Which Nacel program is right for my child? Choose their adventure

Which Nacel program Is right for my child?

A quick guide by age, level, and personality

Choosing a study abroad or language immersion program for your child is a big decision. There are high school abroad programs, homestay and high school integrations, summer camps, sports camps in France, and intensive stays with a private teacher. Each option is valuable, but they do not suit every student in the same way.

By the end of this article, you will know which Nacel program category best fits your child’s age, language level, and personality, and you will have a clearer idea of the country and format that could work for them.

1. High School Abroad Programs

For teens who want a full school experience in another country

A High School Abroad program is the most intense and beneficial form of academic and cultural immersion. Your child lives with a host family or in a boarding school, attends a local high school, and follows a normal school timetable for a term, semester, or full school year.

It is a good option if your child:

• Is between 14 and 18 years old
• Already studies the language at A2/B1 level or higher
• Is curious, adaptable, and ready to live away from home
• Wants more than a trip, and is looking for a real school year abroad

With Nacel, students can join high school abroad programs with host families in countries such as:

• Europe: France, Spain, Germany, Ireland, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Portugal, Italy
• Latin America: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico
• North America: United States, Canada
• Oceania and Africa: New Zealand, South Africa

These high school exchange programs are perfect for students who want to improve French in France, Spanish in Spain, English in Canada or the USA, or experience a different school system in depth.

Contact us for advice​

2. Homestay and High School integration

Short school immersion during the school year, A2 or B1 level

A Homestay + High School Integration program combines life with a local host family and a short school integration in a local high school. It is a short term high school program abroad that lets your child experience the everyday school life in another country.

This option is ideal if your child:

• Has at least an A2 or B1 level in the target language
• Has had 1 to 2 years of language study and can manage simple everyday conversations
• Is motivated and not afraid of being the only exchange student in their class
• Wants a short but intensive immersion, without missing a full school year at home

Homestay + High School is available in several destinations, for example:

• France
• Germany
• Spain
• Italy
• Ireland
• Canada
• Argentina
• Chile
• England

For many families, this is a natural step between a summer language camp and a full academic year abroad. It allows your teenager to experience school integration abroad, practise the language all day, and return home with more confidence and maturity.

3. Summer Camps abroad

For 10 to 19 year olds who want language, fun, and supervision

Summer camps abroad are a playful and structured way to improve a language. Your child joins an international group, studies the language in small classes, and enjoys sports, games, excursions, and evening activities.

Typical features of Nacel summer language camps:

• Ages roughly 12 to 19
• Around 15 hours of language lessons per week
• Activities in the afternoon and often evening events
• Host family or residential accommodation, always supervised

Nacel offers summer camps abroad in different languages and countries, for example:

• For French: France (including our Nacel Summer camp in Paris, the French Riviera, and sport camps in France in Vichy, Mâcon), Belgium, Switzerland
• For English: Ireland, United Kingdom and Canada
• For Spanish: Spain (cities such as Barcelona, Madrid, Malaga, Valencia)
• For German: Germany, including regions like Bavaria or Berlin
• For Italian: Italy, for example Florence or Lignano
• For Japanese: Japan, such as Fukuoka or Kyoto

Summer camps are ideal if:

• Your child is social and enjoys group activities
• You prefer a clear daily structure and close supervision
• It is their first experience abroad without parents
• Their level is from beginner to intermediate, depending on the camp

They often return with new friends, more self confidence, and a language that feels much more natural.

4. Sports Summer Camps in France (A2 or B1 level)

For sporty teens who already speak some French

Nacel also organises French summer camps in France with a strong sports focus. These sports summer camps in France allow teenagers to practise their favourite sport in French, side by side with local French teens.

Key highlights of these French immersion sports camps:

• For sporty teens around 12 to 17 years old
• Designed for students with at least A2 or B1 level in French
• Full days with training sessions, activities, and time with French teenagers
• Full Immersion, there are no French classes.

Sports may include, for example: 

Football/Soccer, Basketball, Tennis, Volleyball, Handball, Gymnastics, Swimming, Horse riding, Dance​

Because staff and most participants are French, your child hears and uses French from breakfast to bedtime. It is a strong boost for students who already have some French and want to practise it in real life, not just in the classroom.

4. Intensive stays with a Private Teacher

One to one home tuition for fast progress

The Private Teacher program is the most intensive language course in the Nacel portfolio. The student lives in the teacher’s home, has one to one lessons, and practises the language during meals, family life, and local outings.

Typical features of an intensive stay with a private teacher:

• Individual, tailor made lessons, often 15, 20, 25 or 30 hours per week
• Full home stay with the teacher, with full board
• Flexible dates, often all year round
• Possibility to focus on exam preparation, business language, or specific skills

This format is suitable for:

• Motivated teenagers, university students, and adult learners
• People who need to progress quickly for school, exams, or work
• Students already around A1 or B1 level or higher, who can handle a full day in the target language

You can choose home tuition with a private teacher in many different countries. For students who want to improve in French we offer France, Belgium, Canada and Switzerland. For English you can travel to Australia, USA, UK, Malta, New Zealand, South Africa and many more destinations. Let us know the language your child wants to improve and we will find you a suitable tutor.​

The idea is simple and powerful. You live with your teacher, study every day, and use the language from morning until evening.

How to choose the right Nacel program

You do not need to decide everything at once. A few questions already help you focus on a smaller set of options.

1. What is your child’s main goal?

• Become bilingual and experience a different school system
• • 👉Look at High School Abroad or Homestay + High School Integration
• Improve language skills during the holidays, with clear supervision
  • 👉Look at Summer Camps Abroad or Sports Summer Camps in France
• Make very fast progress in a short time
  • 👉Look at Intensive Private Teacher Home Tuition

2. What is their language level?

• Beginner or near beginner
  → Many summer language camps and some homestay programs are suitable

• A2 or B1 level, with at least 1 to 2 years of study
  → Homestay + High School, sports camps in France, or certain high school abroad programs

• B1 or B2 and above
  → Most options are open, including a full school year abroad or very intensive one to one tuition

How independent is your child?

• Needs a lot of structure and supervision
  → Choose summer camps with group leaders and a clear timetable

• Fairly independent and curious
  → Consider homestay immersion or short term high school programs abroad

• Very independent, with a clear project
  → A High School Abroad program or an intensive private teacher stay can be a good fit

We are here to help

At Nacel, we see every student as a person, not just a participant in a program. The right choice depends on:

• Your child’s age and maturity
• Their language level and school situation
• Their personality, whether shy, calm, sporty, or very outgoing
• Your family’s budget and timeline

From a summer camp in France to a high school exchange in Canada, from a short school integration in Spain to private lessons at a teacher’s home in Italy, there is a program that can support your child’s language learning and personal growth.

If you would like personalised advice based on your child’s profile, you can contact Nacel. We can help you compare options and decide whether a high school abroad, a summer camp, a homestay, or a private teacher immersion is the best next step.

​Contact Us​