Our History & Mission

Xperitas Nonprofit Immersion Travel

Kids looking at the Eiffel Tower

Xperitas is a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization that has been providing students with educational language and cultural immersion experiences since 1972. Xperitas was the brainchild of Jim Phelan and Bob and Edie Green, who at that time were World Language teachers in Minneapolis, MN. Because of these very special teachers and the decades of shared experience of two nonprofit organizations, Intercultural Student Experiences (ISE) and Global Citizens Network (GCN), we are here today.

The Xperitas difference starts with what motivates our organization. We are a community of lifelong intercultural learners, who believe in a better and more just world built on deeper levels of understanding of others. As a nonprofit organization we are mission-driven, motivated by the desire to transform lives through intercultural learning.

For fifty years we have provided our teachers and students with a transformational educational experience. We share our founder's passion for creating the best language immersion travel programs. Our philosophy is that giving students an authentic experience outside of the classroom, within a culture other than their own, creates greater cultural awareness, which is vital in an increasingly globalized world.

Our Mission

Transforming lives through shared global experience and intercultural learning.

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Xperitas Language Immersion Programs

Today, Xperitas is a leader in cross-cultural programs that embody authentic language and cultural immersion. In addition to experiencing the sites and speaking the target language, our celebrated Family Stay Experience®, delivers a deeper, more meaningful language and cultural exchange than other programs. Students stay with a volunteer local family, speaking the target language and experiencing daily life as a member of that community. This fusion of everyday language usage and living like a "temporary local" creates a dynamic for sharing, greater understanding and bringing language and culture to life! When surveyed, nine out of ten students consider this to be their favorite part of the trip.

See What Teachers Think

Quality

The partners in Costa Rica are fabulous! Everything was well-organized, and kids were always engaged. Our guide, Jimmy, truly is an educator and ambassador of his country. All of the students and leaders really enjoyed his personality, love of his country and knowledge. The Family Stay Experience was also very wonderful!

Jennifer E, Costa Rica Program
Spanish Teacher
Sharing

I hope we can get back to filling our lives and our student’s lives with beautiful meaningful immersive experiences again soon! Yes, culture shock is such a great thing.

Beth L, Germany Program
German Teacher
Lifelong Value

Know that your child will grow in so many ways from this experience. The program has just the right amount of structure and freedom for the kids to explore in a safe and enjoyable manner. The family stay, while intimidating at first glance, is a unique and amazing opportunity for the kids to really experience the culture that they are being immersed in.

Karen J, Spain Program
Spanish Parent
Direction

I think it was a confidence booster and the experience was so awesome for her and I know we will be lifelong friends with her host family. She already misses Germany and wants to look into studying abroad there or somewhere else and I know doing this program helped her make that decision. She is really looking forward to her senior year taking another year of German and possibly learning another language in college.

Julie B, Germany Program
German Parent