<p>I have done substantial research on language immersion residency but can only find one program (Middlebury Chinese summer abroad) that provides housing in a school dormitory setting. Though there are several excellent placement associations utilizing families, it's just not an option for our high schooler (college a different story). </p>
<p>Our school offers a study abroad option during the school year with host families but, again, it isn't an option from a personal comfort level. Anyone know of other programs that provide settings other than using host families?</p>
<p>Sorry if I wasn’t clear. I’m looking for language immersion programs (summer, school year) that don’t require staying with host families. It would not be a college immersion residency because DC is in high school. Presently, I am looking for an immersion summer program that has a dorm setting vs. host family. While our high school offers school year abroad, students must stay with host families which we are reluctant to do.</p>
<p>So, I’m looking for alternatives to host families. DC is well on the way to fluency and an immersion in a preferential environment would be great.</p>
<p>Just a quick example of what I’m looking for…Middlebury-Monterey has a campus of its own in Beijing where the students do not stay with host families. Sorry, I meant to put this info in my other posts. Patience, I’m new at this. :)</p>
<p>When we lived in Shanghai my d and several of my friends took their one month immersion class which was very good. They offer a variety of accodation options including International Student housing.</p>
<p>Doesn’t Middlebury offer immersion programs ON its campus in VT? Maybe these are for college age students only but we have know students who have done Spanish and French there in the summers. Are you looking for Chinese only?</p>
<p>DD did the Choate summer program in Beijing a few years ago. At that time students stayed all but a few days in a dormitory. Now it’s split 2 weeks dorm; 2 weeks host family; 1 week travel.</p>
<p>Just curious: why doesn’t your child want to stay with a host family? From what my professors and friends have said, the real learning occurs when you hear it all the time at home, which definitely happens with host families. Those that were in dorms said everyone speaks English, and if you’re only there for a summer, as much exposure to the language as possible is vital.</p>
<p>OP-- I’m currently planning a semester abroad through my university, and I’m glad that my particular program makes us stay with host families. It’s part of the reason why I chose it. Like persona said, you learn the language the most when you’re at home with it with native speakers. When you live with it like that, there’s no coming home to the dorm and leaving the Chinese at the front door; there’s no escaping it, which induces and encourages fluency. Every French professor that I’ve talked to at my school ardently supports this. </p>
<p>On the one hand, as a high school student, I can see how maybe your child (or you) would feel uncomfortable with them living and depending on complete strangers. But if that’s the case, then I’d honestly encourage that you consider delaying your child’s immersion to when you both think they can handle it. Whether you live with a family or fellow English speakers, you’re going to be exposed to new, weird things, and it’s going to be hard. My study abroad advisor has set me up with numerous books depicting culture shock and the like. It’s going to be really difficult. </p>
<p>I lived with a French family the year after high school (I was 17 at the time.) One of the best experiences of my life. My French family was able to clue me into all sorts of aspects of French life you just don’t learn in the classroom.</p>
<p>ShanghaiMom and janesmith, thanks for the info! I’ll definitely check them out. I note that many of the full immersions require you to sign a pledge stating that you will only speak the language and violations can result in being sent home.</p>
There’s a gigantic difference between speaking a foreign language with other students and speaking it with a native speaker. I grew up in Germany and could communicate in English with other Germans just fine. However, I could barely keep up a conversation with my American host family. They chose expressions that didn’t make sense in my native language; they they spoke too fast; and I had a very hard time understanding their accent, just as they had a hard time understanding mine. </p>
<p>I am very doubtful about “full immersion” programs where most time is spent in a classroom or dormitory with other non-native speakers. That sounds more like an intensive summer class than immersion to me.</p>
<p>My son signed a language pledge when he went to Jordan, about half the group kept the pledge, the other half broke it the first weekend and he spent most of the rest of the semester trying to avoid those people. And no they weren’t sent home though at least two left early.</p>
<p>I’ve taken summer classes at Goethe institutes where the population was diverse enough and our German was good enough where conversation was in German, but beginner classes will often end up speaking English. It’s hard to organize an immersion program that really works, but IME having local host families is a huge help.</p>
<p>The program at Middlebury in Vermont in the summer is wonderful! They really and truly do keep their pledges. I know several people who’ve done it and they said it’s as true an experience as possible, in the US. And, it’s a gorgeous place. Look into it, if you’re interested. Also, Concordia Language Villages in Minnesota has a Chinese Village. This is probably a bit less immersion, because of what some folks above have mentioned about dorm-camp living, but it’s meant to be total immersion. That, too is terrific, and worth looking into.</p>
<p>My D is an exchange student in Spain right now, learning Spanish and Catalan, while we are hosting a boy from Spain. Not only do they learn the language more like a native speaker by being with native speakers 24/7, but they also learn the culture which is also important. Our exchange son is often asking for help on pronunciation to get rid of his accent, something he would not benefit from by living with other non-native speakers. We are also able to teach him words and phrases that aren’t going to be part of some standard class. My D laughs at what they teach in her English class in Spain because it is often language that isn’t used here or is misused in the class.</p>
<p>I understand that many parents are nervous about sending their child to live with a family half way across the world that they don’t know. Amazingly, I didn’t seem to worry about that for a few reasons. First off, my daughter was mature and well equipped emotionally to go on exchange. Secondly, she went with the very reputable organization of Rotary International which has all kinds of built in safeguards as well as good motives - it’s run by volunteers who are more concerned with the program than getting paid. And third, we were able to e-mail and skype with her host family for months before she even left. We were able to get to know them and learn that they had a daughter who was going to be on exchange in the US at the same time which reassured us even more. She has had an incredible experience as well as our exchange student living here and I can’t imagine her getting nearly as much out of the experience living in a student dorm with other non-native speakers.</p>
<p>DD attended SYAItaly and living with a family was a critical part of the immersion process besides ensuring some personal security for your high schooler.</p>
<p>Don’t want to pry, but I assume that the OP has some important personal reason for thinking a hosting situation would not be good for their kid, because otherwise it doesn’t make sense if one is looking for an immersion experience.</p>
<p>I know a current college student who did the Middlebury summer thing–although not in Chinese–and found it a significant experience. You might also look into this program, although it does involve a homestay part of the time:</p>
<p>Bump…We are looking for a Chinese immersion this summer. So far I have only found the Middlebury program. Any new feed back…would love to hear it.</p>