1. The presentations will address such topics as trip destinations; partnerships created in the U.S. and in destination locations; requirements for student and chaperone participation; costs and funding; benefits and challenges; instructional components; outcomes (including gains in language proficiency and cultural understanding); and ways to improve the experience through increased collaboration and sharing.

2. About Yu Ying Free public charter school in Washington DC
Authorized IB PYP
One of the most diverse schools in the US
Prek 3 - Grade 5
One way foreign language
571 students
Opened Fall 2008 3%
2015 is the transition for PARCC so there was no tier for that year for any schools in DC

3. China Trips @ Yu Ying 2013 5 43 4 External 3600
Year
Grade
# of participants
# of solo minors
Internal/External
Cost
Locations
Objective
2013 5 43 4
External
3600
Beijing, Xian, Shanghai
Get the kids to China
2014 60 2
Internal
3300
Beijing, Chengdu, Zunyi
Provide students a more authentic experience
2015 80 3
3200
Continue the experience

4. Using the SEAC Framework = Optimal Trip
afety
ngaging
ccessibly
ulture

5. S.afety E.ngaging A.ccessibility C.ulture
High chaperone:student Ratio
Highly traveled route
Kids didn’t have to only speak Chinese E
China Wow Factor
After an hour they lost interest A
Not a lot of Chinese was required C
Visited all the major sites
Limited Homestay
Students only learned about China at the surface level.
Government run program
Year 1
The presentations will address such topics as trip destinations; partnerships created in the U.S. and in destination locations; requirements for student and chaperone participation; costs and funding; benefits and challenges; instructional components; outcomes (including gains in language proficiency and cultural understanding); and ways to improve the experience through increased collaboration and sharing.

6. S.afety E.ngaging A.ccessibility C.ulture
High chaperone:student ratio
1:1 parent/kid ratio
Less traveled route
Smaller, walkable city
Kids didn’t have to only speak Chinese E
More kid:kid interaction
Homestays
Kid appropriate activities
Local kid centered attractions A
Not a lot of Chinese was required
Homestays may be awkward for kids with little Chinese/cultural awareness C
Lots of local culture/history
Authentic activities (scavenger hunts, local people’s parks
Year 2&3
The presentations will address such topics as trip destinations; partnerships created in the U.S. and in destination locations; requirements for student and chaperone participation; costs and funding; benefits and challenges; instructional components; outcomes (including gains in language proficiency and cultural understanding); and ways to improve the experience through increased collaboration and sharing.

7. About TIE: Total Immersion Experience
Founded upon inspiring lifelong learning and shaping cultural ambassadors
Focuses on language immersion experiences for elementary to high school students ranging from 2 to 4 weeks
Dares to:
Provide students with a framework to gain perspective on complex issues. ‘
Support greater understanding of the target language and a broader perspective of the culture one is trying to immerse themselves in.
Turn students into ambassadors both for their home culture, as well as the culture they are immersed in upon returning to their country of origin.

8. Safety
Location and environment - Consider, smaller manageable cities, air quality, traffic and accessibility to students
Prior planning, informing health decisions - risk assessment and management.
Direct school partnerships - buy-in from the local community helps to ensure safe and enriching home stay experiences, as well as provide local up to date information on potential concerns

9. Engaging
Less is more - goal of greater language acquisition with less structure.
Embrace that this is a physical and also mental journey
Provide experiences not pictures - What inspires a student to becoming a lifelong learner and cultural ambassador?

10. Accessibility
All language abilities can benefit - we create a positive attitude about our role as ambassadors of our country, and of the host country when we return.
Activities/experiences for all levels of language learners - Activities vs. language acquisition goals. Our goal is to get students speaking no matter what their proficiency
Put them on the spot - Activities dictate language use.
Cost - what is affordable for your community

11. Culture
Create a lasting experience - focus on relationship building. Students have traveled with TIE at 11, 14, and plan to at 17, each time staying with the same host family. Also think, can you reciprocate the experience to continue relationships?
Establish goals - Identify what the most important part of your program is to you.
Establish cross cultural communication guidelines - Dropping students off at host families doesn’t ensure positive experiences.
What is the real life context? A main goal should be continued interest in the subject matter.
No two experiences are the same - prepare students for the unexpected!

12. andrew@tiewashington.com www.tiewashington.com Questions/Follow Up
For more information on student immersion travel experiences contact CEO and Founder, Andrew Stanoch