BASIS Independent McLean Students Enjoy Senegal for Spring Break

Many area students enjoyed a break from school over spring vacation, but BASIS Independent McLean (BIM) French students decided to take their break in Senegal, far from their classroom, but still deeply immersed in an enriching, educational experience of a lifetime. World travel is an optional opportunity for BIM students looking to take their education outside their textbooks and familiar settings. Senegal not only gave French students an immersive environment in the French language, but also provided them a new cultural and societal viewpoint of life outside of McLean, Va. For more information on the school, go to http://mclean.basisindependent.com.

As part of the cultural experience, BIM students visited a Senegalese school, and have since started pen-pal relationships. Inspired to support others’ education, BIM students also donated reading glasses, clothing and academic scholarships for seven highly-qualified students. They also visited wildlife areas and had an emotional experience at Goree Island learning about the history of the slave trade.

Next year, BASIS Independent McLean’s Spanish instructor, Dr. Isquith, will be leading a student trip to the Galapagos Islands.

“I love the fact that our school can give our students the opportunity to visit places like Senegal,” said Elisabeth Seye, French instructor at BASIS Independent McLean of McLean, Va. “It’s important that our experience and understanding of language also include the rich culture that surrounds it, and that students can put into context what they’ve learned in class…I was thrilled to watch our students become citizens of the world,” said Seye.