International Students | Junior Program | www.explo.org
For Junior Program students coming from other countries, we know that the trip from abroad is a big one, which is why it is so important to us that our international students have a successful (and fun) boarding experience with us.
Explo prides itself on including international students in the full summer experience. We want our international students to feel at home while they are with us. With a 1-to-5 faculty-to-student ratio, our students are sure to get the individualized attention they need, whether it is from their Residential Advisors (RAs) on the dorm hall, from their teachers in the classroom, or from staff members they are throwing a frisbee with in the quad. Every international student who comes to Explo has a different comfort level with traveling far from home. Our staff is there to respond to and support each of them.
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For students from other cultures and nationalities, spending a summer at the Junior Program is a great opportunity to learn, play, dance, and have fun. And for students looking for a positive boarding experience, one where they will surely feel welcomed and make friends from around the world, Explo is unquestionably the place for them.
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Junior Program International FAQ
| International FAQs |
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| Why have so many international families chosen Exploration over the years? We are told that our long history with international students has made it comfortable for families to trust Exploration. It is exciting for international students to meet students from the United States, as well as from all over the world. At Exploration, students get to practice their English speaking skills in an accepting and helpful atmosphere that immerses students in American culture while also being very open to learning about the cultures of our international students. We offer English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) as a course for all students who want to learn more of the basics of the English language and American Culture. Our weekend trips further expose international students to sites of cultural and historical interest in the Northeast, the birthplace of America. |
| Students at the Junior Program are very young. Is this really a good age to send international students? Yes. In fact, if a student is looking to become fluent in English, there is no better time. Young children are like sponges, and their ability to soak up a new language is better the younger they are. Because we make classes, activities, and trips so much fun, students do not feel like they are in school and are very eager to get involved in the Program. Junior Program students improve their spoken English quite quickly. |
| I understand that the younger a student is in an English immersion setting, the faster their English will improve. But my child is young and not very independent. How will he/she be cared for? We understand that international families are anxious about sending their children far from home. Exploration understands children very well. We know what they are capable of and we have high expectations of them. But we also know where they will struggle. We make sure they change their clothes daily, that they brush their teeth daily, and that they wash their hair and take showers regularly. We take students to meals and make sure they are eating properly. The day is very structured and kind-hearted, caring adults are always nearby. Students tell us that one of their favorite aspects of the program is the staff. Our staff members are very responsible, warm, well rounded people who love children. We train and supervise our staff well, and in turn, they care and supervise students well. |
| Do international students really get to experience authentic American culture at Exploration? Just spending time with American students will give a great taste of American culture. We offer English for Speakers of Other Languages as a course for all students who want to learn more of the basics of the English language and American culture. Our weekend trips further expose international students to sites of cultural and historical interest in the Northeast, the birthplace of America. |
| How many students are international at the Junior Program?
At the Junior Program, usually 20-25% of the residential students are international. In addition, there are some international students who attend as day students. They stay with family members or friends who live in the area, or some international parents choose to stay in a Boston area hotel or apartment while their children attend as day students. |
| Where do your international students come from?
They come from all over. Australia, Brazil, China, England, France, Germany, India, Italy, Jordan, Korea, Panama, and Venezuela are just some of the countries the Junior Program has seen represented recently. |
| How does your Program approach cultural differences, either between your students’ home culture and American culture, or two non-American cultures? Before students arrive, the staff practice solutions to the problems that may arise because of cultural differences. Through scenarios, role-plays, and talks from professionals with experience in schools with diverse student bodies, our staff and administration prepare to gracefully integrate our wide-ranging student body. We have found that creating an atmosphere on campus that emphasizes respect and celebrates differences has been the key to making sure that a wonderful mix of students and staff enjoy their summer. |
| What level of English proficiency is necessary to attend Exploration?
Because all of our courses, activities, and correspondence with students are conducted in English, it is important that students have at least an intermediate level of English proficiency. If students are not yet at this level, they can enroll in our Early English Language Learners (EELL) program. |
| Does Exploration offer ESOL classes?
Yes, there are ESOL classes offered for both age groups. Students who enroll in ESOL will also take a second non-ESOL class of their choosing. |
| Does Exploration require international students to take ESOL classes?
No. If a student's English is proficient, the student does not need to take ESOL. Sometimes a student will be switched into ESOL with the family's permission if it is clear the student is struggling with the language in his/her classes. |
| What kind of visa do I need for Exploration?
Students coming to the program only need a B-2 visa, or traveler's visa. Many countries are exempt from this through a visa waiver program. Contact our Admissions Office for more information on which countries require a visa. |
| What if I am unable to obtain a visa? Can I get a full refund?
It is rare for a student who is enrolled in an Exploration Program to have difficulty procuring a visa. Should this happen, Exploration would be happy to provide a full refund upon receipt of evidence showing the student was denied a visa. |
| Will my insurance work in the US? If not, how do I enroll in Exploration’s insurance? International students are required to carry American accident and health coverage, which may be purchased through Exploration. International participants and others without this coverage will be billed each session for a short term accident/health policy. |
| What is the best way to get payment to you?
Payments may be made by check or international wire. Credit cards are accepted for online deposits only, not for final payments. All payments, including deposits, tuition, and cash advances must be made in US funds. We will not accept checks drawn on a foreign bank. Click here for payment information. |
| How do you coordinate travel to and from the Program on arrival and departure days? Are there any additional costs? For the Junior Program, we have staff ready to pick up and drop off students at Logan International Airport in Boston. We ask that families find flights that arrive between 1:00pm and 5:00pm on arrival day, and flights that depart between 8:30am and 1:30pm on departure day. Most children fly as Unaccompanied Minors and are met by our staff at the gate, although some parents arrive at Logan with their child and drop him/her off with our staff at a central location to be taken back to campus. Students who fly alone will be sent an Exploration t-shirt so they can be easily spotted by our staff (also wearing Exploration t-shirts). Due to increased security measures, only children flying as Unaccompanied Minors may be met at the gate. There are no additional charges to pick students up at the airport. |
| Does Exploration offer any assistance in planning travel to and from the Program? In order to help families make travel arrangements for their children, Exploration has partnered with Colpitts World Travel. Colpitts is a leader in international travel assistance and is capable of helping families plan safe, full-service travel arrangements to and from Exploration. By booking through Colpitts, you can quickly determine how many other Exploration students are already on a flight and whether the flight arrives during our regular airport pick-up hours. If it does not, Colpitts can book travel between the airport and campus through another Exploration transportation partner, BostonCoach. Colpitts negotiates discounts with the major airlines and therefore, their pricing is very competitive. |
| Early English Language Learners (EELL) FAQs |
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| How long will the classes be?
The EELL course will be a double class period. Students will have a short break in the middle of the period that corresponds to the break for the other students at the Junior Program. |
| How often do the EELL classes meet?
Students will have their EELL class every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Pioneer- age students (grades 4 and 5) will have their EELL class in the mornings and then participate in afternoon activities with other Pioneers. Voyager-age students (grades 6 and 7) will participate in activities with Voyagers in the morning and then have their EELL class in the afternoon. |
| How big will the class be?
The classes are capped at 8 in order to allow for more teacher interaction and individualized language learning. |
| What kinds of things will they be doing in class?
Students learn best when they are engaged and excited. For this reason, students will learn English through art, science, music, and even sports. Students may visit places such as the police and fire stations, the supermarket, or a local park. During the course, students will order food in a simulated restaurant, construct large-scale 3D buildings, mold cars and trains out of clay, and study plants and animals around campus. Throughout, they will be speaking English and will be learning to work (and play) in the language. |
| Will EELL students participate in activities, workshops, and trips with students from the rest of the Junior Program? Yes, yes, and yes. These will be the times when students will get to practice their English with the other students at Exploration. Each day, EELL students can pick their afternoon activities, and on the weekends, they can choose where they want to go on trips just like other Exploration students. |
| Will EELL students live together or with other students?
EELL students will not live on a separate residential hall. They will be in living groups with native English-speaking students, participating in hall activities and eating meals with English speakers. (EELL students will not necessarily have an native English speaker for a roommate. They may live with another international or EELL student.) |
| Can my child enroll for a six-week EELL program or two three-week EELL courses? An EELL student certainly can enroll in the Junior Program for six weeks. However, one three-week EELL course is meant to provide students with enough of an introduction to the language to be prepared to enter one of the general Explo courses that is appropriate to their level of English. Thus, for the second session, students will take one ESOL class and one regular enrichment course. |
