9 Student’s Program Experience
Typical Weekday and Weekend Schedules and Expectations
During a typical weekday, students will attend their academic classes in the morning, which begin between 8:00 and 9:30 a.m., depending on the host culture. At some program sites, host families pack lunches for students; at others, students eat lunch in a cafeteria. After lunch, students might have additional class time, depending on what time classes begin. All program sites will have Afternoon Activities, which can include sports and games, dance, choir, theater, and art classes as well as cultural and community engagement activities.
Students have 2–3 hours of free time later in the afternoon or early evening to explore their communities with their program peers. Whenever students are out and about together, they are always to be in groups of three or more, as per the Rule of Three in the IUHPFL Honor Code.
Curfews
The Director works with each Onsite Coordinator to determine an appropriate time on weekdays when students should wrap up their free time with their peers and be under the care and supervision of their host families. This time is typically between 6:00 and 8:00 p.m., Monday–Friday, after free time. Each site has its own curfew time that is based on host families’ schedules and cultural norms.
At curfew, students do not have to be “at home,” but they must be with one or more members of their families. The purpose of a curfew is to ensure that students are spending quality time with their families, that they are adequately supervised, and that clear expectations are set for students and their hosts. At all times, students are to adhere to curfews set by the program and to respect the schedules and norms of their families.
Weeknights and Weekends
As much as possible, weeknights and weekends are reserved for host families, and students are expected to follow their families’ schedules and requests (as long as they don’t interfere with program activities). Host families sometimes make special plans for their students and look forward to cooking with them, introducing them to family members and friends, and showing them around their cities.
As mentioned in the section of this handbook called The Host Family Experience, students may travel with their host families within the host country on weekends, as long as they have permission from their instructors and their travel plans do not conflict with classes or program excursions and mandatory activities. Students may NOT travel outside the host country with their host families, unless permission is granted by both the parents/guardians and the IUHPFL Office.
Classes and Homework
IUHPFL is an intensive language immersion program. In addition to living with host families and speaking the target language 100% of the time, students attend weekday classes that address several subject areas: Grammar, Literature, Linguistics, and Communication & Culture. Class attendance is mandatory.
For some of their classes, students will be divided into smaller groups. Small class size allows students to hone their speaking skills and receive more individualized attention from instructors. Materials and class instruction will be customized to students’ needs, based on their proficiency levels at the beginning of the program, and will be adjusted accordingly as students progress.
Students are encouraged to be active in their classes and to complete all assignments with care. IUHPFL instructors aim to limithomework assigned to no more than one hour per evening in total and to prioritize assignments that are experiential in nature, prompting students to engage with and learn about their host families and communities.
Cultural and Community Engagement Activities
After course work, students will participate in Afternoon Activities that encourage students to practice the language, express themselves creatively, be physically active, become better acquainted with their peers, and engage with the local community and culture. Some days, these activities may be sports, games, dance, choir, theater, and art activities hosted at the facilities where classes are held. Other days, students may visit local museums or sites of interest, participate in workshops with local organizations, or volunteer with community agencies or groups. Students do not have to excel at these activities, but they are expected to participate to the best of their ability. More than anything, the idea is to stretch beyond one’s comfort zone, try something new, engage with each other and the local community, and have fun!
Farewell Show
At each program site, students put on a Farewell Show for their host families, Onsite Coordinators, and other community friends, as a way to express their gratitude before departing from the host city. This show plays to the students’ strengths and talents and could involve music, dance, skits, and more. The show is often funny, entertaining, and much appreciated by everyone who attends. Students will spend a portion of their Afternoon Activity time planning, creating, and rehearsing for their Farewell Show.
Program Site Magazines
Students at each program site work with their instructors to create and compile photos, drawings, stories, poems, letters, and other memorabilia, which are then printed and bound into a magazine (scrapbook) and presented to students and hosts at the Farewell Show at the end of the program. Students enjoy asking their peers, instructors, and host family members to sign their magazines. After the program, a digital color copy is emailed to students and instructors.
Excursions and Optional Activities
Students at every site enjoy several excursions of historical and cultural significance. Instructors accompany students on excursions and teach the history and relevance of each destination beforehand.
Planned Excursions are organized by the Onsite Coordinators and Director. They involve travel to other cities and are included in the Program Fees. Whereas Onsite Coordinators often accompany the team on Planned Excursions, host family members do not.
Optional Activities are occasionally offered as additional group activities students may opt to participate in or not. These activities do not necessarily appear on the Program Calendar, as they can be spontaneous. Examples include going to the movies, getting ice cream, bowling, attending a play or concert, etc. Optional activities costs are not covered by Program Fees. Students can decide whether or not they wish to participate, and the cost for each activity is typically the equivalent of $25 USD or less. Onsite Coordinators and host family members can attend if they wish. These experiences allow students to spend time with their peers, instructors, and host families and to learn more about their communities.
Transportation at the Program Site
A student’s mode of transportation to and from school will depend on the program site and host family location. Students might walk or use public transportation, depending on whether their host families live in town or in more suburban or rural areas. Public transportation is common abroad and typically very safe; students may be expected to use public transportation as their primary means of commuting to and from the school or classroom facility. A student’s commute could last anywhere from 10–30 minutes and might require a change in buses or trains along the way. Host families, instructors, and Onsite Coordinators will work with students to ensure that they travel safely to and from school and that they are confident with transportation options and routes. Students are provided with bus and metro passes within the host city, as needed, and these are covered by Program Fees.
As per the Honor Code, students may not operate a motorized vehicle abroad nor be a passenger on a motorcycle. They can be a passenger in a car if the driver is a licensed adult host family member, Onsite Coordinator, or program instructor.
Individualized Sports or Music Practice
IUHPFL participants often have athletic, artistic, and/or musical interests. Students sometimes request time during the program to practice an instrument or train for a sport, and we work to accommodate these requests as much as possible. Students should communicate their interests and needs to the Office on their Host Family Placement Form and/or via email, so that their requests can be communicated to Onsite Coordinators and Host Families.
We do not recommend that students take large musical instruments abroad, because they will have to be checked in with other luggage and could be damaged during the flight. It is sometimes possible for students to rent musical instruments or borrow them from the host families.
Student Birthdays
During the program, students with birthdays will receive a card from their program team. Sometimes teams will celebrate by singing customary birthday songs in the target language, playing games, and otherwise enjoying time together.
If parents and guardians wish to provide a special gift to their student, it should be packed in the student’s luggage. Please do not ship packages to the student, as there are often very high taxes and customs fees that need to be paid in order to retrieve them.
Although we understand the desire of parents/guardians to speak directly with their students on their birthdays, no phone calls or video chats are permitted, as per the Honor Code. We suggest sending an e-card, email, or other message online and including a gift in their luggage, as mentioned.