World Language Academies
Overview
Since 1987, VDOE has sponsored Governor's World Language Academies, summer residential programs for Virginia's most motivated and talented world language students. As of 2020, more than 9,600 students have completed one of the programs. The 2021 Governor's Summer Residential World Language Academies will include full-immersion academies in French, German and Spanish; a partial-immersion Japanese Academy; and a Latin Academy.
No English Allowed!
Three 2013 Governor's Language Academies were the subject of a feature story on WVTF, the public radio station based in Roanoke, VA. Listen to the WVTF report - No English Allowed!
2021 Academies Applications & Resources
All application materials (except for online testing) must be completed and postmarked no later than January 25, 2021. Student status notices for the 2021 Academies will be sent in mid-April. See the sections below for applications and information about specific language Academies.
- Applications for Governor's World Language Academies – forms and instructions for the student nomination and application process as well as staff and teacher observer applications
- Order form
– for the 2021 World Language Academies Online Testing Codes
- Private school Request for SSWS Access-This is a Word document.
- You may also be interested in Summer Residential Governor's Programs
- World Language Academies Purpose & Background
2021 Full Immersion Academies – French, German & Spanish
- Dates: June 19 – July 10, 2021
- Location: Washington & Lee University in Lexington, VA
- Website: Immersion Academies Website
- Contact: Email the Host Site Coordinator
French Academy
French Academy Website – Welcome packets for students accepted to the 2021 Academies will be available beginning May 1, 2021.
German Academy
German Academy Website – Welcome packets for students accepted to the 2021 Academies will be available beginning May 1, 2021.
Spanish Academy
Spanish Academy Website – Welcome packets for students accepted to the 2021 Academies will be available beginning May 1, 2021.
2021 Partial Immersion Academies – Japanese and Latin
- Dates: June 20 – July 11, 2021
- Location: Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, VA
- Contact: Email the Host Site Coordinator
Japanese Academy
Japanese Academy Website – Welcome packets for students accepted to the 2021 Academies will be available beginning May 1, 2021.
Latin Academy
Latin Academy Website – Welcome packets for students accepted to the 2021 Academies will be available beginning May 1, 2021.
Program example
For the full-immersion academies, all functions, from brushing one's teeth in the dormitory to class discussions to going swimming or on field trips, contribute to the academy purpose. Each academy is uniquely designed by its staff. Elements of a student's day in a language academy may include:
- Wake-up, breakfast
- Classes, such as:
- The economics of Latin America
- The unification of Germany
- Life in France seen from an economic perspective
- Great works of art
- Literary samplings
- A second language (Arabic, Korean, Greek, Russian)
- Lunch
- Another class (or two)
- Creative activities, such as:
- Journal writing
- DVD production
- Drama
- Dance
- Music
- Sports, games
- Dinner
- Films, music, theater, student and faculty talent presentations.
STARTALK foreign language programs
- In addition to The Governor’s Foreign Language Academies, there are other summer opportunities for foreign language students and teachers available through the federally-funded STARTALK programs. The availability of the STARTALK programs is dependent on annual grant funding. For information about STARTALK programs operating in Virginia and elsewhere, please visit the STARTALK website.