Introduction

Since 1986, the Virginia Department of Education has sponsored Governor's Foreign Language Academies, summer residential programs for Virginia's most motivated and talented foreign language students.  As of August 2006, over 6,600 students have completed one of the six programs.  This Global Village allows each of the six academies to maintain its individuality as well as to offer activities to expand global awareness, multi-cultural understanding, and international education.

• The three immersion programs in French, German, and Spanish provide an intensive experience and unique challenge for students who have excelled in language study to continue their study of that language in a total immersion environment, which is generally unavailable in the regular school environment.
• The Latin Academy provides an intensive experience for students who have excelled in the study of Latin to continue their study in a milieu unavailable in the regular school environment and introduces the students to classical Greek.
• The partial-immersion programs in Japanese and Russian provide an opportunity for interested students to be introduced to the Russian or Japanese cultures and languages which are not widely taught across the commonwealth.  Advanced classes are also available to students who have studied Russian or Japanese.

Purposes of Immersion Academies (French, Spanish, German, i.e., the languages for which there is sufficient foundation in the secondary schools to enable all academy operations to be conducted in the language.)

• To provide an intensive experience and unique challenge for students who have excelled in language study to continue their study of that language in a total immersion environment;
• To also introduce these students to a different language learning experience -- that of a less-commonly taught language (Japanese, Greek, Arabic, Russian, etc.);  and
• To honor excellence in foreign language learning and teaching (the students, those who have prepared them for the experience, and those selected to teach them in the academies).

Purposes of Language/Area Studies Partial Immersion Academies (Russian and Japanese Studies)

• To provide an opportunity for interested students who have excelled in the study of another language for at least two years to be introduced to the Russian or Japanese culture and language which are not widely taught across the commonwealth;
• To provide an opportunity for excellent language students to advance their skills by experiencing a new, less-commonly taught language;
• To provide an opportunity for students who have studied some Russian or Japanese to further their language skills and deepen their cultural understanding;  and
• To honor excellence in foreign language learning and teaching (the students, those who have prepared them for the experience, and those selected to teach them in the academies).

Purposes of Latin Academy 

• To provide an intensive experience for students who have excelled in the study of Latin to continue their study in a milieu unavailable in the regular school environment.
• To introduce the students to classical Greek.
• To honor excellence in foreign language learning and teaching (the students, those who have prepared them for the experience, and those selected to teach them in the academies).

Summer 2007

WHEN AND WHERE?

WHO MAY APPLY?

• Only sophomores and juniors may apply.
• Applicants for the immersion academies must have completed at least three years of French, Spanish, or German (by the end of the current academic year) to apply.  Exceptional level II German students may also apply.
• Applicants for the Latin Academy must have completed two years of Latin to apply.
• Applicants for the Russian and Japanese Academies must have completed two years of any foreign language.  Current students of Russian and Japanese are also sought as applicants.
• The Governor’s Foreign Language Academies are not intended for native or near-native speakers of the target language of the academy.
• Applicants must be eligible to attend public school in Virginia tuition-free.

HOW MANY NOMINEES?

• Each high school may nominate one person for each of the 6 academies (a total of 6 nominees). 
• Schools with Average Daily Membership (ADM) based on September 30 in grades 10, 11, and 12 of more than 750 students may nominate a second candidate for each of the following:  French, German, Latin and Spanish.

APPLICATION COMPONENTS (Information specific to each academy accompanies the application packet and can also be found on the Web site listed below.)

• Immersion applications (French, German, Spanish) include the written application, audiotape, and composition.
• Latin applications include the written application, grammar test, and composition.
• Russian and Japanese applications include the written application and essays.

GENERAL COMMENTS:

• Participants for all the academies are selected on a competitive basis.  There are no guaranteed slots for any academies.
• Previous participants may not apply again to any of the summer residential programs.
• These are not “language camps” but are demanding and rigorous foreign language programs.  However, most students find them rewarding and highly enjoyable.

For further information, contact: http://www.doe.virginia.gov/VDOE/Instruction/Language/GAindex.html or Helen Small, Specialist for Foreign Languages, Virginia Department of Education, P. O. Box 2120, Richmond, VA  23218-2120; call 804-225-3666; fax 804-786-1597; or send an e-mail to Helen.Small@doe.virginia.gov.