Zealand, Japan, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Since each program differs in duration, content and age criteria, please contact the AFS for detailed descriptions of each program.
Common components of all AFS secondary school programs are:
AFS students live with host families selected by AFS. The family homestay provides the opportunity to learn first-hand about the culture as well as to enhance language ability.
The participation fee includes international travel, medical insurance, orientation, and materials for language instruction. Visa fees are the responsibility of the participant. Special travel arrangements, if requested, are at the participant's expense.
Orientations are provided for students before departure to and upon arrival in the host country.
Applications must be submitted with a non-refundable HK$200 application fee, and a photocopy of the last year's school report (1 year). AFS will contact you to arrange participation in an interview and orientation.
Population: 79 million
Capital: Berlin
Language: German
Religion: Protestant and Catholic
Currency: Deutschmark
Germany is located in the heart of Europe, surrounded by nine neighbouring countries. The size of "Deutschland" is slightly smaller than Paraguay, Japan or Montana (USA). With almost 80 million inhabitants Germany has the biggest population in Europe after Russia. Germany has many different and charming landscapes: flat farming country in the north between the beaches of the Baltic and the North Sea, rolling hills in the middle with some heavy industrialised areas, and real mountain ranges, the Alps, in the south. The standard of living, as well as the technical standard, is high in the western part of Germany. Supply of food or goods is not a problem anywhere and hygienic facilities are very good all over the country. The two major religious affiliations in Germany are Catholic and Protestant, although there are a few other smaller church groups. The climate in Germany varies with the geography, with winter nights going down to as low as - 15ºC (January/February). During summer, temperature can pass 30ºC (July/August). The closer to the sea the more temperate the climate can be. The dominating characteristic of the weather in Germany is that it changes fairly often.
AFS in Germany
AFS in Germany currently hosts over 400 students on its year & semester programs. Around 1000 local AFS volunteers, located in 70 chapters throughout East & West Germany, provide support to hosted students, and the office in Hamburg administers the AFS programs. AFS Germany holds an arrival orientation in each AFS region about 3 weeks after arrival. In spring, hosted students may also have the opportunity to participate in an optional two week exchange from the East to the West, or vice versa. Language courses will be offered to students in their host communities, either in groups or on an individual basis. The courses start within the first 2 months of the stay.
Host Schools
In Germany most students go to a state school from Monday to Friday, however classes on a Saturday are held in some areas. Most classes take place in the mornings with school usually finishing in the early afternoon. Large parts of the afternoon are generally spent doing homework. There are few or no social clubs, events or sport teams organised in German schools. It is up to the individual student to organise themselves with other students from school. The only requirements for the student schedule is made by AFS, asking that at least one German and one history class be included in the curriculum.
The AFSer will probably be greeted by their host family with a handshake, which is the customary greeting when meeting someone, when saying goodbye, and sometimes to say thank you. Germans have a reputation for being punctual and orderly. In most German families the big, hot, meal of the day is eaten at noon. German food has a reputation for its richness. The daily diet consists of meat, vegetables, potatoes, noodles and rice. The second meal usually consists of sandwiches with either cheese or cold meat.
AFS Germany's Web Site : http://www.afs.de
View letters from students to Germany.
Argentina / Australia / Austria / Belgium / Brazil / Canada / Czech Republic / Chile / Denmark / Finland / France / Germany / Hungary / Italy / Latvia / Japan / Mexico / New Zealand / Norway / Spain / Sweden / Switzerland / Thailand / The Netherlands / the United States.
