Open Gates Off-Campus Learning 2010-2011
Rome Through the Ages: Worcester Academy’s World Language Department offers students the opportunity to embrace the diversity of foreign travel. The Latin program offers on a thirty-six month rotation trips to Roman Italy, with a focus on archaeology, epigraphy and Classical Studies. The students visit famous sites such as Pompeii, Rome and Herculaneum, as well as the less-trod grounds of ancient Paestum, one of the best preserved archaeological sites of Greek temples on peninsular Italy. These trips start with Latium as their focus and proceed through time and space to Italy’s present, culminating in Rome, the political and cultural hub of the Caesars.
Advanced Research in Denmark: In October 2009, approximately 20 students from the HaderslevKatedralskole (Denmark) visited the USA. The Danish students spent several days experiencing life at Worcester Academy. We now plan to return the visit with a trip to Denmark. Participants on this trip will explore one of three educational themes: (1) Energy and Sustainability, (2) Government and Public Policy, and (3) Science and Technology. With the assistance of faculty mentors, students will work in groups to develop research questions related to these themes. The students will then conduct research and prepare presentations that reflect the academic standards of Worcester Academy. Students will be expected to share the results of their work with the students and faculty of HaderslevKatedralskole during our visit to Denmark.
Past Programs:
A Musical Visit to Worcester (England): In 1990 music ensembles from The Royal Grammar School (RGS) in Worcester, England, performed at Worcester Academy. They stayed with Worcester Academy host families and performed a joint concert with our students. World events interrupted our plans to establish an ongoing exchange program with the Worcester, England school, but the exchange program was reinstated in March 2010. Worcester Academy’s Jazz Combo performed in London, the Academy Singers featured at Malvern Priory in Worcester, and both groups performed at RGS.
Discover Costa Rica, Discover Yourself: In summer 2009, students spent two weeks in Costa Rica. The heart of the program was intensive language and culture study at the CPI Language School. Students were grouped by level into classes of no more than 5, taught by experienced local instructors. Each class included cultural, grammatical, and conversational components and was individually tailored to the needs of the students. In an intensive environment, learners gained confidence and made progress at astounding rates. Students stayed with host-families and also did community service at a local elementary school.
