Study Abroad

Tahiti

Spring 2010

Tiki in Tahiti The faculty director for the Spring 2010 Tahiti program will be Professor Sharon Wilkinson, and the program will be based at Simpson's partner institution, the University of French Polynesia (UPF) on the South Pacific island of Tahiti.
Tahiti, with its French colonial background and Polynesian heritage, is a setting that allows students to have a rich cultural experience through the combination of Western and non-Western traditions in one location. It also gives participants the opportunity to experience life in a location very different from Iowa-that of tropical island.

All students, regardless of major, are welcome to participate in this new semester-long study abroad program. Given that French is the language of communication in Tahiti and the language of instruction at UPF, participation in the program carries a prerequisite of one college-level French class (minimum 3-credit hours) or permission of the faculty director. Even this minimal language background will prime participants to make faster linguistic progress in country.

Students on the program will take a 10-credit core of four courses designed specifically for them: a level-appropriate French-for-foreigners course (6 credits), Introduction to Tahitian language (1 credit), Introduction to Polynesian culture (2 credits) and a reflection course taught in English by the Simpson faculty director (1 credit). The Tahitian language and Polynesian culture courses will be offered by UPF instructors in English to accommodate the needs of all participants. The combination of the two Polynesian studies classes will together fulfill Simpson's Cornerstone 7 requirement.

In addition to the 10-credit core, participants will have the option of several electives. The faculty director will offer WLCS 120 Analyzing Cultural Perspectives (3 credits) which will be taught in English and will be open to both program participants and UPF students. Study abroad students will also be permitted to enroll in regularly offered classes at the University with the instructor's permission, as per their language level, academic interests, and curricular needs.

Cost of the program
To participate in the program, students pay Simpson tuition, room and board ($16,497) plus a program fee of $2,500. In addition, students are also responsible for covering their air transportation costs to and from Tahiti (approximately $1,300 from Des Moines) as well as the cost of their French student visa (approximately $140).

Requirements
Students must take a one-credit hour orientation course (or its online equivalent) during the fall semester preceding the semester in Tahiti. Students must also have a grade point average of at least 2.75 both at the time of application for the program, and at the time of departure in order to be able to study abroad. And as mentioned previously, students must have successfully completed one college-level French course (minimum 3-credit hours) or have the permission of the faculty director to waive this requirement.

To apply for admission to the program, the following items need to be submitted to Simpson College's Office of International Education:

  • Two copies of the completed study abroad application form
  • A 1-2 page personal statement explaining why you're interested in this semester program and how it fits into your educational goals.
  • A copy of your current degree audit or an unofficial transcript from your home institution. 
  • The names, email addresses, and phone numbers for two people who can serve as references (neither of whom are related to you, and at least one of which should be a college or university professor who knows your work well).
  • A copy of the photo page from your passport. (If you don't already have a passport or if your passport has expired, apply for one and make a photocopy of your completed passport application form with your social security number blacked out.)

Drop off or send your application materials to Simpson's Office of International Education at the address.  Upon receipt of your materials, you will be asked to schedule a 15-minute interview with the Faculty Leader and the International Education Coordinator.

Students will be notified of their status within a week of their interview.  Those students accepted into the program, they will need to make a a $200 non-refundable deposit to the Simpson College Business Office within two weeks of acceptance notification in order to secure their place in the program.

For more information, contact:

Tiki Village

Sharon Wilkinson
Program Director
Associate Professor of French
(515) 961-1525 
sharon.wilkinson@simpson.edu

or

Marzia Corni-Benson
Acting International Education Coordinator
Simpson College
701 North C Street
Indianola, IA 50125
(515) 961-1288 
marzia.corni-benson@simpson.edu

Last Updated: 7/21/09