International Exchange Trips
International Travel Exchange Program
A unique benefit of an ISI education
Students in Grades 6, 9, and 10 go on exchange trips to countries of their languages of study. Although the goal of the travel exchange program is to provide complete immersion in the culture and language of the student’s target language, the real value of these trips goes far beyond that - it translates into confident, well-rounded and open-minded citizens of the world.
- Student travel exchange trips normally take place in the spring.
- Trips are teacher-chaperoned.
- Students spend 10-14 days living with a host family or in a group accommodation.
- While abroad, the students spend time in the classrooms at the partner school. They may work on environmental and other projects, and they take educational excursions.
- These trips facilitate mastery of a second language, and the students are encouraged to speak it as much as they can by ordering food, buying items in the markets, and speaking to their host families and in class.
- All students are expected to participate in the exchange program as part of their learning experience.
- A travel blog is created to communicate with students and chaperones on each trip.
The exchange trips in 2011-2012:
CHINA
ISI’s first trip to China included stops in Beijing, Xi’an Yangshou, and Guangzhou. The 11-day itinerary included excursions to The Forbidden City, The Great Wall of China, Tiananmen Square, Taiji Exercise Summer Palace, Terra Cotta Warriors and the Beijing Zoo. Other activities included a Dragon Boat ride, Bamboo rafting, a bike ride on an ancient city wall, and Moon Hill climb.
Quebec, Canada
Students (Grade 6)
Costa Rica
Students (Grade 6)
BARCELONA, Spain
Students (Grade 9) stayed with host families and attended classes daily. Highlights included excursions to the Picasso Museum, the Dali Museum, Parque Guell, and Flamenco Lessons.
Aix-en-Provence, France
Students (Grade 9) stayed with host families and attended classes daily at the International Bilingual School of Provence. Highlights included day trips to Aix-en-Provence and Marseille. Students also met with the U.S. Consulate.
Costa Rica
Students (Grade 10) stayed with host families and attended classes daily. Activities included visiting the San Lui waterfall, Sky Trek Ranario, and a small, traditional Costa Rican family farm (exploring the sugar cane fields in an ox cart). Students completed a service project with a local school, volunteered at an organic farm, and took Latin cooking classes.
Strasbourg and Paris, France
Students (Grade 10) stayed with host families and attended classes daily in Strasbourg. Paris highlights included Notre Dame, Paris, Versaille, Louvre, and the Eiffel Tower.