Gap at CET: Key Elements
Immersive Program Design
Don’t simply study in class and see the sights afterward or on the weekends—Gap at CET programs give you the tools, opportunities, and support to fully immerse and engage with the local community and culture.
Choose Your Adventure
Gap at CET Programs can be divided into two tracks: Intensive Language and Language + Internship. Intensive language programs focus on impressive language gains and immersion, while Language + Internship provides language learning and an opportunity for a part-time internship abroad. No matter which track you choose, you can expect a well-rounded experience designed to fulfill your needs as gap student.
Internships with Local Organizations
Our on-site staff match your interests, academic background, and skills with a local organization that helps you grow and vice versa. Our gap internship offerings exist where we’ve built strong networks over the years with college programs and cover a multitude of industries and organization types. If you choose to intern while abroad, you gain on-the-job experience and learn to navigate an international workplace with with professionalism and intercultural sensitivity.
The City as Your Classroom
CET has a reputation for programs that challenge you both inside and outside of the classroom. No matter where you choose to take your gap, you can expect an engaging curriculum—you might interview locals, visit companies and organizations, or even give a presentation at an open-to-the-public exhibition in a target language.
Connecting Locally at Home
Intercultural learning does not stop when you leave the classroom on Gap at CET programs. Your housing is an extension of your academic experience. It’s a place to practice your language skills, connect with local students or families in a meaningful way, and get new perspectives about culture, politics, and life in your host country.
Local Roommates
Local roommates are a hallmark of CET programs. We launched our first roommate program in 1988 in Harbin, China and brought this model with us as we expanded around the globe. Roommates are college students at local universities selected by CET for their commitment to educational and cultural exchange.
Need help with your homework? Want to go grab a quick dinner? Looking for a new museum to visit on the weekend? Your roommate provides insider’s access to the city and local community.
The Support You Need
From visa support and pre-departure guides, to on-site orientation and round-the-clock emergency assistance, we’ve got your back. We make the process of getting abroad simple and straightforward, but should you have a question, we’re just a phone call away. Once you’re on the ground, overseas staff ensure you’ve got the tools to navigate and thrive in a new country and culture. Learn more about student support.
A Foundation for Exploration
Our gap programs are designed to give you the space and tools to make the most of a gap term—from experiential learning to supportive on-site staff. In addition to the strong academic components that CET is known for, each gap student (excluding those in summer terms) also participates in a virtual Gap Student Seminar alongside Gap at CET students in other countries. This weekly seminar acts as a bridge between high school and college, providing a framework for you to explore your interests, take inventory of and grow your skill set, and outline your goals for the future. And on top of all that, it connects you with a unique gap community both in-country and virtually.
College-Level Academics
Gap at CET programs operate alongside CET college programs. We have provided academically rigorous instruction since our first program opened in Beijing in 1982. Our success in China inspired other programs around the world, and you benefit from this experience. Your peers will be undergraduate students from universities throughout the US. The institutions that send the most students to CET college programs each year include American University, Brandeis University, Lewis & Clark College, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of Michigan, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, University of Virginia, Vanderbilt University, and Yale University.
Passionate, Dedicated Instructors
From thoughtful lesson plans in an attentive classroom environment, to the activities designed to get you out the door and learning in the city, your instructors are dedicated to your academic exploration. Feeling a little behind? Stuck on a tricky grammar pattern? You are welcome and encouraged to reach out to your teachers for help, advice, and even learning accommodations. CET faculty might be scattered all over the world, but they all have one thing in common—they’re passionate about supporting you during your gap education.