Key Elements of CET Gap Programs
College is a great time to study a language abroad, but why wait? Spend a gap year with CET and get started now. Looking to make critical language gains in Chinese or Arabic? Seeking a deep dive into Italian culture? Want to feel comfortable presenting in Japanese? Choose which language to study. No matter where you go, you’ll take advantage of carefully designed programs for gap students with four core components: intensive language instruction, an immersive housing experience, opportunities to connect with the local community, and staff support every step of the way. Not sure which program is for you? Talk through the various programs with a CET advisor and find one that suits your interests and goals.
Intensive Language Instruction
As a CET Gap student, you’ll take on an academically rigorous curriculum designed for effective language acquisition and progress. Whether you’re brand new to a language or have previous experience, you will make great strides in language acquisition in just one term. Your classes will be small in size and comprehensive in scope. Not only will you leave your program with college credit, you’ll have the language skills, insight, and study tools for a strong head start in college. And it won’t just be your classwork that challenges you. Your peers will be motivated gap students and college undergraduates majoring in foreign language and international studies. All of that supplemented by in-country immersion, what else could you want in an academic environment?
College-
Level
Academics
CET Gap programs in Amman, Beijing, Osaka, and Siena operate alongside CET college programs. We have provided academically rigorous language 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 language activities designed to get you out the door and practicing, your instructors are dedicated to your language acquisition and progress. Feeling a little behind? Stuck on a tricky grammar pattern? Or maybe you’re looking for suggestions for applied practice after class. 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 sharing their language and culture with you.
Immersive Housing
Intercultural learning does not stop when you leave the classroom on CET Gap 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 in Amman, Beijing, and Osaka
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.
Homestay in Siena
Gap at CET Siena students live in a homestay with an Italian family and one other CET student. Your homestay in Siena provides a place to practice your Italian and experience everyday Italian life. You also have breakfast and dinner with your homestay family. Families come in all shapes and sizes: retired couples, single working mothers, or families with children and pets. What they all provide is a comfortable place to study, relax, and learn more about Italian culture.
Local Community Connections
Your CET Gap program will focus on language learning, and studying for quizzes and exams will take up much of your day-to-day life while abroad. But what’s the use of all that studying if you don’t have a chance to use your newfound skills out in the city where it counts?
In Jordan and Italy, you give back to your host community by volunteering two or three days a week at a local organization. Volunteering will show you another side of your host city and provide even more connections to the local community. You might volunteer at a senior center in Siena or an organization that provides opportunities for girls to play soccer in Amman.
The China Fieldwork Semester allows you to immerse in a small community in rural China through project-based fieldwork, weekend homestay, and a one-on-one apprenticeship with a local craftsperson.
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. And as a gap student, you’ll attend weekly check-in meetings in English for a little extra support in your new home away from home.