Program Description

The Experiment in International Living

Offered by World Learning

Experiment in International Living
Brattleboro, Vermont


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For More Information, Contact
The Experiment in International Living
Kipling Road
Brattleboro, Vermont 05302-0676
802-257-7751
800-345-2929 (toll-free)
Fax: 802-258-3428
http://www.worldlearning.org/experiment
E-mail: eil@WorldLearning.org

Type of Program: International youth travel
Participants: Coeducational, high school students
Enrollment: 1,000–1,100
Program Dates: Three to five weeks in the summer
Head of Program: Tony Allen and John Meislin, Directors of the Experiment in International Living

Location

The Experiment in International Living is offered by World Learning, which is located in southern Vermont, and by affiliated offices on six continents. These offices provide Experiment in International Living programs with full-time international support and up-to-the-minute information on local events in program countries.

Background and Philosophy

World Learning was founded in 1932 as the Experiment in International Living, a pioneer in people-to-people exchange. It is one of the oldest private nonprofit international educational services organizations in the world. For more than seventy-five years, it has sustained its founding concept—learning the culture and language of another country by living as a member of one of its families—while also pioneering new initiatives in response to a changing world.
    The range of Experiment in International Living programs includes snorkeling with seals in lava grottoes while observing the ecology of Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands, wandering through Samurai villages after language classes in Japan, and biking along the coast of Brittany while immersing oneself in French culture and history.
    Each Experiment in International Living program begins with a cross-cultural orientation in the host country, usually in the capital of the country. During orientation, participants learn about the customs and characteristics of the society in which they will be living in order to help them fully experience and enjoy their new environment.
    Experiment in International Living programs are especially suited to students who are inquisitive and highly motivated to learn about cultures other than their own. Essential personality traits are adaptability, responsibility, a spirit of cooperation, and a sense of humor.

Program Offerings

Students can choose from extraordinarily diverse programs in any of twenty-six countries from Australia to South Africa. Some programs provide intense immersion in the language and culture of a single place and people; some engage students in a culture through community service; and others develop the global perspective necessary to tackle international ecological problems. Choices are based on participant preference and on the special program opportunities made available by the Experiment’s overseas contacts. Homestay and Travel and Regional Exploration programs in such countries as Brazil, Chile, China, France, Ghana, Italy, Mexico, New Zealand, Poland, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, and the United Kingdom are popular. Ecological Adventure programs in places like Argentina, Australia, Belize, Botswana, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico, the Navajo Nation, New Zealand, Spain, and Switzerland offer exciting learning opportunities. Community Service programs in Argentina, Belize, Botswana, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Germany, Ghana, Mexico, Mongolia, the Navajo Nation, Poland, South Africa, Thailand, and Turkey attract students who want to make personal contributions to the well-being of the world community. Language Training programs are available in France, Japan, Italy, and Spain. Programs in the arts are available in France, Morocco, Spain, South Africa, and the United Kingdom.
The following programs were offered in 2007; students should contact the Vermont office for more details.
Homestay By living with a family, students absorb and experience not just the language but also the values, customs, and traditions of a new country. They participate in the everyday life of the host family and engage in regular, fun activities with the U.S. leader, other group members, and host families. Traveling with the group and leader, students journey to another part of the country, trying out communication and exploration skills. The group visits three or four places, taking in the main sights while still having time to interact with local people.
Ecological Adventure Students examine rich natural and cultural resources through an adventurous travel program that is sensitive to environmental needs. As they tour historic, cultural, and scenic areas, the students explore ecological diversity firsthand, with the leader keeping the focus on the extraordinary balance of nature in the host country. Through camping, canoeing, snorkeling, or sailing, students embark on adventurous exploration into rural areas to appreciate a culture’s spiritual and economic relationships to its environment. Students learn the value of being a global citizen and understanding the impact of ecological issues from a local and global perspective.
Community Service Students can make a peaceful, personal contribution to the well-being of the common planet by working on a Community Service program. Students gain invaluable hands-on experience in the process and discover how community service lets them learn from, as well as about, people in another culture. Students gain an understanding of how much can be accomplished with very few resources and of the cultural variations in approaches to problem solving. Students travel with their group and leader during the last part of the program to explore other parts of the country.
Language Training Focusing on verbal communications skills, students benefit from the highly skilled, experienced teachers and the community-based interactive learning of the Language Training programs. Participants work hard, but the rewards are extraordinary. Students can apply their lessons every minute of every day and can learn with an astonishing speed and ease. The Language Training programs require one year of French and one year of Spanish for the France and Spain programs, respectively. The Japan and Italy Language Training programs have no language prerequisites.
Travel and Regional Exploration Participants discover famous cultural and historical sights, interpreting them from the enriched perspective gained by living with a local family and taking part in the daily life of a community. They may journey to bustling port cities; hike through animal sanctuaries; travel by horse; sail, swim, and snorkel; or visit native markets.
The Arts Students explore theater, film, photography, or folklore to enrich the understanding of the host culture. Whether engaging in a photography project in the streets of Paris, flamenco dance lessons in southern Spain, or theater in the land of Shakespeare, a participant’s creativity and talent provide a palette for a remarkable summer.

Enrollment

Experiment in International Living programs are open to high school students. The majority are sophomores, juniors, and recently graduated seniors. Previous study of the host country language is required for some programs. Each participant is part of a group of travel companions for the duration of the Experiment in International Living program. Groups represent a broad spectrum of interests and personalities, encouraging the development of warm and lasting friendships.

Staff

Leaders provide the support each participant needs to learn and to discover what international understanding means. The Experiment in International Living chooses its group leaders for their language fluency, maturity, emotional balance, experience in group leadership, and skill in working with young people. From the in-country orientation to the return to the United States, both the group and the leader serve as valuable resources for personal support, idea exchange, and activity planning.

Costs

Fees for Experiment in International Living programs are determined by the chosen program’s components, length of stay, and host country. Prices range from about $4100 to $6900. These all-inclusive fees cover round-trip international transportation; orientation and language training; meals, lodging, and transportation throughout the program; admission to the program’s scheduled events; costs related to the group leader; and health and accident insurance. Not included in the program fees are round-trip transportation to and from the program’s U.S. starting point, personal spending money (usually $400 to $800), and costs of required travel documents and immunizations.
A $100 nonrefundable application fee must accompany the initial application, along with a $300 space reservation deposit, which is applied to the program fee. Full payment is required before the program start date. VISA and MasterCard are accepted.

Financial Aid

Some awards are based on merit, most on need, and some on a combination of the two. Annually, more than 35 percent of Experiment in International Living participants receive scholarships from the Experiment. Awards typically range from 10 to 50 percent of the individual’s program fee. Scholarships are awarded on a rolling first-come, first-served basis. Program applicants are sent financial aid information and applications upon request.

Application Timetable

Initial inquiries are welcome throughout the year. Detailed information and application forms are available early in the fall. May 1 is the deadline for the initial application. The Experiment’s Admission Committee reviews an individual’s application as soon as all of the application materials have been received. The candidate is contacted in writing soon after the committee has reached a decision. Students are accepted into Experiment in International Living programs on a rolling basis beginning in the fall. Applicants may choose any program for which they meet the minimum age and language study requirements.