Does your teen want to get some fresh air ? You want him/her to acquire autonomy and maturity ? His level of English can be improved ? It’s probably the right time to offer him a whole school year in Ireland !
With Linguifamily, you have the possibility to find a host family ready to welcome your child for 9 months in full board. From September to May, he will follow the same schooling as an Irish student of his age.
Let’s find out how to organize and book this school year in Ireland.
Schooling ” à l’irlandaise “
From the age of 12 to 18, young Irish people attend secondary schools with successively the ” junior cycle “(between 12 and 15 years old) sanctioned by the Junior Certificate which corresponds to the French Brevet des Collèges then the ” senior cycle “(from 16 to 18 years old) sanctioned by the Leaving Certificate (which corresponds to the French Baccalauréat). Students have classes Monday through Friday, from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. A school year consists of 36 weeks of classes (from September to May). The exams take place in June. The Irish school year is the shortest in Europe.
Linguifamily host families can help you with the registration of your child in the Irish school.
Transition Year or Année de Transition
An optional year called the transition year (TY) is often completed between the junior and senior years. This transition year is carried out in the form of projects with various themes: tourism, student safety at work, popular culture, nutrition, sports coaching, media and communication, cooking, horticulture, etc. 15 year olds can work on these discovery topics and develop other skills.
Linguifamily’s advice : if your child is about to turn 15 or is entering the second year of high school, opt for this year with fewer academic subjects. It is less academic and without examination.
Irish particularity : the uniform
All students wear uniforms. It consists of pants (or shorts or skirt), a polo shirt, a sweater bearing the coat of arms of the school in which he/she is enrolled, as well as a sports outfit. The cost (approximately 200€) is the responsibility of the student.
Good to know : Most Irish families opt for second hand and they can help you get one. A clever way to reduce expenses.
Host family : when to book ?
Irish host families welcome your teenagers for the school year, from September to May, that is to say 9 months (except Christmas school vacations). The accommodation is full board, generally in a single room, and offers the advantage of total immersion in the warmth of an Irish family. Reservations are being made now and will close in April, the deadline for registration in secondary schools. As our families also receive requests from other language schools, we advise you to book as early as December-January in order to be sure to have a place.
Attention : reservations for the 2022/2023 school year have already started ! There are only 6 places left at Geraldine’s in Waterford, Bernie’s in Waterford, Sean’s in Dublin, Barra’s in Dublin, Chris’ in Westport and Caroline’s in Westport.
Leave for a year. For whom ?
This 9-month academic and cultural immersion is specially adapted to all young middle and high school students :
- from 12 to 18 years old,
- with a good academic record,
- motivated, curious and autonomous,
- capable of being open-minded,
- willing to experience a new schooling.
Parents must also be able to let go of their child and accept that he or she will be away for a school year.
This year of immersion in Ireland is also an opportunity to enjoy the St. Patrick’s Day festivities on March 17, a popular 100% Irish celebration !
Back to French school
The advantage of going abroad for a full academic year allows the student to return to his or her French curriculum upon his or her return. His or her year in Ireland is counted as a school year in its own right, which is not necessarily the case when a student only goes for 3 or 6 months. The best thing to do is to anticipate and discuss this with your school principal.
Linguifamily’s advice : Remember to fill out a re-registration form for the French school you wish to attend in the second term.
Formalities
Since Ireland is in Europe, no visa is required ! Your teenager must have a valid ID until the end of the stay.
He/she must also have the European Health Insurance Card, which allows him/her to cover any care provided during his/her stay.
An authorization to leave the territory(AST) must be filled out for young people under 18 years old.
How much does it cost?
The price of full board for 9 months varies from 11500 to 15000 euros depending on the family.
In addition, there are tuition fees, the prices of which vary depending on the school and what they include in their fees (fees for sports activities, teaching materials, etc.). These establishments are largely funded by the State. The education is of high quality and much cheaper than in England. The cost of enrolling in a “classic” year is approximately 250 € and 600 € for a “Transition Year”.
You will also need to rent or buy books, uniforms and additional insurance (AXA Travel insurance does not cover stays longer than 3 months).
Linguifamily will be able to inform you about the exact cost of the school year depending on the host family and the school.
Linguifamily Guarantee
COVID-19 : 100% reimbursement if the stay is made impossible by measures taken by the Public Authorities in France or abroad.
Let go peacefully
For a language stay of this duration, we recommend :
- Talk about it with your child and include him/her in the preparations
- Anticipate well by preparing yourself at least 10 months in advance
- Respect the administrative formalities (reservation, registration file, insurance, etc.)
- Offer your child the opportunity to immerse himself in the Irish culture
- Communicate with the host family before departure. If you wish, we will arrange a video conference with the host family before making a final reservation.
Is your teen interested in doing a school year in Ireland? Linguifamily will help you organize this project!
Contact Linguifamily at 06 76 61 31 52 or send us a message via our contact form.
