Berlitz Adds French and Italian Camps
Berlitz is taking enrollment for its language international camps, offered in ten countries and in several languages: English, Spanish, German, and new this year, French and Italian. The language camp programs provide the perfect combination of communicative language learning and a variety of stimulating activities. “It was a great experience for my boys. They both came home with unforgettable memories and are sure to join the program again,” said a parent from Hong Kong.
“To be successful in a globalizing society, it’s important to learn foreign languages and develop an understanding of diversity, logical thinking, and presentation skills. Berlitz believes that the best way to acquire these skills and awarenesses is to go abroad and learn through real experiences and exposure to different cultures,” says Jun Usaka, global leader of Berlitz Kids & Teens.
Berlitz is also introducing Junior Media Camp, one of the company’s several international camp programs. The program will be held in Luxembourg in July and is open to teens ages 12-19. The aim is to teach participants how to express themselves on the Internet and face-to-face through proper modes of communication and presentation. Participants will gain firsthand best practice through meetings with business leaders from multinational companies and politicians, learning how they represent themselves in new media across multicultural environments.
Another one of Berlitz’s unique international camp programs is the Junior Leadership Camp that was introduced last year and will be offered again in Switzerland (Zurich and Zug). The Junior Leadership Camp prepares teenagers for the future challenges linked to globalization, focusing on communication, intercultural competence, and leadership.
ETS Upgrades the TOEFL
ETS, the creators of the TOEFL iBT, are taking into account shifting demands for global English.
Students who have recently taken the TOEFL iBT may have noticed a change in the listening comprehension portion of the exam. In March, ETS integrated native-speaker English accents other than the North American accent that the listening portion previously used. Now students will need to also understand accents from the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Australia. The change may be a result of the TOEFL iBT’s increasing acceptance by universities and colleges outside of the U.S. to evaluate prospective students’ English proficiency.
ETS has also created a Portuguese-language version of its website to accommodate the rising number of Brazilian students seeking education abroad. Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff’s signature scholarship program, Ciência sem Fronteiras (Science Without Borders), intends to send 100,000 Brazilian students abroad to earn advanced degrees and training around the world. Language Magazine reported that the biggest hurdle to students has been the foreign language proficiency requirement, especially in English (see “English Proficiency Biggest Challenge for Brazilian Scholars,” June 2012 issue, page 14). Taking the TOEFL test is one way that students can show their proficiency.
ETS credits the TOEFL iBT’s continued success to the way that the exam is scored using a combination of automated scoring and highly trained human raters in pursuit of a fair and objective evaluation of English proficiency.
Master’s in International Education Management
The Monterey Institute of International Studies, a graduate school of Middlebury College, is offering a master’s degree program in International Education Management to prepare professionals with the skills and knowledge to run study abroad programs, provide student services in English as a Second Language and intensive language programs, manage international student services offices, develop international professional training programs, and work for government agencies and programs in the U.S. and in countries around the world. The three-semester degree is one rigorous and intensive academic year on campus, followed by a four to six month professional practicum. Students will gain practical experience working within international education.
In addition to comprehensive investigation of the international education field, the curriculum emphasizes program management skills essential to generating and managing resources. Success in international education, or in educational administration, is highly dependent upon graduates’ abilities in marketing, recruitment, advancement, communications, strategic planning, budgeting, and staff management.
The philosophy of the Monterey Institute of International Studies is very much based on hands-on, practical learning. Students in the program will be actively involved in many international education projects and interacting with practitioners in all of their courses, as well as during an intensive professional practicum. Development of intercultural communication skills and foreign language competency is also a key component of the program. Coursework and projects will emphasize the need to effectively communicate in diverse contexts.
Among the unique opportunities offered by the Monterey Institute’s International Education Management program is a partnership with Middlebury College Schools Abroad. In this exciting collaboration, Monterey Institute students may assist in running study abroad programs at locations in Russia, Italy, Germany, Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Spain, France, Cameroon, Egypt, Jordan, China, Chile, Mexico, Japan, and Israel.
The field of international education covers a variety of professional opportunities with careers in higher education, study abroad programs, youth programs, policy and research organizations, language programs, and nonprofit organizations.
Scholarships from STA Travel and UCEAP
STA Travel and the University of California Education Abroad Program (UCEAP) are partnering to promote scholarships and financial aid among participants traveling and studying abroad.
Additionally, STA has created the UCEAP scholarship fund and donated an initial sum of $10,000 that will be distributed as Travel Awards to select UCEAP students who book their airfare through STA Travel. The company will also make a donation to the scholarship fund for each UCEAP student who books travel through them.
UCEAP participants are encouraged to take advantage of the STA Airfare Deposit Program, which gives them the unique opportunity to reserve any airline ticket with just a $300 deposit and have up to seven days before departure to pay the balance, allowing them to book early and save money while securing their airfare in advance.
“We take pride in the service and value that we provide to the student community as we endeavor to make travel for students easier and more affordable,” says Kevin Jacobs, STA Travel’s managing director for the U.S. and Asia.
“As a leader and innovator in study abroad for over 50 years, UCEAP is committed to providing access to scholarships, and we are excited to align with STA Travel on a shared vision to help more students study abroad. When you book with STA, you are supporting future students participating in UCEAP programs while simultaneously taking advantage of all of STA’s services, including STA’s knowledgeable travel experts, the Airfare Deposit Program, and price match guarantee,” says Jean-Xavier Guinard, associate vice provost and executive director of UCEAP.
