<p>I have cross-posted this with the high school forum. Does anyone have any experience with the Governor’s School for Foreign Language, specifically STARTALK for Arabic? My daughter was just accepted. My son went for theater years ago at University of Richmond so we are interested in specific information about foreign language and VCU. Thanks.</p>
<p>My son did the arts program when it was at Richmond also. But…he had friends go to VCU with the language program–specifically the chinese program and they really liked it and got a lot out ofit. We have visited VCU a number of times and each time wonder why it has the reputation of being ugly/dangerous/etc. He says he would have preferred to be at VCU than at URichmond because it just felt too small and sheltered at URichmond. VCU facilities are as good or better than Richmonds but you do have the city around it so you need a kid that makes good decisions about nightime activity.</p>
<p>That being said, he believes it was the best experience of HS and we will get daughter to consider applying for humanities or foreign language and would feel really fine with her going to VCU after sophomore or junior year.</p>
<p>I don’t have knowledge of the foreign language speciality, however several of my S’s friends have participated in Va’s Governor’s School and have universally had a very good experience. The director of our gifted program is a huge proponent of the program and recommends it over many other summer programs and internships.
Congratulations to your daughter! It is a highly selective program. I’m sure she will enjoy it and do very well! :)</p>
<p>I went for Russian a few years back.</p>
<p>Nice facilities. Food was fine. </p>
<p>They teach A LOT in a little bit a time, but it’s very enriching. </p>
<p>There’s activities that involve all the language groups working together, and there’s also one to several field trips. </p>
<p>I had a lot of fun. I recommend going. It’s worth it.</p>
<p>Um…I have to say the biggest downfalls were the area and the distance. The IRC is right next to that dangerous park, but you never really get near it. You should always be walking with one or more of your teachers/instructors/directors with most or all of your group, so its not especially dangerous.</p>
<p>You get A LOT of exercise too. The walks are tremendous. Going to the dining hall to eat breakfast in the morning is a tough walk without having your energy yet. </p>
<p>It was fun though. There was a hearty mix of language/history/literature learning mixed in with cultural activities and crafts. </p>
<p>The entire language program did a “world market” thing where we had to communicate only using the languages in the program. There’s also an “Olympics” thing where we compete in odd games. </p>
<p>Oh! I remember one of my favorite nights. The 4th of July, everyone from all the language programs went up to the top level of the nearby parking complex and watched all the nearby fireworks. There was ice cream given. :)</p>
<p>So yeah. It was a fun three weeks. Learned a lot. Had fun. Looks good for college. What more can you ask for?</p>
<p>D liked her 3 weeks at the language academy a couple years ago and wrote her primary college application essay about her experience.</p>
<p>I’m jealous VA still has their governor’s schools. PA stopped theirs due to budget cuts.</p>
<p>This has no bearing at all on the OP’s original post, but I did the school for the arts back when it was at Mary Washington College in Fredericksburg. What fun…my first taste of being around other wildly talented kids for a few weeks.</p>
<p>Thanks for everyone’s helpful comments. My son enjoyed his program for theater but that was 6 years ago at U of Richmond. She has had 4 years of Hebrew and reads fluently but is a little concerned about Arabic as her Hebrew experience didn’t emphasize speaking, only reading (and Torah reading, at that). We are not worried about VCU as her brother is there in the theater program but were wondering about facilities, dorms and programs.</p>
<p>
I was there in 1975–still one of my fondest memories.</p>
<p>Mary Baldwin, 1975, Hunt! I think Governor’s School provided so many positives, far beyond the academics. My recommendation would be to take advantage of the opportunity.</p>