A language study abroad program is a bit like the start of a little adventure: excitement, curiosity, lots of questions, and almost always an open suitcase on the bed that’s more chaotic than organized. The good news? With proper preparation, you’ll start off much more relaxed and avoid that classic moment: “What did I forget this time?”
This Pierre Overall guide helps you figure out what to pack for a language camp, an intensive “Traveling Classroom” week, or a “à la carte” program; what you’ll need for class; which documents are important; who to contact in an emergency; and how to get ready without stress.
What should I pack for class?
First things first: You don’t need to bring a full set of school supplies. The necessary teaching materials are provided by the Pierre Overall teachers. So all you need for class are a few simple items: a pen, a notebook, and whatever else you need to write comfortably.
A small pencil case, a few highlighters, and a notebook can still be very helpful—especially if you want to jot down new words, interesting expressions, or phrases you hear in everyday life.
Another simple but practical idea is to bring a small dictionary with you or use a dictionary app on your smartphone. When learning a language in an immersive environment, it helps a lot to write down new words and review them again in the evening. This helps reinforce new vocabulary and allows you to use it more confidently in everyday life.
Travel documents are important!
Before you start thinking about clothes, gadgets, or the perfect outfit for photos, you should first check your travel documents.
For EU citizens, a valid ID card or passport is sufficient. Other travelers need a valid passport and, if necessary, a valid residence permit that allows for mobility within the Schengen Area.
Our tip: Check all documents well in advance of your departure.
Expired or incomplete documents are exactly the kind of problems that always crop up at the worst possible time.
Saving a digital copy of your most important documents on your smartphone or in the cloud is a simple but very helpful precaution. In case of loss, it can save you a lot of time and stress.
Who should you contact in an emergency?
Before you leave, it’s important to know who to contact in case of an emergency. We provide all the important information in the travel packet, which you should keep handy at all times during your stay.
We also recommend saving the most important contact information directly to your smartphone so it’s quickly accessible at any time.
Allergies, Food Intolerances, and Special Needs
If you have specific health-related dietary requirements, we need to know about them well in advance. This allows us to prepare for your stay as best as possible and inform your host family accordingly.
The families are informed in advance. Nevertheless, it is very important that you are well aware of your own needs and requirements and communicate them clearly to your hosts—even if everything was already specified during registration.
In short: It’s better to explain something once too many times than to be faced with health issues later on.
Preparations Before Departure
Documents, luggage, important contacts, and practical information should be prepared well in advance—not just on the last day.
Good preparation means less stress and more excitement about the experience itself.
When you know what to pack, who to turn to, and how to get organized once you’re there, you can focus on what really matters: discovering new places, improving your language skills, making new friends, and becoming more independent step by step.
With Pierre Overall, every detail is designed to guide students and families through this experience with safety, peace of mind, and just the right amount of adventure.
Small Tips That Make a Big Difference
There are those little things that seem insignificant at first but become very valuable at the right moment.
- Bring a water bottle, a reliable charger, an adapter if needed, and a small daypack. These things seem obvious—until the moment you urgently need them and realize you've forgotten them.
- Travel light! A language study abroad program doesn’t mean taking everything you need at home. Often, it’s the simple and practical items that are the most useful. Suitcases that are too heavy make it harder to get around and unnecessarily complicate the trip for both travelers and hosts.
- Do not carry any valuable or unnecessary items with you. As in many tourist areas, pickpocketing can occur in crowded places or on public transportation.
- Cash, documents, and important personal belongings should always be kept in a safe place. If you are carrying large amounts of cash or valuable items, we recommend entrusting them to your hosts, who can keep them safe. This simple precaution ensures greater security, a more relaxed stay, and helps build a trusting relationship with your host family. It also helps prevent misunderstandings: If personal belongings go missing, unclear situations can quickly lead to unnecessary worry or tension.
Do you have any questions before you leave? The FAQ section on Pierre Overall provides answers to the most common questions about documents, organizing your stay, host families, and practical aspects of the trip.