FAQ

 

       FriLingue Camps in Switzerland


>> ARRIVALS / DEPARTURES <<
 

You can find all the details of arrivals and departures by clicking here.



>> LANGUAGE COURSE <<
 

  1. Can I take the language course as a complete beginner? Yes, with friLingue you can also join the course as a complete beginner. We're confident that after two weeks in one of our camps, you'll find that you're able to understand and express yourself in simple everyday situations.

  2. Will we speak English or my mother tongue in class? Most of our teachers are native speakers in the language that they're teaching and the aim of our courses is to speak only in the language that is being taught. However, most of our teachers are multilingual and all have at least a conversational level of English.

  3. Are our teacher's native speakers? Yes, all of our French, German and English teachers are either native speakers or have proficiency in the language that they are teaching.

  4. How many lessons do we have per week? The basic course given in our camps is 20 lessons of 45 minutes a week. Additional intensive courses of two additional 45 minute lessons per afternoon can be added for either 2 or 3 afternoons a week.

  5. How many students do we have per class? Our lessons are given in small groups of approximately 6 students. In 2020 our class average was 4.78 students per class.

  6. What are the levels? Depending on the size of the camp, we normally have between 3 and 5 different levels. We base our levels in accordance with the common European system: A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2.

  7. Is there a level test? Yes, every Sunday after your arrival there is a short written and oral test to help assess your level and place you in the correct group.

  8. Is there an English speaking supervisor in the camp? Yes, almost all of our teachers and support staff can speak English fluently or at least to a conversational level.

  9. Can discount codes be combined? No, unfortunately, you cannot use two discount codes in combination, with the exception of the sibiling discount, which is explain below in point 10.

  10. How does the sibling discount work?
    Siblings get a discount of CHF 75 per child on the fRilingue camps held in Switzerland and CHF 50 for the holiday camps and stay abroad respectively. To benefit from the discount, please put the following codes:
    - siblingsCamp for the Swiss camps
    - siblingsAbroad for the holiday camps and stays abroad
     

>> ACCOMMODATION <<
 

  1. What types of accommodation are available? We have a range of options including; dormitories, smaller bedrooms (2,3 & 4), beach bungalows, and host families. Our camp accommodation types include; hotels, residences, and mountain chalets.

  2. I'm a little bit too shy to come alone. This is a very common and natural doubt amongst first time participants, but not to worry! Kids and teens sometimes arrive with a less-than-positive attitude as, understandably, the prospect of spending a week or two of the school holidays learning French, German and English doesn't sound too appealing. But in almost all cases, it only takes a few days to settle in, realise how fun the environment and activities are, and by the end, no one wants to leave!

  3. Do I have my own room? Most of our accommodation options are in shared rooms (see question 1. for more details). In the host families, you may have the opportunity to sleep in a private room but it can't be guaranteed.

  4. Are the camps all-inclusive? Yes, all of our Swiss and Serbian camps are full board. We offer three meals a day plus drinks and healthy snacks between classes and activities.

  5. Gluten / lactose intolerance:
    Do you have an intolerance of lactose, gluten, or other special dietary requirements?
    No problem, you can still participate in our camps! Our cooks are happy to prepare meals to suit your needs.
    Due to the additional expenses that this incurs, we charge a 100 CHF  supplement per week.

  6. What's it like to sleep in a dormitory or shared bedroom? In most cases, it's tons of fun! We arrange our rooms by age, so you'll be with other teenagers around your age and will most likely make some new lifelong friends. In the rare cases that there is a problem with your room, our staff are always happy to help find the best possible solution for you!
     

>> CAMPS <<
 

  1. Should I bring my sleeping bag to the camp? Yes, for all our camps except Leysin, you should bring your own sleeping back. In Liddes you can also rent a duvet for 25 francs.

  2. Can I wash my clothes in the camp? We recommend that those who only come for one or two weeks pack enough clothes to last the duration of their stay. For those who stay three weeks or more, we are happy to organize a laundry service, though in some cases it may come at an additional cost.

  3. Can I swim in the lake/ swimming pool? You are not permitted to go swimming without a staff member at any time. However, during free time, there will always be members of staff on hand to accompany and supervise those who want to swim.

  4. Can I bring my tablet and/or smartphone? To make a long story short: Yes, you can. However, we want you to interact with your new friends as much as possible and benefit from your friLingue camp experience. Therefore, the times when you can use your electronic devices are limited (about 1 hour per day + additionally during excursions). Please DO NOT bring Nintendos or other game consoles to camp, you do not need them!

  5. What is the average age of the participants in the camp? How many girls or boys and what average age there are in the camp is quite different and depends on the number of registrations. You are welcome to ask us before booking how many children are already registered and how old they are. We cannot always guarantee that there will be children exactly your age. Usually the age does not matter much, but if it is important to you, please contact us. This way we can help you find the right camp for you.

 

>> RULES <<
 

  1. How long are participants permitted to stay out in the evening? Children under the age of 13 must be in bed with lights out by 10pm during the week and 10:30pm on weekends. Teens aged between 13 and 17 must start getting ready for bed at 10pm and in bed with the lights out by 10:30pm. At weekends, this is extended to either 11pm or 11:30pm, at the camp leader's discretion. Parents who do not agree with the allotted times should contact fRilingue. Participants who consistently fail to meet these curfews will be sent home.

  2. ALCOHOL The consumption of alcohol in fRilingue is completely prohibited. Participants who are caught consuming alcohol will be sent home directly.
     

>> EXCURSIONS / WORKSHOPS <<
 

  1. Can I change my workshop? Yes. the selection of workshops is announced after class on the day and you are asked to sign up, so you can choose a different workshop each time. Some workshops, such as media, are continued across two afternoons. In such cases, you are required to attend the same workshop for both sessions.

  2. How many participants are required for a workshop to take place? It varies from workshop to workshop, but generally, we require a minimum of 5 participants for a workshop to take place.

  3. Can I attend both the workshop and the intensive course? Yes, intensive courses take place before the workshops start.