Authentic, interesting, amusing, educational: these are just some of the requirements that most teachers have in mind while preparing an educational trip abroad. The benefits of immersive student travel are well documented: students experience new cultures and adventures while growing as individuals. This can be just as beneficial for teachers, the ones who actually design the trips and set up priorities.
1. Professionality
As the main adult responsible for a group of young (and some time careless) students, the most important thing is to rely on professional partners. From the travel agents to the insurance providers, the group of people involved in preparing the trip has to be as experienced and efficient as possible.
2. Learing, learning, learning
The expression describes it: educational. The main goal of these trips is for students to get in contact with new cultures, see in person monuments they have only seen in books and learn from other countrie´s history.
3. But not only….
One thing it´s clear: bring a group of teenagers from museum to museum for days and they will go insane. The content of an educational tour cannot only be about learning, fun is an important factor
4. Covering the essentials and completing it with hidden gems
If you go to Paris, you´ll need to visit The Eiffel Tower, Versailles or the Louvre. If you go to London, you´ll do the same with the London Tower or the London Eye, and that is applicable to the must see monuments in all the rest of towns and cities. But it´s always good to visit unexpected hidden spots, to bring the experience to the next level.
5. Feeling they are having a mini holiday
Coordinating a large group of students is hard work. That´s why the tour program should leave some free time for tour leaders/teachers to lay back and feel they should also be enjoying the experience abroad. This something to have in mind while designing the itineraries.
6. Meeting expectations
Once the trip is done and the group is back home the moment of truth will be to evaluate if the trip was up to what was expected. And if it was, probably repeating is not such a bad idea!