The John Burroughs School Modern Language
Department sponsors trips to:

France (travel, short home stay) 
(combined with the Fine Arts Department)

Germany (home stay, exchange, travel)

Panama (home stay, community service, travel) 

The Modern Language Department sponsors trips in each of the languages offered. (except Russian). Each of them has met criteria which the department and school have set in order that our students be best served from an educational stand point, for enjoyment, for convenience, and for affordability. JBS Modern Language faculty chaperone the trips. The school can provide financial aid for students with need; language clubs may offer scholarship contests. Participation in these programs is recognized on the school transcript.


"Certainly, travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living."
                                                 -Miriam Beard

At the crux of a John Burroughs School education lies the goal that its students go on to, through, and beyond college as citizens educated in the breadth of our world's complexity. Cross-cultural perspective represents an important part of liberal education. It is natural, then, that the school encourage students to pursue, if possible, the personal and educational benefits which traveling abroad inevitably brings. In the big picture, they serve to enhance our students' preparation toward human and intellectual excellence. In more specific ways, international programs broaden the perspectives and deepen the understanding and competence students bring to particular courses they study. Host families and new friends can make lifelong, life-altering impressions.

Practically speaking, students who have spent meaningful time in a country which speaks the language they study attain a higher degree of fluency. The language comes alive! In bringing this experience to the classroom, they are more motivated themselves and serve to motivate others. They benefit all students engaging in those courses of study.

Furthermore, an abroad experience can improve a student's achievement at Burroughs; it can enhance the maturity and perspective colleges look for in potential students; it can improve college language placement.

We hope this guide helps you understand why the school values abroad experiences. Also, this guide can aid you in assessing the opportunities available for international travel, so that you, parents and students, can profit from such a trip.