Student Exchange Program
A student exchange program allows high school and college students the opportunity to experience firsthand the culture, language, customs, schooling, and everyday life in another country. People who participate in student exchange programs develop an awareness of and appreciation for people of different countries that cannot be gleaned from books or videos. This kind of understanding has immense power to shape a young person's worldview.
Where students go and how long they stay during these programs depends on a number of factors, including the student's language preference, cultural and academic interests, and financial considerations. Student exchange programs can last for as little as two weeks, perhaps during the summer, or as long as an entire academic year. Some even offer the opportunity to have the agenda modified to suit the needs of the individual.
All courses of this nature have an application process and certain guidelines for participants. Most require a minimum GPA, a personal interview, and at least a year of foreign language study, when the language of the destination country is not English. A student who is naturally curious, flexible, and mature will do well in a student exchange program. Naturally, students who participate are likely to further develop these traits as a result of their involvement.
Participants are matched with a family who agrees to provide safe housing and to help the individual acclimate to the new environment. Host families also provide frequent exposure to the local customs and foods simply by daily interaction through family meals and discussions. Host families are screened by coordinators of the student exchange programs so that a good match can be made between the family and the young person. The host family may also have a child participating in this plan, but not necessarily.
During the longer, academically focused programs, students are expected to go to school and learn in their host country. The educational system may be unlike anything that they are used to. The individual may need to adapt to unusual behaviors, different teaching methods, and even uncommon classroom arrangements in a student exchange program. Some agendas are operated in cooperation with the student's school, so transfer of credit to the home school or college is possible.
The rewards that come from this type of curriculum are plenty. In addition to academic credit, individuals also make new friends, develop language skills, and appreciate the "smallness" of the world and its diversity. Furthermore, many employers view student exchange program participation very favorably. Whether the time spent in student exchange programs is a full year or just a few weeks, the benefits may last a lifetime. "There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification." (1 Corinthians 14:10)
Where students go and how long they stay during these programs depends on a number of factors, including the student's language preference, cultural and academic interests, and financial considerations. Student exchange programs can last for as little as two weeks, perhaps during the summer, or as long as an entire academic year. Some even offer the opportunity to have the agenda modified to suit the needs of the individual.
All courses of this nature have an application process and certain guidelines for participants. Most require a minimum GPA, a personal interview, and at least a year of foreign language study, when the language of the destination country is not English. A student who is naturally curious, flexible, and mature will do well in a student exchange program. Naturally, students who participate are likely to further develop these traits as a result of their involvement.
Participants are matched with a family who agrees to provide safe housing and to help the individual acclimate to the new environment. Host families also provide frequent exposure to the local customs and foods simply by daily interaction through family meals and discussions. Host families are screened by coordinators of the student exchange programs so that a good match can be made between the family and the young person. The host family may also have a child participating in this plan, but not necessarily.
During the longer, academically focused programs, students are expected to go to school and learn in their host country. The educational system may be unlike anything that they are used to. The individual may need to adapt to unusual behaviors, different teaching methods, and even uncommon classroom arrangements in a student exchange program. Some agendas are operated in cooperation with the student's school, so transfer of credit to the home school or college is possible.
The rewards that come from this type of curriculum are plenty. In addition to academic credit, individuals also make new friends, develop language skills, and appreciate the "smallness" of the world and its diversity. Furthermore, many employers view student exchange program participation very favorably. Whether the time spent in student exchange programs is a full year or just a few weeks, the benefits may last a lifetime. "There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification." (1 Corinthians 14:10)
Student Exchange Program
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