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Whether you attend a high school for 10 months in France, or live with a family in Berlin for 4 weeks, or apply for a language program in the splendid beauty and rich tradition of northern Spain, being an exchange student will be a life-changing experience. You will gain a global perspective impossible to learn from a textbook. Living abroad will allow you to immerse yourself in a different culture, language, and way of life the only way to truly understand a culture different from your own.
Terra Lingua USA's programs are carefully designed for students, ages 13-18, who sincerely want to improve their communication skills in a second language and immerse themselves in another culture and lifestyle. To ensure a positive experience, the student should: travel with an open mind, possess the language proficiency necessary to communicate with their host family, be ready to adapt to a foreign lifestyle, and be capable of spending a prolonged amount of time away of home.
Requirements vary depending on the program, but general requirements are:
Be between the ages of 13 and 18 for short-term programs.
Be between the ages of 16 and 18 for academic programs.
Possess a grade point average of 3.0 or better for academic programs.
Possess two or more years of the host country's language.
Possess a mature, open, and flexible attitude.
Host families are warm, welcoming, caring people who gladly open their homes and hearts to exchange students. Their only hope is to learn more about American culture and to share their family and lifestyle with their new "son" or "daughter." They come from all walks of life and may or may not have teenagers at home. They are carefully selected and screened by coordinators in each country and are required to complete a thorough application and submit at least one reference. Except in noted areas, host families are volunteer. Some students, particularly those choosing 7 week programs, may be received by more than one family.
Passport: For travel outside the U.S., a U.S. passport is needed. It is your personal responsibility to make the necessary arrangements to receive your passport before departure. If you already have a passport, please make sure that it is still valid. For more information, you should check with your local post office to find out which branch nearest you issues passports.
Visa: Students traveling to France, Germany, and Spain and holding a valid American passport only need a visa if staying for over 90 days. For students participating in programs over 90 days, a visa is required. For programs in Russia, a visa is required for any length of stay. It is your personal responsibility to make the necessary arrangements to receive a visa before departure. For more information, you should check with the nearest host country consulate for a visa application and documentation requirements.
Before departure you will receive a student handbook and orientation materials providing useful information and tips about your experience abroad. Your state coordinator will invite you and your parents to an orientation meeting, usually organized in May or early June, at which you will have the opportunity to meet other students and learn how to make the most out of your experience abroad. For students going on an academic program, there will also be an orientation organized by the foreign team after your arrival abroad.
You will attend a school near your host family's home. Some students receive full or partial credit for their semester or year abroad. Your guidance counselor can discuss your school's guidelines and what classes you need to enroll in before you leave to ensure you understand all the requirements.
- Total program price is base cost plus airfare.
- Placement in a family screened by representatives abroad.
- Pre-departure orientation meeting, student handbook and orientation materials.
- Room and board during your stay abroad.
- Any activities or excursions mentioned in the program offerings.
- Terra Lingua's support network available anytime.
- School books, required materials and tuition, if applicable.
- Medical, liability and emergency return insurance.
Cost of passport and visa.
Pocket money (we recommend at least $250 per month for personal expenses and souvenirs). |
