Explore the Positively Languages Boston Guide. Discover courses, accommodation options, student life, facilities, and everything you need to know about studying English in Boston, USA. Start your international education journey with Positively Languages today.
BOSTON
Formerly known as Kaplan Languages Group
BOSTON
SCHOOL GUIDE
BOSTON
SCHOOL GUIDE
CONTENT
NEXT STOP:
NEXT STOP: BOSTON About Boston
Why Study in our Boston School?
05
About Positively Languages Boston
06
Courses & Students
08
Accommodation in Boston
10
Health and Safety
12
Laws, Local Customs & Rules
13
Boston
Holiday Policy
14
2
POSITIVELYLANGUAGES.COM
3
POSITIVELYLANGUAGES.COM
BOSTON
SCHOOL GUIDE
BOSTON
SCHOOL GUIDE
ABOUT BOSTON
WHY STUDY IN OUR BOSTON SCHOOL?
Boston offers a lively student experience, from world-renowned universities like Harvard and MIT to American history at the Freedom Trail and baseball games at Fenway Park
• Located downtown near the historic district. • Situated in a modern building with state-of-the-art facilities. • Surrounded by a lively neighbourhood with plenty of cafés, live music, public parks, and nightlife. • Provides an excellent university preparation program with many acceptances to Boston-area universities. • An ideal student environment with the vibrancy and amenities of a college town.
LOCATION AND CONTACT INFO Address
11 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02108 Phone +1 (617) 245-3956 Emergency contact +1 (332) 900-4199
WHY CHOOSE THIS CITY: • Education epicenter with great student atmosphere • Plenty of sports to enjoy (baseball, basketball, American football, hockey) • Surrounded by nature • Cosmopolitan population • Historical areas and landmarks CITY PERSONALITY: Historic, walkable, green, waterfront, cultural, university city, innovative, sports-loving, vibrant neighbourhoods, internationally connected. LANDMARKS: Harvard University, Harvard Stadium, Fenway Park, MIT, Museum of Fine Arts, The Freedom Trail THINGS TO DO: Go whale watching, experience professional sports in world class stadiums, take part in city tours, visit the Harvard University campus, explore many new restaurants and galleries TRANSPORT OPTIONS: Buses, subway NEARBY CITIES TO VISIT: • Portland, Maine - 2.5 hours away, $40 return ticket • New York - 4.5 hours away, $75 round trip
SCHOOL INFORMATION School Director Megan Lemieux Total number of teachers 10–15 Languages spoken by staff Spanish, Japanese, Turkish, Mandarin Teacher qualifications Bachelor’s (or equivalent) with TESOL, CELTA, TEFL certificate (including practicum) or six months of ESL/EFL teaching experience.
ACCREDITATIONS AND MEMBERSHIPS
Disclaimer: All the information on this school guide is for reference. Please contact your advisor for the latest information
4
POSITIVELYLANGUAGES.COM
5
POSITIVELYLANGUAGES.COM
BOSTON
SCHOOL GUIDE
BOSTON
SCHOOL GUIDE
ABOUT POSITIVELY LANGUAGES BOSTON
LIVING COST (SAMPLE PRICES) Bottle of water $1-$2 Coffee $5 Meal out for two $50 Sandwich $7 Local transport ticket $1.70-$2.40 one way Bike rental $6
COURSES PROVIDED: General English, Semi-Intensive English, Intensive English, Academic Year Abroad, Business English Supplementary, TOEFL® and Academic English Exam Preparation, Tailored Group Programs LEVELS OF ENGLISH OFFERED: All levels (Beginner, Elementary, Lower Intermediate, Intermediate, Higher Intermediate, Advanced, Proficiency) OTHER SERVICES: Accommodation, Airport Transfer, Medical Insurance (see price list for details) SCHOOL FACILITIES: Elevator, air conditioning, heating, Wi-Fi (free), self-study center, student lounge, interactive smartboards, 16 computers available. At no extra cost. SCHOOL MATERIALS: P+ Course Books, P+ Learning Space for all students. TOEFL® simulation tests and course books for students enrolled in TOEFL® Exam Preparation. P+ Extra for Semi-Intensive and Intensive students. FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL: You should plan to attend class on your first day. Please bring your passport (and visa information if required)
SAMPLE CLASS TIMETABLES
Language Foundation lessons
MORNING
AFTERNOON
08:30-10:00 14:15-15:45
CLASS BREAK CLASS
10:00-10:15 10:15-11:45
15:45-16:00 16:00-17:30
Specialist Skills lessons
SOCIAL ACTIVITIES Harvard University or Freedom Trail Tour $5 Museum of Fine Arts $27 Red Sox Baseball Game $25-$50 Celtics Basketball Game $100-$120 Ski & Snowboard Day Trip $120 Weekend in New York $299
CLASSES MAY TAKE PLACE DURING BUSY PERIODS
12:30 - 14:00
BEFORE YOU ARRIVE: Be sure to check your email the week before your start date for your class and orientation schedule! Also, don’t forget to complete the placement test and send in any required documents. NUMBER OF BUILDINGS: 1 NUMBER OF FLOORS: 1 NUMBER OF CLASSROOMS: 11 WHEELCHAIR / DISABLED ACCESS: Yes
SCHOOL LOCATION AND TRANSPORT
SAMPLE SOCIAL SCHEDULE
TIME TO...
ON FOOT
BY BIKE
BY BUS
BY SUBWAY/TRAIN
DAYS
FIRST WEEK
SECOND WEEK
1 minute
N/A
N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
N/A N/A N/A N/A
Freedom Trail
Boston Public Library Tour
THE NEAREST CAFÉ / RESTAURANT THE NEAREST SUPERMARKET THE NEAREST POST OFFICE
MONDAY TUESDAY
10 minutes 2 minutes 1 minute 6 minutes 14 minutes 6 minutes
4 minutes
Bowling
Outdoor Ice Skating
N/A N/A
Orchestra concert at New England Conservatory
Museum of Fine Arts
WEDNESDAY
THE NEAREST ATM / BANK
Baseball Game
Pub Club
THURSDAY
4 minutes 5 minutes 4 minutes
28 minutes 14 minutes 24 minutes
THE NEAREST SPORTS CENTRE
SoWa Arts & Crafts Market
Boston Walking Tour
FRIDAY
10 minutes
THE NEAREST HOSPITAL
Weekend trip to Washington, D.C.
Weekend trip to New York
SATURDAY
N/A
THE CITY CENTRE
Number of social activities per week: 2-4 (extra activities available)
For the most up-to-date prices, please visit www.mbta.com
6
POSITIVELYLANGUAGES.COM
7
POSITIVELYLANGUAGES.COM
BOSTON
SCHOOL GUIDE
BOSTON
SCHOOL GUIDE
Enhance your English in an immersive environment. Whether you want to upgrade your language fluency, prepare for university or gain career skills, you will have 6, 9 or 11 months to study the language, live like a local and make lifelong friendships. ACADEMIC YEAR ABROAD HIGHLIGHTED PROGRAMME
Courses & STUDENTS
LANGUAGE AND CULTURE • Semi-Intensive • Intensive • Multi-Destination Year
UNIVERSITY PREPARATION • TOEFL® Exam Preparation • English for Academic Pathways
SEE THE AYA BROCHURE
“Since the first day I arrived, I have had the chance to learn about a range of cultures. I have made friends from Taiwan, Japan, Colombia... and many other countries.” Gozde from Turkey
TOP 10 STUDENT NATIONALITIES: Colombia, Turkey, Chile, South Korea, Brazil, China, Japan, France, Saudi Arabia and Switzerland STUDENTS PER CLASS: 14–17 (Maximum: 17) MINIMUM AGE: 16 years old AVERAGE AGE: 22-25 years old STUDENTS PER AGE GROUP:
• 18-21: 15% • 22-25: 35% • 26-30: 25% • Over 30: 25%
8
POSITIVELYLANGUAGES.COM
9
POSITIVELYLANGUAGES.COM
BOSTON
SCHOOL GUIDE
ACCOMMODATION IN BOSTON
SCHOOL GUIDE
ACCOMMODATION IN BOSTON
ACADEMIC YEAR ABROAD RESIDENCE
525 LINC RESIDENCE
COMMON AREA
BEDROOM
LIVING ROOM
ADDRESS: 525 Lincoln Street, Boston, 02134 ACCOMMODATION TYPE: Two accommodation options; single rooms with shared bathroom and a maximum of 3 students or deluxe rooms with private bathroom. Both room types offer shared kitchen and shared communal living area. Rooms will be in apartments of 3-4 Positively Languages students, mixed nationalities and mixed genders BEDROOM: Queen bed, desk, chair and storage. All bedding is provided and included in the price. Towels and hairdryers are not provided KITCHEN: Oven / hob / microwave, fridge, freezer and all crockery and utensils provided SERVICES: Wi-Fi, laundry facilities in each apartment. Students will need to buy their own washing products FACILITIES: Gym, roof terrace, bike storage and private study rooms. All included in the price LANDMARKS NEARBY: Fenway Park, Museum of Fine Arts, Copley Place shopping center
VISITORS OR GUESTS ALLOWED? Yes, 2 nights maximum. All visitors must sign in and out at reception daily NOISE RESTRICTIONS? Yes, after 23:00 SMOKING ALLOWED IN THE RESIDENCE? No, outside in the designated smoking area only 24-HOUR SECURITY? No RESIDENCE CLEANING: Rooms will be cleaned on arrival only. Communal areas will receive a bi-weekly cleaning which includes living room, kitchen and shared bathrooms. LINEN CHANGING: On arrival only MINIMUM AGE: Over 17s only AVAILABILITY: From 27/06/2026 to 26/06/2027 MINIMUM NUMBER OF WEEKS: One week CHECK-IN: From 16:00 on Saturdays and anytime on Sundays. CHECK-OUT: On Saturdays by 10:00 ROOM DEPOSIT? No, but all students must sign a Code of Conduct on their first day
HOMESTAY INFORMATION
PRIVATE ACCOMMODATION
Only students aged 18 and over can go into private accommodation. If you are 16 or 17 years old you will be housed in a homestay and should be home by 22:00 each night. SOME TIPS TO FIND YOUR OWN APARTMENT OR SHARE A HOUSE WITH FRIENDS: • The school’s accommodation team can provide a local alternative accommodation list • Check whether the accommodation you are going to see is in a safe area • Take a friend with you when you go to view any accommodation • If you are sharing an apartment or house find out who has access to it • Make sure the accommodation is safe and has current fire/safety checks • Make sure your room is secure and that you have insurance for your laptop, camera, and other valuable items • Keep in mind that in addition to rent, you may be responsible for paying for additional fees and taxes
THINGS YOU NEED TO BRING: Toiletries, personal items to make your room feel like home, prescription medication SERVICES INCLUDED: Bed linen, towels, Wi-Fi, telephone use for emergencies MEALS PROVIDED: Yes, depending on booking type. If you book 14 meals per week you will have breakfast and dinner. If you book 7 meals per week, you are responsible for your own dinner and you may not have access to the kitchen at certain times Breakfast: Usually a light meal consisting of cereal, fruit, toast, juice, or coffee. Hosts will usually ask you to prepare your own breakfast Lunch: You will be responsible for buying your own lunch at school, from a local restaurant, or the local shops Dinner: You will usually eat dinner with your host, or occasionally you may prepare your own meal with food supplied by your host WHERE ARE THE HOMESTAYS LOCATED? Malden, Medford, Watertown, Boston, Brighton, Newton, Roxbury, Brookline, Winthrop, Quincy and Everett WILL THE HOMESTAY ARRANGE TO PICK YOU UP FROM THE AIRPORT? No DISTANCE TO SCHOOL: Homestays are 45-75 minutes of commute time to the school TRANSPORT TO SCHOOL: Your host will help you to find your way to and from school on your first day and will show you how to use public transport
TIME TO...
ON FOOT
BY BIKE
BY BUS
BY METRO/TRAIN 15 minutes 2 minutes 3 minutes 8 minutes 3 minutes 2 minutes 9 minutes 12 minutes 15 minutes
N/A
29 minutes 2 minutes 4 minutes 9 minutes 3 minutes 1 minute 15 minutes 33 minutes
47 minutes 4 minutes 7 minutes 19 minutes 10 minutes 6 minutes 26 minutes 38 minutes 49 minutes
THE SCHOOL
7 minutes 13 minutes 36 minutes 10 minutes 6 minutes 42 minutes
THE NEAREST CAFÉ / RESTAURANT
THE NEAREST SUPERMARKET
THE NEAREST POST OFFICE
THE NEAREST ATM / BANK
THE NEAREST SPORTS CENTRE
THE NEAREST HOSPITAL
N/A N/A
THE CITY CENTRE
N/A
THE MAIN AIRPORT (BOSTON LOGAN AIRPORT)
10
POSITIVELYLANGUAGES.COM
11
POSITIVELYLANGUAGES.COM
BOSTON
SCHOOL GUIDE
BOSTON
SCHOOL GUIDE
HEALTH & SAFETY MEDICAL INSURANCE: All students must have travel and medical insurance for the duration of their stay in the US. Positively Languages offers you a low-cost Travel and Medical Insurance Plan that we advise you to take. If you are not taking Positively Languages Insurance you are required to show proof of alternative medical insurance. Please make sure your insurance includes evacuation and repatriation.
LAWS
• No one under the age of 21 in the US may buy or consume tobacco or alcohol, including beer and wine. It is against the law to buy tobacco or alcohol for someone you know is under the age of 21. • Driving under the influence of alcohol is a very serious crime and police make regular random checks. • You will need international ID to enter bars, clubs or pubs (e.g. passport, ID card, driving licence). • Buying, selling and using drugs is illegal.
PROTECTING YOUR BELONGINGS: We strongly recommend you take out insurance for your personal belongings, especially cameras, mobile phones, music players and laptops. Personal items cannot be covered by Positively Languages homestay or residence insurance. PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION: Remember to bring enough of your prescribed medication with you as US pharmacists will not fill a foreign prescription. International customs agents may ask you questions about your medication upon your departure or arrival, so be sure to pack it carefully. Bring any important medical records (blood type, prescriptions) that might be useful for medical care abroad as well as contact information for your health care providers at home.
IF YOU GET SICK: If you fall ill while in the US you should visit a doctor. You can ask school staff or your host where the nearest doctor is. If you have a minor illness you can ask staff at a local pharmacy for advice. Remember to bring any relevant insurance or medical documentation with you. You may need to register with a doctor.
LOCAL CUSTOMS
• All individuals regardless of gender identification and sexuality are expected to be treated equally and should always be treated fairly. • American people talk to strangers in public areas. This is a great way to practice English, but caution should be taken. You should not give out your address and telephone number, or accept inappropriate invitations. • “Please” and “thank you” are very important words! Always use them if you ask someone to do something for you, or if they help you or give you information. • The US is a culturally diverse nation where people of all ethnic backgrounds are treated equally. • People in North America leave a tip for good service in restaurants, hair salons and other places. The tip rate at most restaurants is about 20-22% of the bill and is not usually included. Fast-food is not tipped unless it is delivered. Porters in stations, airports and hotels should be tipped approximately $1 per bag. Taxi drivers are generally given a 15-20% tip.
MEDICAL COSTS Medical costs are at the discretion of your local doctor or hospital. Minimum medical costs are as follows: CONSULTATION WITH A DOCTOR: $60 DENTAL TREATMENT: $150 EYE TEST OR NEW GLASSES: $150
EMERGENCY SERVICES Call 911 in case of fire, medical emergency or if you need the police
POSITIVELY RULES
• If you leave your Positively Languages course without informing us, your Form I-20 (if applicable) will be terminated and you may fall out of status. • You must attend all classes. If you do not, your representative will be informed. If you are under 18, your parents will be informed. If you do not then improve your attendance you may receive a notice of expulsion. • Be on time for all your lessons • Always tell Positively Languages if you are going to be absent from school for any reason and tell your host if you are going away overnight. • If you commit a criminal offence or have to be severely disciplined, you will be sent home and no refund will be given. We will also inform the immigration authorities.
12
POSITIVELYLANGUAGES.COM
13
POSITIVELYLANGUAGES.COM
BOSTON
SCHOOL GUIDE
HOLIDAY POLICY
US PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
1st January 2026 19th January 2026 25th May 2026 19th June 2026
NEW YEAR’S DAY
MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY
MEMORIAL DAY
JUNETEENTH
3rd July 2026
INDEPENDENCE DAY
7th September 2026 26th November 2026 27th November 2026 25th December 2026
LABOR DAY
THANKSGIVING
DAY AFTER THANKSGIVING
CONTACT US
CHRISTMAS DAY
SCHOOL CLOSURES: The school will be closed from 21st December 2026 to 28th December 2026 with an additional closure for New Year’s Day on 1st January 2027. ACADEMIC YEAR ABROAD STUDENTS: There are preset session breaks for all Academic Year Abroad students. These dates depend on your start date and cannot be changed. Please check with the school if you are not sure when these are. 28th December 2026 These dates are observed as holidays in the year. If you arrive on a week where the Monday is a holiday, your first day of school will be a Tuesday DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS DAY
14
POSITIVELYLANGUAGES.COM
Page 1 Page 2-3 Page 4-5 Page 6-7 Page 8-9 Page 10-11 Page 12-13 Page 14-15Made with FlippingBook - Share PDF online