Language Academy

LANGUAGE IMMERSION TRAVEL TRIP TO ECUADOR!  New for 2010!!

The Summer Language Academy is a three-week program run by Buckingham Browne & Nichols School (BB&N) for students from any area school entering grades 8-12 (as of Sept 2010).  This is a three-part immersion program in the Spanish language for serious students.  The program features a strong curriculum presented by committed and talented BB&N faculty. Students must have successfully completed at least one full year of Spanish at the beginner, intermediate, or advanced levels for this new and exciting summer program.

Part I of this program: consists of four intense days of study on the BB&N Campus from 9:00am-3:00pm each week day from Monday July 5th through Friday July 9th.  Students will be evaluated on their language abilities on the first day of the program to provide a benchmark for their advancement over the course of the program. Faculty will work with students over the course of the 4 days to heighten the student's expertise in the Spanish language by reviewing vocabulary, grammar, reading, and oral proficiency. This part of the program takes place on the BB&N Upper School (US) campus in Cambridge, MA. This is a day program (Monday through Thursday only, no weekends), lodging is not provided. A full lunch will be provided on campus for all students for each day of this part of the program.  

On Friday July 9th students should be dropped off at BB&N Upper School campus as usual by 9:00am. All students should have their bags, passports, notarized parent authorization letter with them at drop off. Students will go over their itinerary with their faculty leaders, check and double check their required items, and enjoy an early lunch before departing for Logan Airport on a BB&N shuttle bus at 11:30. 

Part II of this program: consists of a fifteen day trip to the country of Ecuador to immerse in the Spanish language and to partake in Community Service to benefit the people of Ecuador.  Each student will receive 20 hours of community service credit via certificate after successful completion of the program. While in Ecuador, students will be immersed in the community and experience first hand the people, the culture, and the geography of Ecuador in the towns of Quito, Otavalo and Mindo.  This trip will focus on establishing a connection to the people and providing aid to their schools, their churches, and their community.  Students will experience total language and cultural immersion every day in Ecuador while learning about the people, their history, and their customs. Travel to the Andean Mountains as well as the magnificent rain forest and cloud forest will all be part of this trip.  All meals, lodging, and excursions are included.  Excursions may include: hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, swimming, visits to hot springs, climbs to volcanoes, visits to the capital, boat rides around Lake Cuichocha, shopping at local markets, artisan fairs, tours of Indian villages, waterfall hikes, fishing, tubing, rappelling, visit to the Middle of the World, and more.  A full packing list will be provided to accepted applicants. 

Itinerary details: 

Fri July 9th: Parents drop students off at BB&N Upper School campus by 9:00am on Friday with bags and required travel documents. Students depart from BB&N Upper School Campus at 11:30 on a BB&N shuttle bus to Logan Airport approximately 11:30am on Friday and fly into Quito staying two nights (Fri and Sat) enjoying the "city" life

Sun July 11th to Friday, July 16th: travel to Otavalo and stay at Casa Mojandoa, an Andean Eco-Lodge, Resort, and Organic Farm (www.casamojanda.com)

Sat July 17th to Tuesday, July 20th: travel to Mindo and stay at Casa Divina Cloudforest Retreat (www.mindocasadivina.com) in the mountainous region of the Choco-Andes, a bio-diversity hotspot.

Wed July 21: travel back to Quito and stay overnight for our last night in Ecuador

Thurs July 22nd: catch an early morning flight to Boston, tentatively arriving at 7 pm. Parents are required to pick up students at Logan Airport. BB&N staff will be in constant contact with parents as to the exact time of arrival on Thursday night. 

Part III of this program: is the final day of class back on the BB&N Campus on Friday July 23rd. Students are expected to arrive on campus at 10:00 and will be dismissed at 12:00pm. This day will be devoted to informal student-teacher meetings.  Individual evaluations on the growth of each student's language skills during this program will either be handed out on this last day of class or mailed to each participant after this last class.  Families are invited to join us at any time during this day to enjoy the trip slideshow while having an opportunity to meet informally with other parents and students.

All interested and qualified students are encouraged to apply. BB&N will conduct an evaluation of each candidate to ensure the proper academic standing, maturity level, and commitment to this concept prior to finalizing the student's acceptance into this program.  A letter of recommendation is required to be provided with each application.  In addition we request each applicant provide a copy of the student's prior year grades.  Unsatisfactory grades should not deter students from applying as we understand that some applicants will be applying primarily to advance their understanding of the Spanish language. It is more important that the applicant proves their interest level and dedication to this rigorous program with the ability to come

 prepared to fully immerse in this educational experience.

  This program is designed and directed by our own  talented BB&N language department faculty.  Gabriela Gonzenbach is the lead teacher onsite which is overseen by BB&N Language Department Head, Willa Chamberlain. In addition, Professor Gonzenbach will be accompanied on this trip by Eric Hudson who is one of our finest Upper School English teachers and who is fluent in several languages.  Both of  these teachers will be present throughout the duration of the trip.    

BB&N has earned a national reputation for educational excellence based on its more than 50 years of teaching critical languages. This unique summer program is a great match for students who are seeking to improve their foreign language skills, striving to enhance their current level of study in a given language, or simply gain an appreciation for another culture through direct community service in Ecuador.

After successful completion of this summer program, students will receive a written evaluation from the BB&N faculty. Students may choose to provide these BB&N evaluations to their own school for review and consideration for a possible advance placement in a future language class.  In addition, each student will receive a certificate of completion of 20 hours of community service to provide to their own school for possible credit. BB&N students will automatically be given credit for these 20 hours of community service. 

Grade Level: Grades 8-12 (as of September 2010)

Fee:  $5050 includes classroom lessons on campus as well as all expenses in Ecuador including travel airfare, room, boa

rd, and excursions.  All  fees for this program are due in full by 1 March so that the appropriate international reservations can be made.  This trip is limited to no more than 20 students and as such you are strongly encouraged to secure your space in this camp as soon as possible.

Hours:  

Part I: Day Camp, Weekdays only, BB&N Campus, 9:00 am-3:00 pm

Part II: Travel Immersion trip to Ecuador, overnight, includes weekends 

Part III: Final Day, BB&N Campus, 9:00 am - 12:30 pm (luncheon celebration)

Location:

Part I: BB&N Upper School, 80 Gerry's Landing Road, Cambridge MA

Part II: Ecuador towns of Quito, Otavalo and Mindo

Part III: BB&N Upper School, 80 Gerry's Landing Road, Cambridge MA

Summer Language Academy Dates:

Part I: Monday July 5 through Friday, July 9 (weekends are not included)

Part II: Friday July 9 through Thursday July 22 (weekends are included)

Part III: Friday July 23, Final Day culminating in a Family Luncheon at 12:30

What to Bring:

Part I: Notebook, pencils, and pens

Part II: Packing List to be provided upon acceptance into the program including a Passport, Photo ID, and PARENT AUTHORIZED TRAVEL LETTER

Part III: Notebook, pencils, and pens

Options:

Early Morning and Extended Day options are not available for this program.

Lunch is provided on campus during Part I and Part III of this program

All meals are provided in Ecuador during Part II of this program

 CLICK HERE TO SHOP AT THE CAMP STORE!