About the IEC
At AAIA, our International Education Center is an essential, robust program divided into two learning categories:
- Language Education: English as an Academic Language (EAL) for middle school
- International Exchange: foreign exchange/study abroad opportunities for high school (GCE credit)
For our middle school students, the IEC provides an academically rigorous EAL curriculum that prepares your child for the high standards of English proficiency required for a successful high school career at AAIA. Because our high school curriculum is structured around intense AP coursework, it is pivotal for our middle schoolers to have the linguistic competency to feel at ease with our American-based curriculum. Therefore, our EAL program is designed to ensure our students can meet the academic standards required by our school.
As for high school students, the IEC offers international exchange programs with our associated sister schools and foreign summer study abroad opportunities. Starting from the class of 2027, it is required for all AAIA high school students to receive 1-3 Global Citizenry Experience (GCE) credits to graduate. During these trips, students will travel to our designated sister schools/exchange programs for 1-2 weeks per semester. While they are on the exchange trip, students are required to participate in a series of classes that engage with the country’s local culture, the hosting school’s curriculum, and practicing our school ESLO of “global awareness.” Hence, it is essential that all of our students take advantage of the abundant programs our IEC provides to fulfill their GCE credit, participate in multicultural exchange, and become competent global citizens.
Upcoming Prospects
In light of AAIA’s ten year anniversary, the IEC would like to provide our newest summer study abroad program at Harvard University. For the summer of 2026, the IEC will bring a select number of high school students to Harvard University and engage in a set of classes structured around STEM and business topics. In addition, students will be required to complete research projects that are in alignment with the chosen topics, SDGs, and AAIA’s ESLOs. Along with attending courses at Harvard University, our students will participate in a thorough college tour of multiple universities across the U.S east coast–ranging from Boston, New York City, and Washington D.C. To ensure that students will seize this opportunity to discover their “best fit” college, the IEC also requires participants to complete a college comparison project throughout this study abroad trip.
