benefits

Embrace the weather & live for Poutine!

Ah, the joys of attending a Canadian boarding school as an international student. It’s a unique experience that can provide you with a world-class education, cultural immersion, and will be a lot of fun along the way, eh!? (ps. living in Canada means that instead of verbs and nouns, you just add “eh” to the end of every sentence, eh? (Only joking)) Anyway, let’s dive into the benefits of attending a Canadian boarding school…

1. You’ll learn to love the cold (or the rain!)

Let’s be real, most of Canada is known for its chilly weather. But attending a boarding school in Canada will make you embrace the cold like a true Canadian. You’ll learn to love the cozy feeling of a warm jacket, gloves, and a hat as you walk to class. Plus, all that snow and ice will give you the perfect opportunity to perfect your ice skating skills. Who knows, maybe you’ll even be the next Olympic figure skater?

That said, if you’re in British Columbia the weather isn’t as cold…it’s much more like Northern Europe but it does rain a lot in the winter…ever heard of RAINcouver!? So don’t forget to pack your wet weather gear! Like my Dad always said…”there’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing”!

2. You’ll get used to eating poutine

Poutine, the beloved Canadian dish of fries, gravy, and cheese curds, might seem a bit strange at first. But trust us, after a few months at a Canadian boarding school, you’ll be eating it like a local. And hey, maybe you’ll even learn how to make it yourself and impress your friends back home.

3. You’ll make lifelong friends from around the world

Attending a Canadian boarding school means you’ll be living and learning with students from all over the world. You’ll have the opportunity to make friends from different cultures, backgrounds, and languages. These friendships can last a lifetime and give you a global perspective that you can’t get anywhere else.

4. You’ll have access to top-notch education

Canadian boarding schools are known for their rigorous academic programs, talented teachers, and state-of-the-art facilities. You’ll be challenged academically and have access to opportunities that can help you succeed in university and beyond. Plus, the small class sizes mean you’ll get personalised attention from your teachers and be able to ask questions without feeling like you’re interrupting the entire class.

5. You’ll be able to explore your adventurous side

Canada is a playground for adventure enthusiasts, offering a plethora of thrilling activities to keep students on their toes. For starters, there’s skiing and snowboarding in the winter months, with the country boasting some of the best ski resorts in the world. In the summer, students can take on the rapids by going white-water rafting, or explore the country’s scenic hiking trails. Whatever your adventure style, Canada has something to offer for every student looking for an unforgettable experience.

6. You’ll become a master of multitasking

Living in a boarding school means you’ll have to juggle academics, extracurricular activities, and social life. But don’t worry, you’ll become a pro at multitasking. You’ll learn how to manage your time effectively, prioritise your responsibilities, and still have time for fun. And hey, if you can handle living in a boarding school, you can handle anything life throws your way.

So, there you have it, the benefits of attending a Canadian boarding school for international students. From embracing the weather to mastering multitasking, attending a Canadian boarding school can provide you with a unique and unforgettable experience. Who knows, maybe you’ll even end up staying in Canada after graduation – we hear the healthcare is pretty good.

Sam Ridgway (L&E Director)

Why is travel good for teenagers?

Our teen travel expert, Julie explains 5 different factors why travel is so good for teens and how L&E Teen Travel trips give young people the life skills for future journeys…

Experiencing other cultures

In this day in age it is vastly important for young adults to be in touch with a global world and they can do this by discovering other cultures and customs.  Learning about other cultures helps foster understanding and helps us recognise and respect that there is more than one way of ‘being’.  Travel is the best way to experience a different perspective and to also recognise how much we all have in common.

Understanding how to budget money…

By giving teenagers financial responsibility they will learn the true cost of things and not be so frivolous with their spending.  They may make some mistakes, but it is better to learn the hard way when the amounts are small and the repercussions are light.  By creating things like spreadsheets the teens will be able to track incomings and outgoings which will help them manage their spending to make sure they have enough money for the whole trip!

The ability to communicate effectively in a group…

The art of verbal communication is such a vital skill, from asking for directions to job interviews. Teenagers will need to learn to speak for themselves and have the confidence to do so.  When thrust into a group of strangers it is sometimes difficult to get your point across, but when there is a common goal that is fun, teenagers are more inclined to try and exercise their creative muscles.

The importance of good time management…

Learning how to manage your time effectively whilst still being a teenager will set you up for adult life where being late or delaying deadlines are not acceptable. Whilst travelling, time management is key as turning up to a large train station with 5 minutes to spare will not give you enough time to find your platform, go to the toilet and get much needed snacks for the journey!  This skill is also a sure way to keep stress levels down.

Understand the process of building an itinerary…

This is one of the most difficult tasks as it will require all the other skills we have mentioned.  Not only will the teenager have to communicate effectively they will also have to have a good grasp of the financial aspects of the trip and most importantly how to best schedule everything.  This is no easy task!  Even in small groups there will be differences in opinion about where to go, how to get there and how much it should cost.  The teens who are able to learn how to compromise, problem solve and manage conflict will have more success in planning a trip.

Want to know more?

We can offer advice to you and your teen.  So please get in touch with us if you have any questions about Teen Travel.  You can schedule a call with one of our experts who can talk you through the trip or email teentravel@learnandexperience.com with any questions you may have.

Teen Travel really is an adventure of a lifetime – take the first step, get in touch!