“I went to Alessandria near Washington” begins Marc Perrault. He chose Eurocentre to organize his stay. “I wanted to change from England”. At 33 years-old, Marc works for the army in the export department. He loves training. “I love to learn” he says. He has paid for his 2 weeks trip and flew during his holidays. “I chose an intensive business English program”, 25 hours of courses per week in a group of 10 to 12 students. “What is best if that students come from all over the world” says Marc. He has chosen to stay in a host family: “perfect” he exclaims. My English level has increased dramatically. Thanks to the courses, the family and the other students. This year Marc is travelling to London. “For me it is essential. Too many people are self-satisfied with their English level” concludes Marc.

 “My parents have offered me to travel. I chose the USA.”

Benoit Delavault is 17 years-old. He chose Florida with STS. “It was my first language trip” says Benoit: “My parents proposed me to travel. I chose the USA. I didn’t want to go to England. The host families are not always great there” he explains. He has hesitated between California and Florida. “I chose Florida because of the dates” he explains. I was in a very nice family, with a daughter and friends of my age.” 2 courses per week in groups of 15 students. “We did games in English. We review a few grammar rules”. The teacher is American.

Helped by the French teacher who comes with the group. An activity is organised every afternoon at 5:00pm. “We went to the YMCA to do sport. We visited Disney World, Universal Studio and See World” tells Benoit. “The time spent with my family is my best souvenir!” Benoit has made progress, overall in speaking English in class. “4 weeks were perfect. At the end, you do not want to come back” concludes Benoit.

 “When you come back, you are more open-minded and tolerant”.

Denis Ducamp is 23 years-old. “One day I decided to leave. Like that. Without thinking too much. I called several schools and I finally chose Humboldt State University,” he starts. Humboldt is in California, 500 km north of San Francisco. “Between giant sequoia forests and the pacific ocean”, he describes. Denis stayed 6 months with a 5,500 euro budget. “I wanted to improve my English of course, but I also wanted to test myself. At the beginning you are in the 4th dimension, the first month is hard, he explains. “I came to work”. 20 hours of courses per week. In December, all the group has done the TOEFL exam to test the level.

Denis has scored 517, the “bridge level”! Thanks to his progress, he was able to take courses at the University where he chose political sciences and international business. “Back in France, I was depressed.

I came back to Humboldt one month later. I went 8 weeks too. Today, I have 567 points at the TOEFL exam!” He spared money during one year to pay his trip! “I like the American way of life. Everything is easier. You have less stress”, he explains.

My best souvenir is my last night. All my friends were there, even Don Andrews, the program director”, he remembers. “When you come back, you are more open-minded, more tolerant, more understanding. I have completely changed. It all started with one of my teachers telling me: “Come on Denis, open your mind!!”. “Now, I try to take the best of everything. It is worth making sacrifices for this kind of experience!!” he concludes before his new trip.

 “I had to improve my English level for my work.”

Alexandra Berd is 27 years-old, she works at Euro-Disney Development. “I had to improve my English level for my work”. I chose Washington. She went 4 weeks in July. “I wanted to stay in a host family. I was in a very nice family, 20 minutes from the school by bus”.

4 hours of courses per day with 7 to 12 students in each class. There was a majority of Asiatic students. Each afternoon, the library for books and video tapes and a self-access laboratory. “There is an exam at the beginning to evaluate our level. I was 5 on a 9 level scale. A medium level. At the end of my stay, I was 6”, she explains. During the afternoons, Alexandra watches a lot of videos. At the week end she travels with her family. “I spent 4 days in New York. I felt good there, the Americans are so nice. The USA is really a magic country”, she says, delighted. “I made progress, overall in understanding. I would like to go back”, concludes Alexandra.