Step by Step How-to

First step: Contact ISE and meet your coordinator

Let us know you'd like to travel! ISE offers many destinations and itinerary options. Our friendly coordinators can help you choose the program that is right for you (we can even chat in the target language if you want). Don’t see what you are looking for? Ask us about organizing a Custom Program to meet your specific needs! Consider us your GPS system for the whole journey. Whenever you need something, just give us a call. This is a great time to request plenty of program booklets for your parent meeting. Request info here!

Second step: Your classroom

Now that you’ve chosen a program, it’s time to plant the seed! Your students and their parents will appreciate having plenty of extra time to prepare and save for this life changing experience. Getting a head start puts your travel program on the calendar first. This may help boost enrollment when competing with other school trips and events. Early groups are always the biggest and most successful groups. Show the ISE DVD in your eligible classes to motivate students. Encourage students to go home and talk to their parents about this opportunity.

Third step: School board meeting

Let the school board know you are planning a cultural immersion travel program so that you can go through the appropriate steps to get approval. ISE is a non-profit educational organization, which makes it easy to present our programs to the school board. Over the last 35 years we have come to understand that this process can sometimes be very involved so there is no better time to begin than now. Call or email us to request ISE’s Approval Support Packet now!

Fourth step: Recruitment center

Generate excitement! A few hints on how to do it:

• Use school and local media to get the word out to all eligible language classes.
• Ask your colleagues to make announcements in their classrooms, or, visit their classes yourself.
• In class, use phrases like “When we go to Quebec you will visit a sugar shack (cabane á sucre),” to insprire students.
• Hang ISE posters in your classroom and around school to advertise the program as well as an upcoming student/parent interest meeting.
• Ask your star students to recruit their friends and classmates.
• Consider collaborating with other schools in your area to increase group enrollment.

Fifth step: Parent meeting

Hold an informational night for parents early. Let them know the value of an ISE program. Early meetings mean parents have more time to budget. Whenever possible, invite veteran travelers to your meeting to give testimonials about their experiences abroad. Look here for helpful hints on holding a successful Parent Meeting.

Sixth step: Register with ISE

Register your students early to take advantage of our Early Bird Special. Travel just doesn’t seem to be getting any cheaper. Why not give your students a break and help them take advantage of all possible savings by registering early?

Your students aren’t the only ones that benefit from our Early Bird Special, you will too! In most cases, ISE offers 50% higher leader stipends to teachers for each student who enrolls as an Early Bird. Ask us for details!

Seventh step: ISE Teacher Workshop

Spend a winter weekend with your colleagues preparing for your upcoming travel program. The Teacher Workshop is a very inspiring, informative and fun get-together of the ISE staff and leader teams. This provides you with the perfect opportunity to meet your co-leaders, get acquainted with each other and share ideas for successful family stays. Get tips on how to establish a commitment to target language use while abroad. You will receive a formal invitation from ISE. We look forward to your positive response. Your students will greatly appreciate your attendance!

Eighth step: Preparation hub

ISE believes that thoughtful preparation is the key to a successful and rewarding experience abroad. This is why we provide you with the ISE Culture Toolbox and classroom materials to share with your students through study sessions (normally scheduled outside of class). Study sessions allow you to practice useful vocabulary and common phrases students will encounter during travel and the family stay. Role-play common situations so students feel confident using the target language outside of the confines of your classroom. Internet research, testimonials from returning alumni and from your own travel experiences are also excellent ways to help students feel better prepared and more at ease prior to departure. Let ISE do the rest. We will provide you with:

• A calendar of mailings and deadlines
• Monthly "Looking Ahead" email updates
• Itinerary information
• Host family information
• ISE Culture Toolbox and Study Materials
• Financial aid, college credit and more…
   

Last step: Your country of destination! 
Bon Voyage!   ¡Buen Viaje!  Gute Reise!