Experiment in International Living

Experiment in International Living
Type High school summer abroad programs
Established 1932
Executive Director Aaron Morehouse
Students 838[1]
Location Brattleboro, VT, USA
Website www.experimentinternational.org

The Experiment in International Living, EIL, or The Experiment, is a worldwide program offering homestays, language, arts, community service, ecological adventure, culinary, and regional and cultural exploration programs of international cross-cultural education for high school students. It is administered by World Learning, a non-profit, international development and education organization based in Brattleboro, Vermont, USA.

History

The Experiment in International Living (EIL) began in 1932. “Experimenters” were placed in the homes of host families to enhance the intercultural and/or language study aspects of each program.

Experiment assisted after World War II when they lead teaching voyages on a series of decommissioned warships with the members of the Student Council on Travel.[2][3]

Since the introduction of homestays, organizations including the People to People Student Ambassador Program and SYA have adopted this cultural immersion technique to facilitate understanding.

Mission

The Experiment in International Living's mission remains "to foster peace through understanding, communication, and cooperation" and "to share experiences, languages, and customs with those from different traditions, with the goals of broadening horizons, gaining lifelong friends, and advancing peace."[4][5]

Current programs

In a single three- to five-week international program, US students spend time with a host family and participate in activities with their group of "Experimenters". Each Experiment program focuses on one of the following five themes: the arts; cultural discovery; the environment; peace, politics, and human rights; sustainability and food systems.

Locations

Currently, the Experiment hosts more than 30 programs in more than 20 countries including Argentina, Botswana, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Ecuador, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Peru, South Africa, Spain, Tanzania, and Thailand.

Prerequisites

Knowledge of a foreign language is expected on certain trips, thus experience in Spanish for at least a year is required for trips to Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico, and Spain. Similarly students are expected to study French for at least a year prior to the program in some programs in France.

Applications

As part of the application process, students must submit a letter (in either English, Spanish, or French, depending on the location of the program) to a prospective host family. The letter and a profile filled out by the applicant are used by the local homestay representative to match students with a family. Students may apply either online or through the mail.[6]

Financial aid

The Experiment is administered as part of a 501(c)3 charity and provides financial aid to applicants based on family need. In 2011, 53.7 per cent (450) of its 838 participants received scholarships.[7][1]

Notable alumni

See also

References

External links

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