2017 Brighton Spring Pre Arrival Guide. 2nd April 23rd April

Transcription

1 2017 Brighton Spring Pre Arrival Guide 2nd April 23rd April

2 Brighton Language College Junior Vacation Courses 2016 (2 nd April 23 rd April 2017) Introduction Thank you for choosing the BLC Junior Vacation course. You will attend English classes and a range of fun activities and excursions. We have students from around the world studying at the school - enjoy your time with them; they and all the BLC staff are looking forward to meeting you. It will be a fantastic spring that you will never forget! This pre-arrival information will help you get ready for your course. We hope that this information is useful, but if you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us. Contact Details Before and during the Course: Brighton Language College Office hours (Monday Friday, 08:45-17:30): +44 (0) Hour Emergency Number: +44 (0) admissions@brightonlc.co.uk Locations A - Brighton Language College; 7 Old Steine, Brighton, BN1 1EJ 2

3 Arrival & Departure We operate Junior Sunday Coach Transfers which run on Sundays from/to London Heathrow and London Gatwick Airports ONLY. SUNDAY COACH SERVICE GBP 80 LONDON HEATHROW SUNDAY COACH SERVICE GBP 60 LONDON GATWICK Students arriving in the UK MUST book their flights scheduled to land at the airport between 8:00 and 18:00 ONLY. On departure the flight must leave between 11:00 and 19:00. BLC members of staff will be at the airport to welcome and assist the students to get onto the service. Please note that the Junior Sunday Coach Transfer is a shared service with other students running between the airports and Brighton and you may be required to wait at the airport for up to 4 hours (in exceptional circumstances this waiting time may be slightly exceeded) both when arriving to or leaving the UK. On departure, the Junior Sunday Coach Transfer will arrive at the airport no later than 2 hours before your flight departs. We must receive your flight details at least 20 days before the start of the course, as the service is exceptionally busy during the high season and advanced bookings are required. This must include the following information: Arrival date Arrival airport Arrival time Arrival terminal Arrival flight number Contact mobile number for the student Departure date Departure airport Departure time Departure terminal Departure flight number If we do not receive the information in time, we will not be able to guarantee a space on the service, and you will need to arrange a private taxi transfer through the school. If your flight is delayed, or you cannot find the BLC representative at the airport, call the 24-hour emergency telephone number +44 (0) Before your arrival, you should also provide us with your mobile telephone number in case we need to contact you. The Junior Sunday Coach Transfers only operates from London Heathrow and London Gatwick airports. If you are arriving at another airport (Stansted or Luton) you need to use our private taxi service please ask for a quote for the transfer. If you are having a private taxi transfer then we send you details of our driver before arrival and how to contact them if there is a problem. On departure, a member of the BLC team accompanies you to the departures terminal; however, our staff do not wait with students at the check-in desk. 3

4 Most airlines set a limit on how much your luggage can weigh. Please check with your airline in advance and ensure you do not exceed it. Remember also that certain items such as liquids, sharp articles, etc are not allowed to be taken on board in your hand luggage. Unaccompanied Minor Service Certain airlines have strict rules for students under the age of 16 travelling alone, and may require an adult to be present during the check-in and until the flight has departed. Please ensure you check your airline s requirements when booking your flight. If you require an Unaccompanied Minor Service (UMS) please request this on the application form, as BLC cannot guarantee a staff member to be present unless the check-in service was booked by you. First day at school On your first day at school you should arrive in our Main Building at 7 Old Steine at 8:45 for testing which starts at 9:00 and takes one hour. After the test, you attend an orientation with BLC staff members who give you further information on your course, activities, the school and Brighton. You also receive a welcome pack with city and bus maps and a guide. Please, remember to bring with you all the necessary school accessories including a pen, pencil and a notebook. You should also bring your passport/id card on the first day of school, as BLC staff need to take a copy of it. However after the first day, students should leave passports in a safe place in their room, so they do not lose them. Telephones As soon as possible after you arrive please call or text your family or ask your family member to call your Host Family so that they know you have arrived and you are safe. This call may be the following day depending on the time zone. If you have a mobile phone from your country, it can be very expensive to use (you may well be charged for both incoming and outgoing calls) when you are in another country, even just for texting. You can run out of credit quickly if you are not careful. We recommend that you use a UK SIM card, which are available free of charge from Reception. We ask students to keep their mobile telephones turned off during lessons, and may confiscate them if they are used during lessons. Students will have access to free Wi-Fi in our Main Building (Domain: BLC, Password: BLC123456). We suggest that you set up a web-based account (such as google mail or Hotmail) before you leave your country so that you can use it to contact friends and family while you are in England. Your parents can also send s to the school office during the course: admissions@brightonlc.co.uk 4

5 Welfare We understand that new experiences can be difficult for some students and we will help you settle in as soon as possible. We have a Welfare Officer called Shaun here at the school always available should you need to speak to someone privately about any problems/concerns you may have. All our staff are here to do everything we can to make your time with us enjoyable so if you have any questions please just simply approach one of the members of the team. Accommodation All year olds following the Brighton Spring courses stay with a host in homestay accommodation. You will share your room with another student from a different country. Please use this opportunity to practise your English after school as much as you can it helps you become more confident and you become fluent in no time! Living with a host has a lot of advantages. You need to remember that they treat you as part of their family, so you also need to treat them with respect and follow their house rules. Please read the additional homestay guidelines sheet provided with your homestay confirmation letter. Meals Your host makes you breakfast every morning, and expect you home to have dinner with them ever evening. If you are not going home for dinner, you must let your Host know as soon as possible. During the week you receive a packed lunch at the school from BLC staff. During weekends your host also provides you with a packed lunch if you are going on excursions, or you eat lunch with them. Dietary Requirements If you have any food allergies or special dietary requirements (eg. vegetarian, nut free) please ensure that you inform the school in writing before the beginning of the course. If you do not provide Brighton Language College with full details in writing prior to the start of the course, BLC do not accept any liability. English Lessons During lessons an emphasis is placed on improving your speaking and listening skills. We use textbooks, listening materials, as well as fun games and activities. We aim to make the lessons lively and interactive. On your first day at school you are tested to determine your level of English and placed in a class at your level. Only English language is allowed in class so please respect this rule and always speak English when communicating with other students. Activity Programme Please refer to the activity programme of afternoon/evening/weekend activities and excursions. We try to keep to this schedule but there may be times when we have to change things without prior notice due to circumstances beyond our control. All students MUST actively participate in all parts of the activity programme. 5

6 By enrolling on the course, parents/guardians consent to their child s full participation in all the activities that form part of the programme. Student Identity Card We provide a student identity card for all students, which have your details on it, the school address & phone number, the emergency phone number and homestay contact details. This must be carried with you at all times. Clothing Spring can still be a little bit cool, so bring some warm clothes. It can rain, so bring a waterproof coat and a small umbrella. Please bring suitable footwear (sports shoes and casual shoes). For sports we suggest that you bring sports clothing as well as training shoes. Try not to wear your best clothes during activities as they may get dirty Do not forget toiletries (shampoo, soap, tooth brush, and toothpaste etc). Please wear appropriate clothing for school. What to bring You need a notepad and some pens or pencils for class. A lockable bag or suitcase. British money (Pound Sterling) and small denomination (not 50 notes) Spare glasses if you wear contact lenses or glasses. Insurance documents Passport and tickets Pocket money and documents The course is all-inclusive but you may want to do shopping for presents or buy snacks and so on. 50/week is sufficient for most students. It is best if students bring British Pounds, however we can recommend places to exchange currency when needed. You should bring small denomination notes ( 5/ 10/ 20). Many shops do not accept 50 notes. We cannot accept any responsibility for loss or damage to students personal possessions. Students should bring their passport/id card on the first day of school, as BLC staff will need to take a copy. However after the first day, students should leave passports in a safe place in their room, so they do not lose them. Electricity The current in the UK is 240 volts. Sockets are 3-pin (square). If you plan to use electrical items while you are here you will need to bring an appropriate adaptor. 6

7 Laundry Hosts do your laundry once a week. If you need to have your washing done more often, there might be a small charge for it. It is best if you speak to your host on arrival, to find out about the house rules. Travel & Health Insurance BLC does not insure students against illness, accident or theft or loss of personal possessions. We strongly recommend that you obtain travel and medical insurance before arriving. Medical treatment in the UK is not always free for all visitors. If you are from the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland you should have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), this gives you the right to access state-provided healthcare during your vacation at a reduced cost, or sometimes for free. Brighton Language College is not liable for any medical bills related to students. It is essential that arrangements are made for students to have full insurance cover before they arrive in the UK. Medical Parents/Guardians must complete BLC s Medical Consent Form prior to your arrival. If you do not provide BLC with full details of any allergies or medical issues in writing prior to the start of the course BLC will not accept any liability. Laws and Rules We ask you to follow a list of rules. These are fair and are made with safety and the smooth running of the course as priorities. When continued inappropriate behaviour occurs, we will contact your parents to discuss the matter. You will attend all lessons, arranged activities and excursions, unless you are unwell. You are responsible for keeping your room tidy and making your own bed, however your host will clean the room on a weekly basis. Any damage to property, equipment and rooms by you will be charged to you/your parents. Alcohol is not permitted. Drug-taking or suspicion of drug-taking of any kind will result in immediate dismissal. Smoking is not permitted on school premises at any time or on activities/excursion. Bullying in any form is not tolerated and will result in expulsion from the school. You will show courtesy to all staff, teachers and hosts and behave in a civilized manner at all times. We consider repeated bad behaviour, breaking school rules or any illegal activity to be very serious issues and we will not hesitate to send you home at your parent s expense with no refund. 7

8 Please be aware that the following are illegal and will involve action by the police: Buying or smoking cigarettes. Buying or drinking alcohol. Stealing or shoplifting. Drug taking. Safety Advice Please make sure all valuables are safe - your passport/id card, money, phone, watch and so on. When on excursions please be especially careful as to where you leave your belongings and watch out for pickpockets in crowds. It is a good idea to have some British currency when you arrive; however, if you have a bank card, you may be able to withdraw British currency at any cash machine. Small denomination notes are best, as many shops and businesses do not accept 50 notes. When you are outside the school always stay near the BLC group. It is easy to get lost. If you do get lost, go to the nearest official person/place (police officer, bank, post office, school, etc.) to find your way back. You can also call the school s emergency phone. If you swim in the sea please be careful. There can be some dangerous currents, and it is very easy to get tired. Stay near where the lifeguards are. If strangers approach you or try to talk to you, be polite - but also be careful. Most British people are very friendly, but if the person makes you feel uncomfortable or threatens you, move away. Never accept a lift from a stranger, however friendly they may seem. Cars, buses drive on the LEFT in Britain - look first to your RIGHT when you cross the street. Always listen to what BLC staff ask you to do. We are there to help you. Daily Timetable 09:00-10:30 First morning class session 10:30-10:45 Break 10:45-12:15 Second morning class session 12:15-13:30 Lunch 13:30-17:00 Activities/Excursions 17:00-18:00 Dinner with host family 19:00-21:00 Evening activity 20:30 Curfew for students aged 12 # 22:00 Curfew for students aged :00 Curfew for students aged # Unless on BLC organised activity. Please note that all activity end times are approximate. Promotion BLC may wish to use photographs or video images of students on the courses for future promotional purposes. If parents do not wish to permit this for their children they should write to the Director to that effect before the start of the course. 8