Cultural Embrace's junior summer program offers residential Italian language courses combined with sport and creative leisure activities and excursions. The students will be located in Siena – a city of distinction – which is a multi-faceted place that harmonizes medieval treasures hidden behind historical walls and modern day amenities located throughout the city center. The city is built upon three hills in the heart of Tuscany about 43 miles south of Florence. Filled with superior examples of Gothic architecture, Siena is also home to one of the most unique public spaces in all of Italia and the world – the Piazza del Campo – that is shaped like a shell.

Our Italian junior program is designed for ages 9th-12th graders to have a nice balance of Italian language courses with carefully supervised sport, creative leisure activities, and cultural excursions. Italian lessons involve speaking, listening, reading, and writing in lively and informal small classes. The local teachers are all highly qualified and are carefully selected for their experience in teaching young learners.

Designed for students to gain personal, cultural, communication, social and leadership skills, and to discover the Italian language and culture. We offer an 'all-inclusive' program with students divided between the same age-group and language skills level, that share similar interests. Guided leisure time activities are scheduled for every afternoon, evening, and weekend. Meals and housing will be included in safe, conveniently located on-campus.

Discover the Similarities - Share the Differences!

Learn Italian in a multicultural, healthy, and friendly environment 
Experience Italian culture and traditions with friendly and qualified supervision by native teachers, monitors and staff
An opportunity to broaden your perspective and worldview
An opportunity to participate in and learn Italian cultural activities (e.g.: language, cooking, crafts)
Discover Italy with memorable travel experiences and ways to see exotic sites you have always dreamed about 
The ability to make lifelong friends from around the globe 
A great way to develop and support your self-confidence and interpersonal skills 

Cultural Embrace Offers:

• 24 Italian lessons per week
  45 minutes per lesson provided in to 4 lessons per day, six days per week (M-Sa). Language levels range from beginner to advanced level. A maximum of 12 students per group. Classes taught by native Italian teachers. A combination of grammar, written, and conversational methodologies taught.
• Room & Board
  Full board residential accommodation in a room with three beds and private bathroom.
• Classroom Materials
  Study materials for class are provided (textbook/workbook and photocopies of exercises).  
• Social Activities and Excursions
  Daily social activities and full-day excursions once a week are include
• Travel Insurance:  Comprehensive Medical Coverage 
  Our program includes a comprehensive international traveler's medical coverage. 
• Arrival Assistance 
  Transfer service in and out from Venice, Trieste and Treviso airports or closer railway station are available for optional fee.
  €70/person/way from Venice airport , €60/person/way from Trieste airport, €90/person/way from Treviso airport, €30/person/way from Latisana railway station
• Cultural Embrace Kit
  Useful tips, advice, and information to prepare you for the amazing adventure of traveling abroad.
• 24-Hours Full-time Representation & Supervision
  Cultural Embrace provides bi-lingual representation in the United States and Italy prior to, during, and after your placement.

Prerequisites:
Must be completing grades 9-12 and have at least two years of a high school Romance Language (Latin, Spanish, French, Italian) or equivalent.

Academic Information:
School: Dante Alighieri Language Institute
Curriculum: Italian Conversation and Culture. Classes are taught Monday-Friday, 4 hours a day, by teachers who hold advanced degrees in teaching Italian to foreigners. Classes are with other program participants and are broken up by skill level.
Academic Credit: Students receive 40 contact hours on their transcript which they may use to petition for up to 2 hours of college credit.

Dante Alighieri Scuola d'Italiano:
Dante Alighieri specializes in teaching Italian language and culture to foreign students. They maintain a very low student to teacher ratio with no more than 10 students per class to ensure that students receive personal attention. The classes are fun and they are designed to help students speak and use the language of study. Students will have access to the library/study room facilities as well as computers at school. The school also provides optional cultural activities in the afternoon that students may participate in such as theater outings, local festivals, cooking classes, etc.

Homestay Family:
The homestay families are carefully selected by the housing coordinator at the Dante Alighieri Institute as well as screened by our partners. The families are well experienced in hosting foreign students and are committed to help in learning the language, serving you great food, and adopting you into their way of life. Remember that families come in all shapes and sizes and an open mind to try new things is important!   In Siena, your homestay family will serve you breakfast & dinner (lunch will be on your own with other group members.)

Day 1	Depart USA for Rome
Day 2	Arrive Rome FCO Airport. Transfer to Hotel in the beautiful seaside village of Sorrento. Enroute, stop to visit the ruins of Pompeii with Mt. Vesuvius in the backdrop! Small walking tour around Sorrento, dinner, then off to bed early to get over jet lag.
Day 3	Boat excursion in the morning to the breathtaking Island of Capri. Visit Monte Solaro and Villa Jovis while on the island. Dinner upon returning to Sorrento.
Day 4	Travel to Siena to meet your homestay family making stops along the way to explore. Spend time getting to know your homestay family and start communicating in Italian!
Day 5	First day of classes at Dante Alighieri Language Institute. Spend the afternoon getting oriented with a tour around the city.
Days 6-9	Regular morning classes and afternoon activities. Explore Siena and two of its neighboring towns in Tuscany in the afternoons with your director. This week you will experience the amazing Palio Festival in Siena by attending preparations, races, and joining in the local celebrations (July 2)!
Day 10	Full day excursion to explore Florence. Enjoy a personalized tour with Sra. Hudec as you visit Uffizi, Accademia, Santa Croce, and Santa Maria Novella. Return back to Siena in the evening.
Day 11	Enjoy an optional relaxing Sunday day trip to the beach to see the Etruscan Tumuli or nearby town!
Days 12-15	Regular morning classes and afternoon activities.  Enjoy the last evening on Thursday with your homestay family and new friends in Siena!
Day 16	Depart Siena early for Rome! Hotel accommodations located near the Vatican. Experience ancient Rome - take a stroll through Trastevere and have dinner at Trattoria del Pallaro.
Day 17	Medieval and Renaissance Rome walk - Piazza del Popolo to Campo de' Fiori. Have lunch at Piazza Navona. Spend the afternoon at one of Rome’s many museums - Vatican Museums or Villa Borghese. Enjoy a final evening meal with your group at Pizzeria Montecarlo.
Day 18	Depart Rome for USA with beautiful memories of Tuscany and Italia!

Summer : June 25 - July 12, 2009  -  $3,400

*Prices subject to change based on currency exchange rates
**Can$, Aus$, Br£, US$ can be accepted with an additional service charge for currency conversion
***Fee includes: 24 lessons of Italian/week, accommodations, all meals, health insurance, textbooks, activities, excursions, 24-7 supervision

1. Obtain the Cultural Classes Application Forms & Procedures documents in one of three ways:

(a) Download the forms:  Cultural Classes Form (PDF).

(b) Fill out an online application request form and the forms will be mailed to you within 7-10 days.

(c) Call Cultural Embrace at 1-512-469-9089 or 1-888-214-8570 (US/Canada toll-free) to have the forms mailed to you in 7-10 days. 

2. Read the instructions carefully and complete all forms.

3. Submit your completed application packet to:

CULTURAL EMBRACE
7201 Bill Hughes Road
Austin, TX 78745 USA

Completed packet should include:

• Cultural Classes Program Application
• Signed Cultural Classes Agreement
• Copy of your passport (information page only)
• Two 1½" x 2" official passport-size photos, signed on the back
• US$200 non-refundable deposit (credited towards your program fee) 

*Cultural Embrace requires an expedited application fee for those applying 12 weeks or less before the desired date of departure. Applications received 8-12 weeks prior to desired departure date will be charged $150. Applications received less than 8 weeks before the desired departure date will be charged $250.

For any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at info@culturalembrace.com or you can call us at 1-512-469-9089 or 1-866-282-8511 (US/Canada toll-free).