Summer Courses in the USA

Utah Trips

1. What exactly is the programme that you organize for Utah?

It is a programme in which the director of the academy takes students from this country to the United States where they will stay with American families with children for a month or so. In this way, the students will be exposed to another culture, another way of life while constantly being exposed to English in a natural way. The director of the school is the monitor, teacher, ombudsman, liaison, and friend for the students will be with the students in the U.S. throughout the stay. All of the families are hand-picked by the Academy.

2. What makes you different from other outfits that run programmes

in the U.S.?

We take care of all of the arrangements. We, not hired monitors, are with the students the whole time.

3. What kind of clothing does a student need when he or she goes to

Utah in the summer?

Usually summer clothing that is appropriate for high but dry temperatures.

4. Do we need to give a gift to the family in Utah?

It is a good idea and it initially helps break the ice. It could be something like a coffee table book about Zarautz or a statue of a pilotari or something to that effect.

5. Do we need a visa to go to the U.S.?

At this writing, no since all citizens of the European Union have visa waivers. They may stay for a maximum of three months.

6. I hear that Utah is inhabited mostly by Mormons. Will my child be

living with an LDS (Mormon) family?

Since 76% of Utah is LDS, and 90% of the area around Provo is, that is highly likely. Mormons are a family-loving people who, for the most part, live clean lives free of alcohol, coffee, and tobacco. They also tend to have larger families which makes everything more fun. Our students have enjoyed their stays with families from Utah very much.

7. How safe is Utah?

Utah is one of the safest places in the entire United States. That does not mean nothing could possibly happen as even in Zarautz things can happen but it is about as safe as anywhere.

8. What kind of families take in students?

American families take in students for cultural reasons, certainly not for financial reason unlike the case for most families in England and Ireland. The American families are from all walks of life and usually have many children. They are very concerned about the host student and are anxious that the host student will have a positive view of Utah and America.

9. Do you have to be a student at Morris Academy to go on the trip?

Due to the great demand and limited vacancies, the policy is now that Morris Academy students and/or students that have gone on the programme before have absolute top priority. All others will be put on a waiting list pending confirmation of a possible family.

Why the U.S.?

People in the U.S. are naturally friendly and open to outside visitors. Many people from this country have visited that vast country and have wound up learning how to speak English rather well because, among other things, there are not many Spaniards over there trying to do the same thing and because Americans do not tend to be as reserved as some people in some other English-speaking countries.
If you are interested in studying English abroad and if you really do want to speak your new language, going to the United States is well worth looking into.

Where in the U.S.?

The programme centres on the State of Utah which become well-known for the Winter Olympics held there. The capital of Utah, Salt Lake City, has been recognized as one of the ten places in the U.S. with the greatest quality of life according to the magazine U.S. News and World Report. Located in the Rocky Mountain West, Utah is one of the safest places in the U.S. and is very well-known for its unassuming hospitality.

Why with Morris Academy?

1. Because we know Utah well

Our language school has maintained close ties with Utah since the director director of Morris Academy underwent his undergraduate studies there . We know Utah quite well and would like to share its delights with your as well.

2. We handpick the American families

The families that your child will stay with have been carefully selected by us and our friends in Utah. We know from experience that the programme depends on the quality and amiability of the host families.

3. We are ourselves are the monitors.

We take the safety and well-being as our highest priority and strive to keep it that way. The director of Morris Academy personally accompanies the group going to the U.S. and will stay there so as to take care of any eventuality that might arise. We shall be in constant contact with the American family and the student that they host.

4. There are also classes.

Moreover, there are classes on offer, three  hours a week which will be taught by Michael Morris, the director of Morris Academy.

What the stay consists of:

1. Trip

Flight from Bilbao to Salt Lake City and Salt Lake City to Bilbao

Departure: June 27
Return: August 1

 

2. Room and Board

Lodging with a family carefully selected by Morris Academy with full room and board.

3. Monitor

The director of Morris Academy, Michael Morris, a native of Boulder, Colorado, will accompany the group through the stay from their departure in Bilbao up to the moment of their return, during which he will be at their disposition for whatever may arise.

4. Insurance

Every student shall have ample travel and medical insurance.

5. Classes

There will be classes which will last 3 hours a week, depending on where the student is staying.

Conditions

Overall Conditions

1. All applications shall be accompanied by 1,000 euros as a deposit. Said deposit shall be returned should the application be denied. Given the limited number of places available and the growing demand thereof, all applications shall be dealt with on a first come, first serve basis.

2. Cancellations. Any cancellations that might arise shall incur the following costs as stipulated in the following scale:

• All cancellations shall incur a minimum loss of 1,000 euros .
• Cancellations occurring within 50 days prior to the departure date will incur a minimum loss of 50% of the total price.
• Any no show upon the day of departure shall result in the loss of 80% of the final price

3. Morris Academy, S.L. reserves the right to make modifications in schedules, itineraries, and dates should it deem so fit.

4. Morris Academy, S.L. hereby commits itself to carry out all of its activities in accordance with the strictest business ethics and shall take every necessary precaution to that end. As such, it shall control the services to be rendered by third parties and will undertake whatever steps within the limits of its ability for the benefit of the student.

5. Only those students who are ready to accept the usual norms of behaviour and living within a family environment shall be accepted into the programme.

6. Morris Academy, S.L. or the family that takes in the student is hereby authorized to take whatever decision that might be deemed necessary in case of emergency, sickness, or accident.

7. Morris Academy, S.L. acts only as an intermediary of transport companies and thus is not responsible for any delays, accidents, changes in routes, or loss of baggage.

8. All prices are subject to possible changes should transport costs or the euro-U.S. dollar exchange rate suffer changes prior to the date of departure.

9. Signing up for the programme implies total acceptance of the overall conditions without any reservations.

10. Should there be a case of bad behaviour or grave acts committed, the student may be sent back beforehand in which case all of the costs arising therefrom shall be borne by the students parents or legal guardians.