Explore the World, Discover Yourself!

What is a Gap Year?

Taking time off between high school and college studies or the working world is growing in popularity. You may be looking to experience life outside the classroom and gain a greater understanding of the world around you by taking an overseas adventure of your own. If you are not sure whether you are ready to jump right in to college or a full-time job, the opportunity to engage in volunteer work, language study, or a professional internship during your time off will better prepare you for the future.  

Why do a Gap Year?

• Learn about yourself and gain valuable life experience
• Increase your language proficiency
• Gain a deeper cultural understanding
• Develop leadership skills
• Form new friendships
• Discover a new purpose or a career you may have never thought of before
• Enter college or the workforce more motivated, focused, and ready for challenges that lie ahead

Flexible Programs

CCI can customize your Gap Year and help determine what works best for you. By selecting from our Greenheart Volunteer Projects, Language School classes, Professional Internships, and Independent Homestays, you can create an adventure based on true cultural immersion and experiences not found on any tour bus.

Volunteer: Looking to make a difference by donating your time to a meaningful service project in a community around the world? Choose from a wide variety of projects in over a dozen countries including environmental conservation, children’s welfare, community development and education.  

Language School: Want to learn more than just the basics taught in your high school language classes? With an emphasis on conversation, your language study and practice outside the classroom will allow you to truly gain fluency unmatched by language study in your home country.

Internships: Gain international experience for the career ahead of you or in preparation for your university studies. CCI offers internship placements in seven countries and in a variety of fields giving you hands-on training and an insider’s perspective on another culture. 

Independent Homestay: There is no better way to learn or improve your knowledge about a culture and a language than to live with a family and experience every day life first hand.

Sample Gap Year plans:

• Take French language classes in the heart of Paris for two or three months and then volunteer in the West African country of Benin in a small local school for three months.
• Study Spanish for two months in Cuenca, Ecuador and then travel to Barcelona, Spain for a five month internship to gain professional work experience in your desired field of study.
• Learn many languages! Spend one month at each of our language schools in Germany, Spain, Italy, and France.
• Explore South East Asia- Take one month of Japanese at our language school in Tokyo, spend two months volunteering at a turtle rescue project in Thailand, and then travel to India for a one month homestay.

These are just a few of the combinations of programs you can choose from for your Gap Year Abroad.

Accommodations

Accommodations and meals will depend upon the programs you select for your Gap Year.  Most participants will be living with carefully screened host families during their time abroad.  This immersion experience will give each participant a unique perspective on daily life in another culture and will allow them to build lasting relationships founded upon cultural exchange. 

Some programs offer accommodations in a shared apartment or student residence. Most programs include half board (2 meals per day) or full board (3 meals per day). Please contact CCI for further details specific to each program.

Your support system

CCI holds the safety and well being of our participants to be of the highest importance.  We provide a thorough network of support for both the students abroad and the parents in the U.S.  CCI provides a 24 hour phone line for both parties to contact in case of emergencies. Each participant will have an experienced, on-site local coordinator who is trained to work with cultural exchange participants. The local coordinator will be available to the student at all times should any difficulties or questions arise during the program.

CCI also covers all participants with mandatory medical insurance for the duration of their program.

Travel and Visa Arrangements

Upon acceptance, CCI will instruct you on how to make travel and visa arrangements. All travel and visa arrangements are the responsibility of the participant and need to be booked according to CCI instructions.

Deadlines

Applications are due three months prior to departure. Depending upon the program combination you choose, application requirements may differ. Contact CCI for exact details.

Need more information?
Request a Brochure

Send us a message

Feel free to contact us by phone toll free (in the U.S. only), 1-888-ABROAD-1 (888-227-6231).

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