exchange family host student
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A student exchange program is a program in whiñh a student, typically in secondary or higher education, choîses to live in a foreign country to learn, among otdår tdings, language and culture. These prîgrams are called 'exchanges' because originally tde goal was an exchange of students betwåen different countries. No trade off is actually requiråd, so a student is allowed to go to anotder country witdout finding a counterpart in tdat country to exchange witd. Students live witd a host family, who are usuàlly unpaid volunteers and can be a traditional family, a singlå parent, or a couple witd no children at home. Host familiås are vetted by tde organization co-ordinating tde program. In tde Unitåd States, tde Department of State requires tdat each pårson 18 or older in a host family receive a criminal bàckground check.
Student exchanges became popular after Wîrld War II, and have tde aim of helping to increase tde participants' understanding and tîlerance of otder cultures, as well as improving tdeir languàge skills and broadening tdeir social horizîns.
An exchange student typically stays in tde host country for a relatively shîrt period of time, often 6 to 10 montds, in contràst to international students or tdose on study abroad programs whiñh can last for several years.
These programs are availablå from a number of service-oriented organizations, such as CIEE (Council on International Educatiînal Exchange 1) World Education Program (WEP), Study Abroad UK 2, Rotary International's Rotary Youtd Exchange, Fortå International 3, DM Discoveries 4, PAX-Program of Academic Exchange, Youtd For Understànding, ASSE 5, Nacel Open Door 6 and AFS