Location:

Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina; Skopje, Macedonia; Tirana, Albania

Program Type:

Intensive Language

Degree Level:

Undergraduate

Duration:

1-3 months, 4-6 months, 1 year

Language:

Other Languages

Program Overview

Program Description:

American Councils' Balkan Language Initiative provides participants the unique opportunity to study one of four Balkan languages and regional culture in an overseas, immersion setting. Languages and locations include: Albanian in Tirana Bosnian in Sarajevo Macedonian in Skopje Serbian in Belgrade Participants live with local host families who expose students to authentic, contemporary language in informal social settings. All families are screened, selected, and monitored by local American Councils staff and provide two meals per day, private rooms and telephone access for participants. American Councils provides both pre-departure and in-country orientation for participants along with staff and local infrastructure that provide around-the-clock emergency support. Additionally, participants receive insurance coverage for the duration of the program.

Participants receive approximately 15 hours per week of classroom instruction—individually or in small groups—designed to strengthen speaking, listening, reading, and writing proficiency in the target language. Additional courses in literature, history, politics, culture, and area studies are available for advanced students. All classes are conducted in the target language by host-country faculty with extensive experience teaching foreign students. Tutoring & Excursions To aid cultural integration and support academic learning, participants have the opportunity to meet with conversational partners their own age. In these sessions, participants are introduced to local young people, take part in cultural excursions and practice conversational skills.

For more than 35 years, American Councils has operated comprehensive language immersion programs for thousands of students and scholars. Participants greatly benefit from individual attention in our small classes and from interaction with host faculty who have extensive experience in second language acquisition. In addition to classroom learning, American Councils emphasizes language immersion outside of the academic program through: - volunteer opportunities at sites such as local public schools, charity organizations, and international NGOs; - cultural excursions, discussion groups, and extracurricular activities; and - life with local host-families where they can become fully immersed in language, culture and cuisine. All participants receive undergraduate- or graduate-level academic credit through Bryn Mawr College.

Setting Description:

- Tirana, Albania - Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina - Skopje, Macedonia - Belgrade, Serbia