afternoon and evenings involved with various social, cultural, and recreational activities. Thus, German is not only spoken in the classroom with the teachers or after school with their counselors, but also during playtime, sports, and other activities. 

Designed for students to gain personal, cultural, communication, social and leadership skills, and to discover the German language and culture. We offer an 'all-inclusive' program with students divided between the same age-group and language skills level, that share similar interests. Our local partners in Germany are qualified instructors that focus on the improvement of language comprehension and on the refinement of vocabulary. Guided leisure time activities are scheduled for every afternoon, evening, and weekend. Meals and housing will be included in safe, conveniently located on-campus. There are separate bathrooms for male and female students on each floor, and rooms will be shared in double and triple rooms. Special dietary diets and meals can be prepared on request. 

Discover the Similarities - Share the Differences!


 

Programs Benefits & Highlights

A Summer in Germany Offers:

    • Learn German in a multicultural, healthy, and friendly environment 
    • Experience German culture and traditions with friendly and qualified supervision by native teachers, monitors and staff
    • An opportunity to broaden your perspective and worldview
    • An opportunity to participate in and learn German cultural activities (e.g.: language, cooking, crafts)
    • Discover Germany with memorable travel experiences and ways to see exotic sites you have always dreamed about 
    • The ability to make lifelong friends from around the globe 
    • A great way to develop and support your self-confidence and interpersonal skills 

Cultural Embrace Offers:

  • 20 German lessons per week
    50 minutes per lesson provided in to 4 lessons per day. Three different levels of German range from elementary II, intermediate I & II (absolute beginners are offered only on July 1st in Berlin). A maximum of 12 students per group. Classes taught by native German teachers. A combination of grammar, written, and conversational methodologies taught.
  • Room & Board
    Residential accommodations in Berlin, a junior residence in Hintersee, and a youth guesthouse in Höchst and full board are included with your program. Special dietary/allergy needs will be met upon request.
  • Classroom Materials
    Study materials for class are provided (textbook/workbook and photocopies of exercises).  
  • Social Activities and Excursions
    Daily social activities and full-day excursions once a week are included.
  • Internet Access
    Free email, internet, and library/video room access, where available.
  • Travel Insurance:  Basic Traveler's Medical Coverage 
    Our program includes a basic international traveler's medical coverage. Cultural Embrace highly recommends upgrading to a premium package.
  • Arrival Assistance 
    An one-way airport pick-up and transfer is available from Frankfurt or Berlin airport. Return service can be arranged for additional fees.
  • Cultural Embrace Kit
    Useful tips, advice, and information to prepare you for the amazing adventure of traveling abroad.
  • 24-Hours Full-time Representation & Supervision
    Cultural Embrace provides English speaking representation in the United States and Germany prior to, during, and after your placement.

 


 

Program Description

GERMANY: Höchst, Berlin
Höchst:
  This small and pleasant city (only 10,000 inhabitants) lies in the northern part of the Odenwald mountains in the southeast of Frankfurt and is a popular health and holiday resort. Cinemas, restaurants, cafes, various festivities and the spacious woods offer many leisure activities.

Our summer program takes place in a former convent, now a very nice youth guest house. It is located directly in the city center of Höchst im Odenwald. The residence offers good leisure-time options, including a park with large sports fields. The house includes hobby-work rooms as well as television and billiard rooms, a hall with a big stage and a basement rec center. The residence offers double and triple rooms, bathrooms, and showers are located on each floor.

Hintersee: Spend your summer enfolded in the beautiful German Alps at their most glorious time of the year; the Hintersee program is embedded in a fascinating  natural landscape at the foot of Germany's third highest mountain and located directly on the waterside.  Hintersee offers enough space for modern classrooms, accommodations and free time activities such as kayaking, swimming and rowing on the crystal clear mountain lake.  Enjoy everything Germany has to offer, including hiking glaciers and exploring deep forests, bowling alleys and a gym, full-board, and a knowledgable staff.

Berlin:  Berlin is a magnet city because of it's fascinating history as a divided city, the fall of the wall in 1989 and the survival of 40 years of political division as well as the rapid and dynamic development of the city and its regained function as being the capital of Germany. Berlin's huge variety of cultural attractions is one reason for the charm of this fascinating city. Moreover, Berlin is a friendly, tolerant and multi-cultural place to be.
The residence is located the quiet Berlin-Steglitz district in the south of the city.The residence is equipped with an internet-cafe and offers excellent opportunities for leisure time activities. City-train and subway stations are situated close to the residence and provide frequent public transport connections to downtown Berlin. Each floor of the 4-story building have double or triple rooms, with separate male and female bathrooms and showers on each floor.

A Sample Schedule in Germany
Sunday am:  Arrival of the participants. Brunch.
Sunday pm:  Welcome (Wilkommen!) Party
Monday to Friday am:  4 lesson hours
Monday pm:  Town walk, workshops, sports, games, internet
Tuesday pm:  Sports, theme night
Wednesday pm:  Half-day excursions, city walks
Thursday pm:  Workshops, sports, presentations, games, art/crafts
Friday pm: Workshops, open stage, party
Saturday am: Full-day excursions
Saturday pm: Night walks, party


Activities and Excursions

Our experience has taught us that excursions and cultural visits are a very important part of the learning process. These activities allow students to understand in more detail Germany’s rich, varied culture and rooted traditions. This is why we organize a half-day and full-day excursion each week. Sample excursions are as follows:

Höchst: Half-day excursions take place once a week to cities like Aschaffenburg, Erbach, and Darmstadt. A full-day excursion to Frankfurt, Heidelberg, Mainz, or the Rhine valley is organized once a week.

Hintersee: Full day excursions take place once a week to places like Salzburg, Munich, Chiemsee, and half-day excursions to Lake Königssee and the Obersalzberg.

Berlin:  Excursions will be arranged to discover Berlin and its nearby attractions. Participants will visit historical and cultural interests in Berlin or Potsdam.


2009 Program Fees

Start Dates: dependant on locations, most programs are available beginning June 28th and end August 18th.  
Duration: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 weeks
Schools/locations: Höchst, Berlin, Hintersee
*Camp available for absolute beginners on July 1 in Berlin only

Duration

Höchst Price

Hintersee Price

Berlin Price

2 weeks

€1150

€1250

€1350

3 weeks

€1650

1850

€2000

4 weeks

€2150

2450

€2650

5 weeks

€2650

3050

3300

6 weeks

€3150

n/a

€3950
*Prices subject to change based on currency exchange rates
**Can$, Aus$, Br£, Euros€ can be accepted with an additional service charge for currency conversion
***Fee includes: 20 lessons of German/week, accommodations, all meals, health insurance, textbooks, activities, excursions, 24-7 supervision


How to Apply

1. Obtain the Cultural Classes Application Forms & Procedures documents in one of three ways:

(a) Download the forms:  Cultural Classes Form (PDF).

(b) Fill out an online application request form and the forms will be e-mailed to you within 2-3 days.

(c) Call Cultural Embrace at 1-512-469-9089 or 1-866-282-8511(US/Canada toll-free) to have the forms mailed to you in 7-10 days. 

2. Read the instructions carefully and complete all forms.

3. Submit your completed application packet to:

CULTURAL EMBRACE
7201 Bill Hughes Rd
Austin, TX 78745

Completed packet should include:

  • Cultural Classes Program Application
  • Signed Cultural Classes Agreement
  • Copy of your passport (information page only)
  • Two 1½" x 2" official passport-size photos, signed on the back
  • US$200 non-refundable application fee

 

 

For any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at info@culturalembrace.com or you can call us at 1-512-469-9089 or  1-866-282-8511 (US/Canada toll-free).

 

Upon receipt of your application, a Cultural Embrace coordinator will contact you for a 20-30 minutesphone interview. Once we accept you in to our program, you will receive an invoice for the remainder of your program fee. In order for us to contact our local partners to start your placement process, we require at least 50% of your program fee.

We recommend submitting your application and program fee at least 12-16 weeks prior to your desired start date in order for us to organize and arrange your volunteer placement.

*Cultural Embrace requires an expedited application fee for those applying 12 weeks or less before the desired date of departure. Applications received 8-12 weeks prior to desired departure date will be charged $150. Applications received less than 8 weeks before the desired departure date will be charged $250.