Level of Participation – Director or Promoter?

Director Position Overview
SPI Directors serve as a mentors, caregivers, motivators, and model immersion students. Program Directors and Assistant Directors work as a team with the foreign school to carry out the entire program itinerary.  Directors will conduct the program in the language of study and provide 24-hour support to students and fellow directors. Teachers interested in serving as Program Directors should be fluent in the language. The ability to work with teenagers and other teachers outside of a classroom environment is fundamental. Although directors are very active on a daily basis with students, SPI programs promote independence, giving directors ample time to enjoy the homestay city in the afternoons and while students are in class.

Program Composition
As final number of participants vary per program, each program is comprised of somewhere between 1 Program Director, between 1-2 Assistant Directors and 16-28 Students. Directors have support throughout the program from the local foreign school staff. Some programs will have SPI Resident Directors & Guides depending on the location. Because teachers are crucial in telling parents and students about the opportunity of studying abroad, we ask that directors recruit 8 students to participate. This forms the base for each program. Because SPI programs are "open enrollment" and often fill with students from other schools, teachers can still travel as directors even if they have not recruited 8 students. 

Program Director Position
Program Directors are selected by their level of experience with SPI and in the country of study. SPI Program Directors serve as the official leader and work with Assistant Directors to carry out the entire program. Directors are expected to have an innate ability to understand the ins and outs of international student travel. Program Directors are thoroughly trained in SPI procedures and operations. They are paid to be available 24 hours a day to respond to emergencies and are expected to have a certain level of maturity to handle simple and complex situations that international travel requires. Learn More about the Program Director Position

Assistant Director Position
SPI makes traveling with your students easy! Assistant Directors work alongside Program Directors to carry out the elements of each program. This includes daily check-in with students, assisting with afternoon activities and weekend excursions, and being available for students 24 hours a day. Assistants enrich each program by sharing their knowledge of the country and language with participants. Flexibility and understanding of international student travel is required. Pre-departure orientation is made easy and provided by SPI and your Program Director throughout the school year.  Learn More about the Assistant Director Position

Director Compensation
All Directors Receive  Roundtrip Airfare, Hotel Accommodations, Room/Board with a Homestay Family, Group Ground Transportation, Entrance Fees on Group Excursions, Basic Medical & Travel Insurance, Cell Phone Rental ($50 in use)
Not Included  Personal Expenses, Local Transportation (Taxi's, Local Bus), Optional Afternoon Activities, Meals on Excursions.

Program Director Stipend:  Free Travel + $75 per enrolled student
Assistant Director Stipend:  Free Travel

Encourage Study Abroad!  Be an SPI Promoter
Students and parents need to know about international education opportunities like studying abroad for college credit! There is no better way for students to prepare for college, their future careers, and most importantly life!  Study abroad provides life-long benefits and instills international perspectives that students have for the rest of their lives. To thank teachers for their support of our mission and programs, we offer annual rewards for teachers that support SPI to their students. If you are interested in promoting study abroad to your students we encourage you to use our helpful tools and resources.

Request Supplies Online
Have more questions? Learn more on our Teacher Frequently Asked Questions Page!
View Monthly Newsletters for Language Educators Global Beats and E-Language Links!

Program Promotion



STEP 1:  LEARN ABOUT SPI PROGRAMS & YOUR ROLE

Understanding the SPI Basics...
Programs, Dates & Prices, & General SPI Information
Flight Information
Application Process & Downloadable Application
Meet the SPI Staff & Learn about our History

DETERMINE YOUR LEVEL OF PARTICIPATION
ü Notify SPI that you want to be a Program Director, Assistant Director or Promoter and for which program.
ü If you are traveling, complete the Director Profile Form and return it to SPI to confirm your participation.

REQUEST MATERIALS TO SHARE WITH YOUR STUDENTS.  Click Here to Request Supplies!
ü Create a space in your classroom to display SPI materials - on a bulletin board or table.

CUSTOMIZE & PRINT POSTERS FOR YOUR PROGRAM (Download Above)
ü  Hang up the flyer in a conspicuous place in your classroom
ü Hand out flyers to other teachers in your department
ü Ask the counselors if you can post a flyer on one of their bulletin boards in the hallway

STEP 2:  STUDENT SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT

*IMPORTANT:  It  is fundamental that you personally contact the parents via email, phone, or in writing to make them aware of the opportunity - they are ultimately the ones that must say yes. It is not required to host an information meeting to get students interested. Simply contact the parents with our template letters, talk to your students and colleagues following our guide below, and you will easily have participation.

TELL STUDENTS
ü  Announce your program during classes and at language club meetings
ü Pass around an interest list (Download the one Above)
ü  Have other teachers in your department announce the program and pass around an interest list to their classes
ü Send a copy of the interest list to SPI
ü Direct students to the SPI website and encourage them to talk to their parents
ü Let them know details for your information meeting (if you plan to have one)
 
CONTACT PARENTS
ü  Send a personal email or letter to your best student's parents. We have posted templates above for your convenience! SPI will mail out letters to your parents for you from our office - all you have to do is provide us with names and mailing addresses.

ü Follow-up with personal phone calls and emails to parents 
ü Let parents know details for your information meeting (if you plan to have one)

CONTACT COLLEAGUES
ü  Contact fellow language teachers and counselors and ask them to help spread the word about your program
ü  Encourage them to help you promote and select the best students to participate by contacting their parents
ü  Direct them to our website and let them know details for your information meeting (if you plan to have one)

STEP 3:  HOST AN INFORMATION MEETING (Optional)

It is a good idea to host an information meeting with interested students and parents. 

ü  Invite students from other classes and/or schools to come as well to help generate more interest
ü  Make sure to remind students of the place and time several days in advance
ü  Send an email to parents and students requesting that they RSVP if they are planning to attend the meeting
ü  DOWNLOAD Info Meeting PowerPoint and Packet (Above)
ü  Familiarize yourself with the powerpoint and steps for conducting an info meeting
ü  Print out plenty of Sign-In Lists and also the notes on each PowerPoint slide to help guide you
ü  Let SPI know one week prior to your meeting how many students you anticipate
ü  E-mail or fax your meeting sign-up sheet to SPI immediately after meeting so we can follow up

STEP 4:  STUDENT ENROLLMENT

ü  Remind students/parents about application deadline-EARLY DEADLINE DEC. 1, REGULAR DEADLINE FEB. 1  
ü  Check in with students regularly on their enrollment status. Have students commit as soon as possible.
ü  Make sure their parents have been to the SPI website to learn more about the program and to download an application

PROGRAM PROMOTERS - STOP HERE.  SPI does the rest!

*Please complete and return the Director Profile Form to SPI if you haven't done so already!

Prepare for Travel (Traveling Directors Only)

DOWNLOAD & READ DIRECTOR TRAINING MATERIALS THOROUGHLY
Contact us for access to the secure log-in area for committed directors.  All director training materials and pre-departure information is found online by accessing our secure committed director page. Director Binders will be sent in December or April depending on when you committed to be a director. If you would like to request your binder early please email us.

GET TO KNOW YOUR PROGRAM ITINERARY
This will be your step-by-step guide for leading your program in the summer. Although Program Directors are responsible for managing the logistics of the program, Assistant Directors are responsible for participating in all elements. Study the places you are traveling to on the internet. The more you know about each place you visit the more enriching the experience will be for your students & you!

DIRECTOR TRAINING & ORIENTATION
Emails and orientation information will be sent throughout the school year. Everything is online!  Log-In to the Secure Director page to access our training and orientation materials online.  Formal orientation will take place in the spring. If you cannot attend, orientation will be by phone and the website.