It includes intensive language training to familiarize students with every-day terms and simple conversation. Students will learn to anticipate life in a self-selected participating transatlantic country by learning about cultural values, social etiquette, and interpersonal and family patterns. Topics include food, money matters, housing, transportation, shopping, medical emergencies, religious practices, holidays, and interactions with peers and teachers. Issues such as cultural values, family life, social structure, and political and economic systems are also discussed. If immigrants in the U.S. are available from the selected country, students may be able to interact with them, also.
Exchange students participate in an intensive language course within the year before travel.
Language training is optional for home-based students. Verbal demonstration of a command of common language skills that will allow students to live in a host country over the course of a semester. Transatlantic students will take the following three courses concurrently during their semester abroad. Students who have already taken an equivalent course at their home institution may substitute it with another course at the host institution. The focus is on evaluation of health care systems in light of each country's culture, economic status, health status, and threats to health.