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UNG adds second study-abroad option to high school summer language program
UNG

DAHLONEGA — The University of North Georgia plans to offer three-week study abroad programs next year in Germany and France as part of its summer language program for high school students.

According to a news release from UNG, the college offers summer courses in several languages in the Federal Service Language Academy, which will offer two sessions from June 5-24 and July 10-29.

Rising high school juniors and seniors live in a residence hall on UNG's Dahlonega campus and study Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Portuguese or Russian.

The academy, started in 2010 at UNG, features intensive, daily language studies geared toward high school students who have an interest in careers in international affairs or in federal service organizations.

The program draws students from across the state and country and combines fitness, federal service advisement and language immersion.

Students participating in the on-campus programs may earn high school credit. However, the FSLA-Germany and FSLA-France programs offer college and high school academic credit, giving students a head start on a degree.

The dual-enrollment option also means free college tuition for qualifying Georgia residents through the state's Move on When Ready program, though there are other costs involved.

FSLA-Germany will run July 1-23 in Berlin; dates still are pending for the FSLA-France program in Angers, France.

Both will be immersive programs with an emphasis on experiential learning programs for high school students and supervised excursions to local sites. Students will live with a host family and attend class from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Laura Wagner, a senior at South Forsyth High School, took part in the FSLA-Germany program last summer, the first time UNG offered it for high school students.

"Anyone can study language in a classroom, but participating in this program really boosted my confidence with speaking the language and interacting with native Germans," Wagner said.

"I love that we stayed with host families rather than in hotels or hostels. You get such an inside view on the culture when you are actually living it every day with your host family."

For more information, including how to apply to the programs, visit the Center for Global Engagement website, at http://ung.edu/global-engagement/.