• Why Study Media Arts and English Onsite?
  This program is designed for students who are interested in expressing the stories of the people, the places, and the experiences around them in creative and thought-provoking ways. The focus of this course is to provide students with hands-on experience in photography, video production, investigative journalism, visual arts and media analysis. Imagine standing under the gaze of Michaelangeo's David in Florence, or capturing images from the world renowned Colosseum, Spanish Steps, and Trevi Fountain in Rome. By studying both the ancient and modern faces of the Mediterranean through our integrated Media Arts and English program, students will encounter a dynamic learning experience that brings the subject material alive. Whether it is capturing the ancient glory of Spartacus in the Colosseum and the intrigues of Caesar in the Roman Senate, or the glory of Totti on the soccer field and Burlusconi in the Italian Parliament, students will capture incredible images in order to deliver amazing stories. Students will develop the ability to effectively communicate in both private and public spheres using three of the most important communication mediums of the 21st century: the use of images, video and language.

Courses

Two Course Program
Media and the Mediterranean Prerequisites

Courses offered for grade 12 students:

• Media Production - Interdisciplinary Studies - Gr.12 &
  English - Grade 12

  (Students have the choice between English or Studies in Literature)
  The focus of this course is to provide students with hands-on experience in photography, video production, investigative journalism, visual art and media analysis. This course is very practical in nature as students will learn the techniques required to capture incredible images, develop industry standard video productions and get to the heart of a story and deliver it in a dynamic way. Students who take this course will develop the ability to effectively communicate in both private and public spheres using three of the most important communication mediums of the 21st century: the use of images, video and language.

Itinerary

• Dates
  • Course Begins: July 2, 2012
  • Departure Date: July 7, 2012
  • Return Date: August 10, 2012

• Online Component (Day 1 - 5)
  Our online pre-departure component is aimed at ensuring our students are ready to hit the ground running so they can enjoy every minute of their summer journey. Students will complete five days of online preparation, spending 1.5 hours a day on each academic course. That way, students can complete their first assignments and start connecting with their future classmates.
• Departure from Toronto (Day 6)
  Our North American departure hub is Toronto's Pearson International Airport. Five hours prior to our departure, a short meeting will be held at the Sheraton Gateway Hotel, Terminal 3, to distribute course packs and maps and to clarify travel procedures. All students are responsible for making their own travel arrangements to the Sheraton Gateway Hotel.
  Students making alternate arrangements must contact MEI before March 31, 2011.
  
• Rome (Day 7 - 13)
  Remaining traces of the glory and greatness of the Roman Empire will inspire our students as we lay our foundation for studying media arts by looking to the historical works that have come before us from such artistic greats as Michelangelo, Leonardo DaVinci and Brunelleschi. We will continue the tradition begun by the Roman hearalds and investigate the latest intrigues on the streets of Rome, and gather insights from locals in the piazzas. During the day, students will capture images from the Spanish Steps and the Collosseum to the Trevi Fountain and the ruins of Ostia, while in the evenings, they will savour the delights of the local restaurants of the opulent Roman piazzas.
• Tuscany (Day 14 - 17)
  Our adventure out to Tuscany will be a welcome break from the bustling streets of Rome, where students will be able to focus on compiling and presenting the first of their creative projects. Students will also have the opportunity to relax in the ancient Roman hot springs of Saturnia, investigate Etruscan tombs, hike the Tuscan hills of Montepulciano, and swim in the Mediterranean Sea.
• Florence (Day 18 - 21)
  Next, students will arrive in the legendary heart of the Renaissance, Florence. Students will explore the architecture and rewnowned markets and piazzas that were once home to both legendary art patrons and devout religious figures, while being challenged to analyse how these two opposing forces interact. Our focus will turn to investigating the stories and messages behind both the historical and contemporary motivations for creating art and architecture as students visit the Duomo, the Uffizi and the David at the Accademia.
• Venice (Day 22 - 26)
  This unique city on water is a wealth of Italian culture and art history. The Age of Discovery and Byzantium art will come alive amidst the city’s gondolas, lagoons and street markets. Students will have one of the most picturesque cities in Europe as their backdrop delving into further investigation of visual storytelling among the winding canals. We will reside on the island of Lido in a quiet Venetian neighbourhood close to the beaches of the Adriatic Sea.
• Munich (Day 27 - 31)
  As we enter Munich, students will experience firsthand the scars of modern warfare. Our lectures and activities will guide students on an emotional journey as they trace the impact of the economic collapse of the 1920's, and how Munich became fertile ground for Adolf Hitler's National Socialist movement. Students will visit the Nazi concentration camp at Dachau and examine the ruins of the city that lay in ashes by the war's end. Topics of discussion will range from honouring history through journalistic, scripted and memoir storytelling approaches as they explore a city forever marred by war. Students will also have the opportunity to roam the streets of the old city and perhaps enjoy a traditional meal of schnitzel, sausage and sauerkraut.
• Paris (Day 32 - 39)
  Once in Paris, students will discover what it is that makes this city and its people so distinct. As students explore the winding streets of the Latin Quarter and Saint Germain they will uncover the historical grandeur and cutting edge art scene that comprises the unique sophistication of the “City of Light”. From the popular sites of the Tour Eiffel,the Panthéon and the Cathédrale Notre-Dame, to the quiet streets tucked away in lesser known pockets of the city, students will find stories waiting to be told in every inch of Paris. The culmination of their journey will be their final presentations given in Luxembourg Gardens and at the Palace of Versailles, while they spend their evenings in the city’s quaint cafes along the Seine.
• Depart from Paris Airport (Day 40)
  

• MEDIA IN THE MED
  In ROME, we will reside just beyond the colonnade that surrounds St. Peter’s Square in the centre of the Vatican City. Home to some of Italy’s most treasured architecture and art, including Michelangelo’s Sistene Chapel and the Pieta, students will reside just steps from Rome’s most exquisite treasures. Students will also have the opportunity to try all that Italian cuisine has to offer from small family owned trattorias, to bustling open air piazza restaurants and our hotel’s legendary neighbouring sandwich shop. From fresh pasta with homemade sauce to stone oven pizzas, local cheeses and cured meats, students will leave Rome with full bellies indeed!
• In FLORENCE, students will stay in the trendy San Lorenzo district, just a short walk from Ponte Vecchio and Michelangelo’s David. They’ll continue their love affair with Italian cuisine in this vibrant city sampling local versions of risotto and carbonara and Tuscan style stews.
• From Florence, students will north to the city on water, picturesque VENICE. Students will reside a short stroll from the water’s edge on the Lido, a 11km long sandbar in Venice. Students will spend their days exploring the winding streets, canals and lagoons of this infamous city by foot or gondola, stopping to grab an espresso or gelato from a local vendor or dining by candlelight in one of the city’s quiet side-street trattorias. .
• From Venice, students will continue north into MUNICH, the capital of Bavaria in Germany, situated along the River Isar. Despite it’s very rich Germanic history, modern Munich is a very cosmopolitan and diverse, which is reflected in the culinary culture of the city. Residing just steps from the infamous Odeonplatz, in the heart of the old city, students will have the opportunity to shoot footage, explore and have picnics in the adjacent sprawling English Gardens. .
• From Munich, students will travel to their final stop, PARIS, the City of Light. In Paris, students will stay in the electric Latin Quarter. Known for its lively atmosphere and quaint bistros, the Latin Quarter is both an ideal hub to explore the sprawling arrondissements of Paris, as well as the perfect location to sample all that Parisian cuisine has to offer. From street crepes and fresh croissants to classic picnics shopped for in the local market and shared in nearby Luxembourg Gardens, students will have the opportunity to try some of the most delicious French food in all of Paris.

MEI Gear

• Clothing and Accessories
  At MEI, we not only provide our students with the best possible education, staff and travel experience - we also provide them with the best in fashion and accessories! After years of experience, we understand that having the proper clothing is an important aspect of travelling. With that in mind, we have designed a number of clothing articles for all types of climates and activities so the student can be prepared for any situation. From hoodies and tees to windbreakers and flip-flops, MEI gear allows you to travel in comfort and in style! MEI gear includes other items as well, like our high-quality water bottles. Each student is also issued a beautifully bound journal for their travel writing and cultural observations.
• Health and Fitness
  Healthy living, exercise and active learning is a big part of the MEI lifestyle. Each morning students are encouraged to start their day off on the right foot by doing some exercises or exploring the city with a supervised jog. With our MEI workout gear, keeping in shape will be easy and comfortable. Healthy bodies equal healthy minds, and students who are in the best physical condition are sure to stave off fatigue and make the most of their experience abroad.
• MEI Gear Store Coming Soon
  Look here for ways to order exclusive MEI gear soon!

• Transportation
  
  • Return airfare from Toronto's Pearson International Airport
  • Transportation between hotel locations via private coach
  • Transportation for all listed program excursions
  • Transfers to all accommodations
• Trip Related
  
  • Hotels and accommodations
  • Breakfast and dinner daily
  • Entrance fees to all course-specific sites
• Course Components
  
  • Ministry-approved credit(s) upon successful completion of the course(s)
  • Custom course pack
  • Student Login
  • MEI journal
  • Digital yearbook
  • Fall reunion