Student exchange program

A student exchange program is a program in which a student, typically in secondary education chooses to live in a foreign country to learn, among other things, language and culture. These programs are called 'exchanges' because different countries participating in the program will trade off students in this fashion. The students live with a host family, who are usually unpaid volunteers and often have a child the same age who has also participated (or is going to participate) in a similar exchange programme. Host families are usually vetted by the organisation co-ordinating the programme.

Student exchanges became popular after World War II, and have the aim of helping to increase the participants' understanding and tolerance of the other cultures, as well as improving their language skills and broadening their social horizons.

An exchange student typically stays in the host country for a relatively short period of time, in contrast to international students or those on study abroad programmes.

These programs are available from a number of service-oriented organizations, such as Rotary International's Rotary Youth Exchange, American Field Service, and Youth for Understanding, which offer three of the more popular programs, and other organizations such as the Kiwanis or Lions Clubs offer similar programs.

Long term exchange

A long term exchange is considered an exchange which is designed to last for longer than ten months or an entire academic year. Participants are to attend schools in their host countries, with student visas. They are expected to become fully fluent in the language of their host country, integrate themselves into the local community and surroundings, and upon their return to their home country are expected to incorporate this knowledge into their daily lives, as well as give a presentation on their experience to their sponsors. This is a hallmark of the Rotary, AFS, and YFU programs.

Costs

Some programs are notoriously more expensive than others. A year abroad's tuition can range from the costs of airfare and insurance (usually around 2,500 USD) to 4-11,000 USD. The cheapest has been recognized as Rotary International's Rotary Youth Exchange which sponsors a student's living expenses and requires minimal administration fees. Some parents believe the cost of the program was cheaper than their student's living expenses for a year. However programs like AFS cost from 9,000- 11,000, not including domestic airfare and living expense.

Application process

For long term exchange applications and interviews generally take place almost a year in advance of departure. The age usually varies for countries. Preferable ages are between 15 and 18.5, any older or younger usually aren't accepted. Most programs allow students older than 18 years of age. Youth for Understanding in particular has a 13th year abroad program for students older than 18 years of age out of high school. Most programs require first a preliminary application with fees, then schedule interviews and take the longer style application. Students in some programs are expected to go anywhere they are assigned,such as Rotary, and are not encouraged to have strict expectations for their host country. Such open attitudes often make for a more enjoyable exchange. At some point students make country choices, anywhere from a top three list to thirty or more. More information is then given to the hosting country which accepts the student and places them in a school and one or more homes.

Year abroad

During their year abroad students are expected to study in school and participate fully in the foreign culture. This includes taking up hobbies and after school activities in their host country. They are often encouraged to make non-exchange student friends in their host country. Exchange students usually have rules that encourage abstinence from substances including drugs and alcohol, dating and driving for insurance reasons. Also travel is restricted for student's safety, although some programs offer a tour at the end of the exchange. When students violate a major rule, they may be sent home.

Short term exchange

A short term exchange usually takes place during the summer months of July-August. Students do not attend school and are instead given a brief introduction to the language of their host country with heavy emphasis on sightseeing and cultural learning. Upon their return they are expected to give a short presentation on their experience to their sponsors. This program is quite popular with North American students, as school lets out at this time. Kiwanis and Lions Clubs usually offer this type of exchange. Rotary International also offers a program called S.T.E.P. where a student exchanges homes directly with another student of a foreign country at the same time.

University Exchange

A University Exchange occurs when sister universities trade off students, or through special programs such as Rotary International's Ambassadorial Scholarship. Students attend university classes and often live in on-site dormitories. These can last anywhere from a single semester to an entire education.

Exchange students in popular culture

Exchange students in popular culture have been stereotyped as exaggerated caricatures of their home countries. For instance, Long Duc Dong in the movie Sixteen Candles was a Vietnamese exchange student who adapted a fork and spoon to function as a pair of chopsticks; Nadia, the Czech exchange student in American Pie, was portrayed as an exotic sex-object; finally, Fez (his name merely being the phonetic version of the acronym FES: Foreign Exchange Student) is a foreign exchange student of unknown origin in the television series That '70s Show that adds to comic relief of the show.

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