Ministay Programmes

Our Ministay English Language programmes are specifically designed for school groups who wish to visit Ireland during their academic year. We offer a programme that balances English study with a wide variety of social and cultural activities and we aim to make sure your mini-stay group has the best possible experience of Ireland and Dublin.

What we learnt over this time is that whist every group is different there is one factor that must be established from the outset, namely, to be absolutely clear about the programme details. We have established three broad categories of programme: Basic, Budget and Standard to suit different needs and budget demands of each group. Some teachers prefer to design a completely unique project oriented type of course and over the years we have cooperated with many teachers in planning and implementing such projects.

We offer the programme at three levels: Basic, Budget and Standard in order to satisfy the requirements of different groups.

Basic : consists of airport transfers, twin accommodation/Full board, and a General English Course of 20 lessons per week.

Budget : consists of airport transfers, twin accommodation/Full board, and a General English Course of 20 lessons per week . This package also includes five afternoon activities per week accompanied by a Swan representative.

Standard: consists of Transfers, twin accommodation/Full board, General English Course 20 lessons; Package includes five afternoon activities per week plus one day trip by private coach, accompanied by ,our representative.

All three levels include:

Transfers to and from Dublin Airport
Individual Welcome Pack
General English Classes (20 lessons per week)
Accommodation - Shared room with full board.
Final Certificate for each student
1 group leader receives free accommodation (single room) with group -15
2 group leaders free with group of 25
Group size 15 +
Extra Group Leader: €195.00 single room each. Airport transfers (all groups arriving and leaving same flight)

We have found that wherever possible, pre-testing the students in conjunction with our Director of Studies is very useful in that it means that students can go into class without delay on their first day in our school.

Implementation
On your first day you will meet our Director of Studies as well as our activity organiser and our host family accommodation officer .This is a time to make sure that you are comfortable with everything that is happening and will happen during the course.
We have a qualified tour guide in charge of our activities as we have learnt that it is very important to ensure that this part of the programme is run to the highest professional standards.

Extra Options available:

Evening Activities: Bowling/Cinema/Swimming/Irish Dancing are available at local rates.

Weekend trips (one night stay; and includes Saturday and Sunday)

Swan Training Institute will make all the arrangements necessary for the trip (transport, accommodation, entry to attractions etc.). We also provide a personal tour guide for your group. Please ask for our Mini Stay Cultural and Tourism Programme. All students receive a questionnaire to complete during their afternoon activities and a prize is awarded to the winner at the end of their stay.

laughing students

Sample Afternoon Programme

Day	Morning	Afternoon
Saturday	Arrival	Placement in Host Families
Monday	Classes 9.00 – 13.00	Dublin City Tour
Tuesday	Classes 9.00 – 13.00	Dublinia/Christchurch
Wednesday	Classes 9.00 – 13.00	Howth Coastal Walk
Thursday	Classes 9.00 – 13.00	Irish Museum of Modern Art
Friday	Classes 9.00 – 13.00	Botanic Gardens
Saturday	All Day Trip to Glendalough	All Day trip to Glendalough
Sunday	Return Flight	Return Flight

City Orientation

As part of your stay in Ireland we at Swan Training Institute provide City Orientation Tour on the first day of your programme. This is a walking tour of the City, introducing the main historical sites, shopping areas, entertainment spots, places to visit etc. ensuring that participants become familiar with their surroundings and the City. Tours are conducted by fully trained and experienced tour guide approved by the national tourist board - Fáilte Ireland. (Sites include: Trinity College Dublin (exterior only), Dublin Castle (exterior only), City Hall (exterior only); Temple Bar, O’Connell St. – General Post Office, Garden of Remembrance, Parnell Square)

Dublinia and Christ Church Cathedral

The Dublinia exhibition covers the formative period of Dublin's history from the arrival of the Anglo-Normans in 1170 to the closure of the monasteries in the 1540's. There are many exhibits here which include videos, models and reconstructions. The building occupied by Dublinia and The Viking World, served as the Synod Hall of the Church of Ireland from 1875 to 1983. A bridge links this building to Christ Church Cathedral. The Synod Hall and bridge were built in the 1870's.

Christ Church Cathedral

Founded by St Laurence O'Toole, it has been the seat of the archbishop of Dublin (initially Roman Catholic, then Church of Ireland) since mediæval times. The cathedral was built by the Vikings at their original settlement at Wood Quay, alongside the River Liffey quayside. The cathedral was extensively renovated in Victorian times. A must see visitor attraction.

Howth Coastal Walk

Howth is a beautiful village along the north coast of dublin ,renowned for its
harbour and wonderful hill walk.

National Botanic gardens
botsgdns3
Established in 1795, The Botanic Gardens aims to 'promote a scientific knowledge in the various branches of agriculture'. These are Ireland’s premier botanical and horticultural gardens, containing over 20,000 plant species. A fully guided tour and a visit to the Education & Visitor Centre can be arranged.

Irish Museum of Modern Art

The Irish Museum of Modern Art is Ireland's leading national institution for the collection and presentation of modern and contemporary art. The Museum is housed in the magnificently restored Royal Hospital building and grounds, which include a formal garden, meadow and medieval burial grounds as well as other historical buildings.

Glendalough
Glendalough when it's not raining

A Brief History
Glendalough, or the Glen of two Lakes, is one of the most important sites of monastic ruins in Ireland. It is also known as the city of the seven Churches. Fourteen centuries have passed since the death of its founder, St. Kevin, when the valley was part of Ireland's Golden Age.
The two lakes, which gave the valley its name, came into existence thousands of years ago, after the Ice Age, when great deposits of earth and stone were strewn across the valley in the area where the Round Tower now exists. The mountain streams eventually formed a large lake. The Pollanass river spread alluvial deposits across the centre of the lake and created a divide to form the Upper and Lower Lakes. The Gleneao river flows in from the West into the Upper lake which is the larger and deepest of the two lakes.
Before the arrival of St. Kevin this valley (glen) would have been desolate and remote. It must have been ideal for St Kevin as a retreat and area to be 'away from it all'. Kevin died in 617 A.D. at the age of 120 years and his name and life's work is forever entwine with the ruins and the Glendalough The recorded history of the wooded valley dates from the 6th century - the dawn of Christianity in Ireland. For 500 years it was one of Irelands great ecclesiastical foundations and schools of learning. The establishment was attacked, burned and plundered by the Danes, who were based in the stronghold of Dublin, a shortish distance away, and making it an easy target..
Glendalough, despite extensive fire damage in 1163 A.D. prospered until the early 13th century. In 1163, Laurence O'Toole, Abbot of Glendalough, who later became Irelands first canonised saint, was appointed Archbishop of Dublin.
The arrival of the Normans in Ireland sealed the fate of Glendalough, as in 1214 the monastery was destroyed by the invaders and the Diocese of Glendalough was united with the Sea of Dublin. After that, Glendalough declined as a monastic establishment and gradually it became deserted.
The buildings fell into decay and more than 6 hundred years elapsed before a reconstruction program was started in 1878. Further work was carried out in the 20th century Today the valley of Glendalough is extensively wooded and a comprehensive network of walk ways have been completed and continually improved, which provides good access for the visitor and researcher to wander the valley

Appraisal

Many of the teachers who bring groups to us on the Mini Stay programme have been working with us for years and part of the reason they keep coming back to us is that we are very conscious of the need to constantly monitor the satisfaction level of each student within each group.
As well as our constant contact with you as the students’ teacher , the students are regularly issued with feedback forms. This keeps us informed about the progress and satisfaction level of each individual student which means that we take appropriate action whenever necessary.