Once students return from the IUHPFL experience, they are encouraged to support their world language classrooms, by assisting their teachers and mentoring fellow classmates. Past participants can be of great help in a world language classroom, not only due to their advanced language capabilities, but also because of their increased maturity and self-confidence.

 "Students who have spent an immersion summer with IUHPFL have a marked impact on their school which extends well beyond the classroom walls. In sharing the cultural lessons they have experienced firsthand, in conveying the obvious delight and sense of confidence gained from stretching themselves linguistically in ways unforeseen, in modeling for others the human potential for bridging the gaps of cultural misunderstanding — the individual returning to home from the IUHPFL experience induces peers and adults to open their minds and to explore, embrace, and value new worlds."

~ Jean Hitchcock, Principal at Signature School and IUHPFL St. Brieuc, France alumna

IUHPFL students return with a heightened sense of awareness for themselves and their surroundings, willing and able to understand other students and world cultures. They have become both excellent leaders and teammates.

"I've seen, firsthand, the enthusiasm that students returning from a summer abroad bring back — and the seemingly contagious effect it has on others. Students who previously had not found a way to personally connect with school culture return with a deep respect for not only other cultures, but a newfound one for ours, as well. These kids seem to internalize the power of not only language, but education as a whole, and what these tools can do to help a person to achieve. After a summer with IUHPFL, my students are aching to talk to me, to others, to themselves (when necessary) about music, culture, the language, the food — and this makes other students want to participate in the program. Our students pride themselves with being 'international', and IUHPFL helps students who normally may never get to leave the U.S. to experience the bigger picture." 

~ Jennifer Dettlo, Spanish Teacher at Munster High School and IUHPFL alum, San Luis Potosí, México