Determine where you want to go. If you teach Spanish, you have many countries from which to choose. If you teach one variation of Spanish more than another (say, you don't use the "theta" from Spain when you teach) then you may want to consider going to a country that is aligned with the way you speak. If you teach French, bear in mind the differences between Quebec French and Paris French.
Make parents and school officials comfortable by clearing up any problems of insurance and liability before you go. There are several companies that offer comprehensive insurance in the short term for international study trips. Check them out, and be able to explain their costs and benefits to trip participants. Have travelers check their own personal insurance policies as well to see if they have a rider that covers international travel.
Design a study program in the host country. You may want to go through an already-established program, such as Enforex, in the Spanish-speaking world, that has a fully-functional program ready for the students. Or you may want to design a personal program through schools or universities in the host country, using contacts you have made. This second option can often save money.
Plan for your flight. If you go through an established travel company such as EF or ACIS, their agents take care of flight arrangements for you. If, however, you want to save money you can often arrange the flights yourself by directly contacting agents of the airline of your choice and working out a group rate.
Promote your trip. Know your target market. If the group will be made up of your students, talk up the trip in class and talk about the host country, its culture and customs and things the students will need to keep in mind.
Have frequent meetings with travelers and, if applicable, their parents, to help allay fears about going off into the great unknown. People are often scared of what they don't know, and often have distorted ideas of what it's like to live in another country. Use these meetings to answer any questions. Be up-front and honest about all the realities of international travel.
Be prepared for emergencies. Know where hospitals and pharmacies are located, for example. Have emergency phone numbers for you and your travelers, and keep a list of home phone numbers, as well, so that you can be in contact with those who stay in the US while their loved ones are traveling.
