High School Study Abroad Programs - TWO WORLDS UNITED High School Study Abroad Programs

A High School Study Abroad program is a program in which a student, typically in secondary or higher education, chooses to live in a foreign country to learn and study, among other things, language and culture. These programs are sometimes called 'student exchange' because in some cases 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 program. Host families are usually vetted by Two Worlds United, the program.

High School Study Abroad programs became popular after World War II, but stared as early as the 17th century in Europe. This programs have the aim of helping to increase the participants' understanding and tolerance of 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, often 6 to 10 months, in contrast to international students or those on study abroad programs which often last for several years.

Two Worlds United High School Study Abroad Philosophy

The future of our world depends on our youth. Young people need experiences in real life which complement their classroom learning and which help them to develop an awareness of their role as world citizens. Opportunities for learning about people must be easily accessible and affordable to a wide range of people.

Experiencing the life of its people is the best way to become acquainted with another country, its heritage and its values. Living with a family provides a warm, secure and relevant setting for experiencing the culture of another country.

Communication is key to understanding the culture. A knowledge of the language people speak, an eagerness to improve communication skills and a curiosity for learning permit a greater level of understanding. The friendships which result from the sharing of family life encourage continued communication, growth and better understanding of other people.

Two Worlds United High School Study Abroad program Objectives:

To promote international understanding through high school study abroad experiences and cultural tour programs. Our goal is to help people discard stereotypes and to discover the present realities of another culture.
To increase awareness of the importance of understanding other cultures and to stimulate interest in community support of language and global education.
To offer an opportunity for language students to learn first-hand about the culture of the country whose language they are studying and to improve their communication skills thru the high school study abroad programs.
To provide well-formulated educational programs which offer affordable opportunities to many students and families.
To make participation in the High School Study Abroad Programs a rewarding experience for both students and families by providing preparation for participants, organized transportation, and a well-structured support network.

Two Worlds United expects the prospective exchange student to demonstrate some ability to speak the language of the country they choose, however, requirements of ability to communicate vary, Two Worlds United in the home country of the student, to which the student has applied, often makes this decision at the applying for the high school study abroad programs. Two Worlds United will work with its own offices overseas or will have a partner organization in the country of the student�s choice. Students accepted for the program may or may not be screened by Two Worlds United in their home country depending of the school curriculum, references and counselor's feedback. Two Worlds United offices in the destination country each have differing levels of screening they require students to pass through before being accepted into their program. For example, students coming to the U.S. may be required by the U.S. Two Worlds United office to submit as little as the recommendation by Two Worlds United or the organization in their home country (who also collects a fee from the student) OR the U.S. partner may require student applicants to submit detailed application materials such as previous school report cards, and letters from their school teachers and administrators in addition to the original standardized English fluency exam papers. The U.S. agency may then accept or decline the applicant. Some High School Study Abroad organizations also have more extensive �Rules of Participation� requirements than might other U.S. organizations. Some may include written contract standards for personal behavior, dress, grooming, grades etc., while others may be less rigorous. Frequently, students who opt for participation in high school study abroad programs with more strict standards are students inclined toward behaving according to those rules in their home country.