Take a voyage with some of the world’s greatest English writers of all time. If you love connecting great stories to locations, then this is the program for you. Watch a live performance of a Shakespearean play at the Globe Theatre and experience the feeling of being an Elizabethan commoner out for a night of entertainment. Grab your pen and journal and find inspiration to write poetry in the ambience of the streets of Paris and rolling hills of England, as you enjoy a summer creating your own epic story.
Early July–Late July, 2024
Late June–Early August, 2024
*Program dates include online sessions to prepare students prior to travel and synchronous interviews to complete final assessments after travel. Dates are subject to change.
All MEI programs depart from Toronto's Pearson Int'l Airport.
| Program Cost * |
|---|
| $5,283.60 |
| Travel Cost |
| $3,522.40 |
| Taxes And Fees ** |
| $689.00 |
| Total |
| $9,495.00 CAD |
I felt as though the education was almost as beautiful and interesting as the cities we were in. I never struggled to focus on, nor to understand the lessons. Each individual assignment felt like a piece of scaffolding that eventually allowed us to build and complete our exam and final assignment to the best of our ability.
Student, English Through the Ages 2019
I really enjoyed how the assignments and projects all had a different format and allowed us to try new things. I was also super impressed with all the detailed feedback I received and found it to be very helpful with improving my English skills. The teachers were very supportive and approachable at any time and were always willing to go the extra step.
Student, English Through the Ages 2018
The places we went, the people I met, and the adventures we had will be things that stay with me for the rest of my life. I love going to school, but this summer I learned that even more than that, I love being able to learn in the real world.
Student, English Through the Ages 2019
The concept of learning in a different country outside a classroom surpassed all of my expectations. I learned much more than what I would have learned in a regular classroom setting. The people I met were amazing, and the teachers were fantastic. Definitely a great experience that I’ll never forget!
Student, English Through the Ages 2019
Explore this program's detailed itinerary for a sense of the journey ahead!
Upon your return, you have time to complete additional research and pull your work together before your final one-on-one online assessment. This week allows you to reflect on your travel experiences and integrate them into the course material. MEI staff have found this style of evaluation enjoyable and the most authentic way for students to demonstrate their knowledge and academic skills.
Day 2–8:
We hit the ground running in the City of Light, where we consider the influence of French art, literature, history, and philosophy on English language and culture. The introduction of the French language and culture to England provided not only new words but new ideas and new ways of looking at the world. While exploring the romantic cobblestone streets of St. Germain, picnicking in the gardens of Versailles, and examining some of the most famous art in the world at the Musee D’Orsay and the Musée du Louvre, we take in all that Paris has to offer.
Day 8–14:
From Paris, we journey across the English Channel to London, where we discover not only how Shakespeare modernized the English language but how that language and worldview was solidified and exported in the creation of an empire. Our study of Shakespeare brings his work alive as we study his plays in close readings before watching a live performance at the historic Globe Theatre. We also try our hand at writing arguments before presenting them in a heated exchange of ideas at the original Speaker’s Corner in Hyde Park.
Day 14–18:
Inspired by the vistas of Ambleside’s rolling hills, rocky outcrops, and hidden trails, we retrace the steps of the Romantics in the meadows of England. Our days are spent in masterclasses and BookChats, as well as recapturing the spirit of self-reflection through the study of poetry. In the Lake District, we focus on honing essay writing and literary analysis skills with one-on-one feedback from teachers. Of course, a trip to the countryside wouldn’t be the same without a leisurely hike up the local mountain, which provides panoramic views of the small towns below.
Day 18–25:
The works of contemporary Scottish writers, such as Irvine Welsh and Jackie Kay, allow us to study the transformation of provincial English literature to reflect the chorus of voices that is the cosmopolitan United Kingdom. After exploring Edinburgh’s haunted castle, we have the opportunity to preview the works of the world-famous Fringe Festival while developing Independent Study Units and other summative assessments. This journey comes to an end with a family dinner, where we reflect on all that we’ve done and seen this summer.
Departure from Edinburgh Airport on Day 25
| Program Cost * |
|---|
| $5,283.60 |
| Travel Cost |
| $3,522.40 |
| Taxes And Fees ** |
| $689.00 |
| Total |
| $9,495.00 CAD |
* Program cost does not include non-refundable $95 registration fee.
** Based on air fares, land tariffs and currency exchange rates as of July, 2023. Please note the possibility of increases in airfares and land costs prior to departure. Any increase must be borne by the individual participant.
† All students travelling with MEI Academy are required to purchase Medical and trip cancellation and interruption Insurance.
