English Immersion Trip

First International Gathering
June 6-19, 2010

Bringing people together from around the world through the Internet...
and now face to face!

	I’m so happy to be able to welcome you to our beautiful city and state! I’m really excited about this trip! Alvin and I have done a lot of planning, as you know, and we have designed activities and learning opportunities that will provide you with the maximum exposure to the English language, American culture and Michigan history.
In addition, we will go with you on all of these adventures, so you'll never have to worry about being "stuck" while trying to use your English speaking skills. We'll give only the help you need, however, so you can also work on your independence as you use your skills. All of this learning will happen while you feel like you’re “on vacation”!

English Language	American Culture	Michigan History
Housing	Transportation	Pricing

Week One	Week Two
This is a tentative schedule. Activities may be moved due to changes in availability.
Visit a modern and a historical library Visit a nursing home Visit a school for handicapped children and young adults Visit a nature center on Lake Michigan Attend a business meeting Attend a festival of the arts Visit a pottery studio Visit the historical home of one of Muskegon's founders Shopping for groceries and cooking meals together Visit two museums in Grand Rapids Attend a minor league baseball game Visit a large Harley-Davidson dealership	Cross the Mackinac Bridge Stay in a hotel in Mackinaw City Shopping at the various quaint shops in Mackinaw City Visit Mackinac Island Take a Mackinac Island Carriage Tour Visit a garden filled with live butterflies Visit a live demonstration at Fort Mackinac Visit Historic Mill Creek Discovery Park Visit Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse Visit Colonial Michillimackinac Stay in a beautiful, historic hotel in St. Sault Marie Take the St. Mary's River Lighthouse Cruise through the Soo Locks Attend a big screen movie together Enjoy canoe rides and dune rides
Additionally, we will have lots of interaction while cooking, shopping, enjoying the hot tub, sitting around the campfire, and just enjoying the beach house, the beach and the sunsets over Lake Michigan.

English Language

Speaking

Hotels - asking for more towels, interacting with other guests
Shopping - interacting with cashiers, deli and bakery clerks
Cooking - talking with other students while preparing meals
Sharing a home - discussing plans for leisure time, asking questions, setting up shower schedules
Open discussion - during travel time in the van, while eating meals, relaxing in the hot tub or around the fire pit
Traveling - in the airport, on the ferry trips, in the van
Restaurants - interacting with the hostess, waitress, reading the menu, paying for meals
Sports events - ordering food at the concession, listening to sports commentator, choosing a canoe or bicycle
Libraries and schools - interacting with librarians, teachers, aides

Listening

Hear many different native speakers, radio, TV, fellow travelers, children
Listening to tour guides on ferry trips, in school and nursing home, at nature center, Mackinac Island carriage ride
One of the highlights of English listening will be to attend a business meeting where at least 20 people will stand and introduce themselves and their professions in English. At this meeting, you will also hear one business person give a 10-minute presentation about his or her business.
Attend a big screen movie theater, possibly in 3D
Listen to several music groups performing live
Attend poetry reading events
Listen to Peter the Potter explain about his pottery studio

Reading

Books, magazines, newspapers, signs, brochures, maps, recipes, shopping lists
We will visit two libraries, one very modern, one very historical. You may borrow books on my library card to read while you’re in Muskegon. Of course, you’ll have your choice of hundreds of thousands of library books to read and share with the others.
Reading display texts at museums and historical sites
Shopping at our large supermarket will present opportunities to read hundreds of signs and labels.

Writing

Keep a journal of your American English-learning adventure
Post notes about your trip in the ELE forum

Thinking in English

With very little exposure to your own native language, you can begin to think in English.
Keeping your mind engaged in English for the entire time will have a great impact on your understanding, pronunciation, and your comprehension of idioms.

Learning more English

Each morning and each evening, there will be learning sessions. We will work on reading, writing, questions, and what to expect in upcoming situations. This will be a great time of sharing and learning!

There will be an opportunity to attend a summer festival in Grand Rapids. This festival will include many food booths, several dance and music performances, poetry readings, chamber music and other activities that have been enthusiastically attended every summer. You will also see thousands of Americans of all ages at this festival, just enjoying the outdoors and the talents of their peers.

The Gerald R. Ford Museum exhibits an interesting period in American history. Gerald Ford was the 38th president of the United States. The Grand Rapids Museum, just across the street, chronicles American history from its earliest beginnings.

What could be more American than a baseball game? We will attend a minor league baseball game played by the Whitecaps. The ball stadium offers several food booths, beverages, and a family-friendly atmosphere, with contests and fun between innings.

Since Ellen works in a nursing home, she said she was interested in visiting one here. We’ll be doing that, as well as visiting the school that our handicapped daughter attends. The innovative things they have for the handicapped students to use are really amazing.

There is a huge dealer here of Harley Davidson motorcycles. We’ll take you over to browse their facility, since this is also a big part of the American culture.

The clean, sandy beaches of Western Michigan are a source of great tourism revenue and entertainment for residents. All along the coast of America, as well as around inland lakes, residents enjoy swimming, boating and other water sports.

Michigan History

The Hackley House is the original home of one of Muskegon’s founders, Charles Hackley, a lumber baron. This will give you insight into a time when Muskegon was known as “The Lumber Queen of the World”. One of Mr. Hackley’s gifts was money for a library. We’ll visit the Hackley Library, which is very unique.

Charles H. Hackley (1837-1905) came to Muskegon in 1857. Though he had only seven dollars when he arrived, he was worth twelve million dollars at the time of his death. He made his fortune in lumber, and when lumber declined, he administered the Chamber of Commerce program that rebuilt Muskegon into a center of industry. His gifts and endowments to the community totalled over six million dollars and supported parks, statuary, schools, local churches, a hospital and a public library.

Mackinac Island and Mackinaw City played a very important part in the development of Michigan. The Mackinac Bridge was built to provide a connection between the upper and lower peninsula of Michigan. The Soo Locks were built to provide a way for ships to go from one of the Great Lakes to another.

The St. Mary's River is the only water connection between Lake Superior and the Great Lakes. However, there is a section of the river known as the St. Mary's Rapids where the water falls about 21 feet from the level of Lake Superior to the level of the lower lakes. The natural barrier made it necessary for the construction of the Sault Locks, a project known as the St. Mary's Falls Canal. The first lock was built in 1797, on the Canadian side, but was destroyed in the War of 1812. The United States built its first lock in 1855. Today there are 4 locks in use, continuously being visited by ships and tourists alike. You can actually experience the thrill of "locking through" on our Soo Locks sightseeing tours.

Housing

There is a beautiful beach house near Lake Michigan and the channel which connects Lake Michigan and Muskegon Lake. There are plenty of bedrooms and bathrooms, as well as a large kitchen which will let us share in preparing the meals. Since we will have people from many different countries staying together, we will have an opportunity for those who want to prepare a characteristic meal from their country to do so. This will be an interesting and fun way to share in each other's culture!

In addition, the back yard has a hot tub, and a firepit for good times around the fire in the evenings. The view is spectacular, allowing students to sit on the balcony and watch the beautiful sunsets over Lake Michigan.

Transportation

We will rent a 15-passenger van so we can travel together. We will be waiting for you when your flight arrives at the Grand Rapids airport (airport symbol - GRR). We will transport you to each event and venue, so you can spend your time interacting with each other in English as you travel.

Pricing

Participants will be limited to 12

The price of $2000.00 USD for this two-week English-learning adventure includes everything except your airfare, meals, beverages and personal shopping. Here is the list of what is included in your price:

Admission fees to 10 museums or historical tours (includes Gerald Ford Museum, Grand Rapids Public Museum, Hackley House, Mackinac Island Carriage Tour, Wings of Mackinac, Fort Mackinac, Historic Mill Creek Discovery Park, Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse, Colonial Michilimackinac, Mackinac Bridge)
3 outdoor or sports events (includes canoe trip, dune rides on beautiful Lake Michigan dunes, and a Whitecaps baseball game)
1 tourist site
1 bigscreen movie
round trip ferry transportation to Mackinac Island
St. Mary's River Lighthouse Cruise
2 nights' lodging in hotels during northern Michigan tour (Courtyard Inn in Mackinaw City and the Ramada Plaza Ojibway Hotel in Sault Ste. Marie)
house rental for two weeks
van rental and mileage to and from airport, plus to and from all venues, tours and tourist sites
personal on-site tutoring, plus morning and evening classes
learning games and prizes

Reservations, Deposit, and Payment Schedule

A deposit of $300 is required to reserve your place. The maximum number of participants is 12 for this English immersion trip, and when 12 deposits have been received, reservations will no longer be taken.

After the $300 deposit, the balance may be paid in one of the following ways:

1 payment of $1700 on or before January 2, 2010.
2 payments of $850 on or before December 1, 2009 and March 1, 2010.
3 payments of $567 on or before November 1, 2009, January 2, 2010, and March 1, 2010.
5 payments of $340, paid on or before November 1, 2009, December 1, 2009, January 2, 2010, February 1, 2010, and March 1, 2010.

Cancellations and Refunds

If you withdraw your reservation before March 1, 2010, we can return the amount you have paid less a $150 administrative fee. If you withdraw your reservation after March 1, 2010, we can return the amount you have paid less a $500 administrative fee.

The below payment button will make it possible to pay your $300 deposit to hold your spot. Please be sure to mention which payment plan you prefer so invoices can be sent accordingly.