Summer Immersion

Summer Immersion

Summer is a great time to relax, party, and catch up with friends and relatives. But it is also the season when thousands of students immerse themselves in a foreign culture and language by studying abroad. Summer study-abroad programs have been around for as long as I can remember. They are ideal for people with a rigorous schedule or for those who simply wish to spend their summer abroad experiencing new worlds. Summer programs can be taken for credit and as part of a curriculum, or as an extra activity that will expand one’s perspective for future studies and work. Here are a few examples of places where you can study abroad during the summer:

University for Foreigners of Perugia (Italy)

L’Università per Stranieri is the oldest and most prestigious Italian institution involved in teaching, research, and the diffusion of the Italian language and culture. The university was founded in 1921, during the fascist period, with the purpose of spreading the “superior” Italian culture around the world. Since then, the university has been privatized and its new mission is much simpler: to teach high-quality Italian language and culture courses to foreign students. There is another university for foreigners in Siena, but Perugia’s is by far the most famous.

University of Malaga (Spain)

La Universidad de Málaga has been offering foreigners courses on Spanish language and culture since 1947. Their classes are said to meet the new technologies and the most innovative methods in the teaching of Spanish as a second language. Every year, an average of 2,000 students from all over the world participate in the various courses offered.

The Institute of French Studies for Foreigners in Montpellier (France)

L’Institute d’Etudes Francaises Pour Etrangers (L’I.E.F.E.) in Montpellier offers a range of French language and civilization courses specifically designed for foreign students. In addition, refresher courses on French linguistics and teaching French as a foreign language are also available. A sister institution is located in Béziers, approximately 45 minutes southwest of Montpellier.

Middlebury College (Vermont, USA)

What if your schedule or financial situation doesn’t allow you to travel abroad? You may want to consider Middlebury (College) Language School. This is one of the most famous total-immersion language programs in the country. They are so committed to total immersion, that faculty, staff, and students abide by the famous “language pledge,” a promise to communicate solely in their language of choice for the duration of their time in the program. So, whether you’re abroad or in the U.S., there are plenty of opportunities for summer language study. Best of all, it will still be fun and exciting. Having studied for a summer at the University of Urbino (Italy), I can attest that it was a life-changing experience.