Gap Year 100: the best travel companies for learning a skill/language
Our annual directory of the best gap year travel companies and websites.
LEARNING A SKILL/LANGUAGE
1. All Tracks Academy (01794 301777; www.alltracksacademy.com)
Ski and snowboard instructor courses in Whistler. 11-week courses are priced between £7,850 and £10,510 dependant on dorm size and self/catered accommodation. The internship programme, consisting of a four-week course, after which graduates are expected to work for the Whistler ski school until the season closes: £4,750.
2. Art History Abroad (01379 871800; www.arthistoryabroad.com)
Whether you've studied Art History at school before or not, venture to Venice, Verona, Florence, Naples, Siena, Rome or even India for either a four or six week course. A six week course in one of their Italian destinations ranges from £10,500-£10,925.
3. Cactus Language (01273 830 960; www.cactuslanguage.com)
Offer language courses in over 120 destinations around the world. Learn Mandarin in Shanghai - £441 for 30 lessons a week, or £326 for 20 lessons a week. Alternatively, prepare for university by partaking in one of their 'Language plus' courses. An Italian language plus cooking course in Florence costs £250 per week.
4. Camp America (020 7581 7373; www.campamerica.co.uk)
Offers nine-week work placements in summer camps across the USA standard trip costs £778, split across three separate payments which cover flights, visa and medical insurance. Applications must be accompanied by two references. Referees must have known applicants in a professional capacity for a minimum of six months within the last 12 months.
5. CELTA (01223 553311; www.cambridgeenglish.org)
CELTA is an initial qualification for people interested in teaching English to speakers of other languages. Full time courses typically last between four and five weeks. It takes a few months to complete part-time. The Cambridge CELTA is accredited at Level 5 by Ofqual. Applicants must be post A-level.
6. CESA (01209 211800; www.cesalanguages.com)
Language courses available worldwide. Learn a host of European languages - French in France or Spanish in Spain, for instance - or challenge yourself by testing out the local dialect in more distant destinations like Morocco or Japan. Course lengths vary according to location but range from one to 48 weeks. A one-week course in Seville with accommodation costs from €329.
7. Flying Fish (01983 280641; www.flyingfishonline.com)
Offers training, qualifications and jobs in winter and water sports including yachting, dinghy sailing and surfing. A six-week summer windsurf instructor course in Vassiliki, Greece from £3,370.
8. Frontier (020 7613 2422; https://www.frontier.ac.uk/)
Learn how to scuba dive in exotic locations whilst contributing to marine conservation efforts. For £899, help out on an elephant conservation project in South Africa for three weeks or help conserve tutles in Costa Rica from £699 for two weeks.
9. Snow Academy (023 8020 6977; www.skiweekends.com)
Offers water sports, and snowboard and ski instructor courses in Whistler (Canada) and Morzine (France). Embark on a 4-week ski instructor course in Whistler and leave with a CSIA Level 1 qualification - from £3,570 including accommodation.
10. Apple Languages (01509 211 612; www.applelanguages.com)
Runs language schools in Europe, Latin America, Asia, Canada, Egypt and the Middle East. A four-week intensive German beginners course in Heidelberg costs £1,463 including accommodation. A six week semi-intensive beginners' course in Arabic in Cairo costs from £1,183. Website provides contacts with experienced language travel advisors.
11. UKSA (01983 294 941; www.uksa.org)
Provides training opportunities for people seeking new horizons on the water. Students can learn to become skippers, deckhands and watersports instructors through a range of courses, which guarantee job interviews upon completion. An 11-week watersporrts instructor course costs £5,750, including all food and accommodation.
12. OISE (01865 258 333; www.oise.com)
Offers intensive language courses in German at their school in Heidelburg. A one week course with half-board accommodation at a host family costs from €1, 455. Intensive short courses and extended programmes are taught one to one or in small groups of no more than eight pupils across all levels. Brochures available on request.
13. Peak Leaders (0041 79 272 52 30; www.peakleaders.com)
Offers ski, snowboard and mountain bike instructor courses in Switzerland and Argentina. A catered, ten-week ski instructor course in Verbier, Switzerland costs £8,800, or £4,900 non-catered.
14. Xtreme Gap (+44 203 286 7065 www.xtremegapyear.co.uk)
A trip provider with an extensive selection of sport, language and volunteering focussed offerings across over 40 destinations. Train with former Muay Thai boxing champions on the island of Koh Tao (£549 for two weeks) or train to become a personal fitness instructor on their 7-week Thai bootcamp - from £5,299 including accommodation.
15. Sport Lived (0115 822 9999; www.sportlived.co.uk)
This company offer high-octane programmes across a range of sports. Play a 3-month tennis season in Melbourne for £5,615 including accommodation or throw yourself headfirst into a four-week rugby union programme - £6,935 for four weeks with accommodation.
16. Yipiyap (0161 914 5522; www.yipiyap.co.uk)
A company which aims to give academically-minded Gappers with strong grades in english, maths or science the chance to tutor in primary and secondary schools around the country. Contracts are offered for the full academic year (September to July) with a competitive salary and benefits package including pension, healthcare and bonus.
17. Ticket to Ride (020 8789 9055; www.tickettotridegroup.com)
Offers surf, ski, cycling and snowboard courses across the world. A ten-week surf trip to South Africa in January costs from £4,995 including travel, surf tuition, community projects, and a host of extra activities.
18. Warren Smith Ski Academy (07747 809 545; www.warrensmith-skiacademy.com)
Runs ski instructor programmes all over the world, from heli-skiing in Canada, to 'powder camps' in Hokkaido, Japan. A six week instructor course in Verbier costs £1,999.
