The Indiana University Honors Program in Foreign Languages began in 1962 when Mr. Munford, a former official of the Ford Foundation, approached Professor Merle Simmons, of the Department of Spanish and Portuguese, about using Ford Foundation funds to create immersion programs abroad for high school students. 

The goal of the new programs, as described by Professor Simmons, was the total immersion of talented high school students in a host culture and the development of their linguistic skills in the corresponding foreign languages of said host culture.  Initially, three Program sites were chosen: one in France, one in Germany and one in Mexico. 

Over time, the Honors Program has expanded significantly, increasing in numbers and moving into the Iberian Peninsula to Spain.

FRANCE: 

• The Program in France began with a site in the city of St. Brieuc, in the region of Brittany; the St. Brieuc Program site has been maintained until this day.
   
• A second city was established in 1994 in the same region of France, the city of Brest.  Brest also remains a current Honors Program site.   

GERMANY: 

• The program in Germany began with a site in the city of Krefeld; the site in Krefeld has been maintained ever since. 

MEXICO: 

• The Program in Mexico began in Oaxaca, but due to an outbreak of hepatitis moved to Monterrey after two years.
   
• After a few years in Monterrey the Program moved to San Luis Potosí because of its safe and manageable environment as well as the paucity of tourists and other distractions there.
   
• San Luis Potosí remains to this day as the only Program site in Mexico. 

SPAIN: 

• The first Program site in Spain was established in 1996 in the city of Valencia.
   
• Soon after, the sites of Ciudad Real and León were established, in 1999 and 2005, respectively.
   
• The fourth and most recent Honors Program site in Spain began in 2007 in the city of Oviedo.