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: over 240 million
Capital: Washington DC
Language: English, with a great many languages spoken by the diverse population
Religion: Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, Islamic
Currency: US dollar
The United States is a varied land - of forests, deserts, mountains, high flat lands and fertile plains. Almost every kind of climate may be found, but the country lies mostly in the temperate zone. The continental United States stretches 4,500 kilometres from the Atlantic Ocean on the east to the Pacific Ocean to the west. It boarders Canada on the north, and reaches south to Mexico and the Gulf of Mexico. Including the offshore states of Alaska and Hawaii, the United States covers an area of 9 million square kilometres.
The United States has long been known as a "melting pot", because many of its people are descended from settlers who came from all over the world, making their home in a land sparsely populated by native Indian tribes. Attracted by religious and political freedom, the first immigrants arrived from England and the Netherlands. Between 1820 and 1979, the United States admitted more than 49 million immigrants.
AFS in USA
AFS (American Field Service) began as a volunteer ambulance service during World War 1, whose volunteers had a dream of fostering international peace by promoting friendship between the peoples of the world. In 1919 a modest exchange of university students began between France and the USA.
AFS Intercultural Programs USA provides students with an information package to assist with preparation before their home country. It is very important that students have been vaccinated against Diphtheria, Tetanus, Measles, Mumps Polio and Rubella and have documentation to prove this. Copies of the most recent school reports should be taken by students to their host high school for selection of classes.
Host Schools
American high schools educate students from many different backgrounds, interests and levels of ability, and a wide variety of subjects are offered. A hosted student must be ready to participate fully in school life, making extra curricular activities part of their school program. Hosted students must participate in school examinations at the end of the school year. Exchange students are not eligible to receive a high school diploma, though some schools allow their hosted students to graduate.
American classes usually do not have formal lectures- teachers prefer discussion in their classrooms. Class participation is used by teachers as a way to judge a student’s understanding of the subject, and assist teachers determine a final grade. A typical school day begins between 8:00 and 9:00 am and ends around 3:00 pm. The local high school is the center of many social events for the student. Activities like theatre, orchestra, music clubs, international clubs, student government, school yearbook and school newspaper are available.
Host Families
American AFS host families are like families everywhere - each one is unique. Each family has its own rules and values. Most host families include the mother, father and their children, but some families consist of a single parent, and some may not include children. Many host families also include a pet who is treated as part of the family.
Many AFS families are not as wealthy as the American families seen on television. In some families, both the mother (mom) and the father (dad) work. All family members, including children, help with household work.
American families are often actively religious. All religions are practised in the US, but the majority of Americans are Protestant, Catholic or Jewish.
AFS USA's Web Site : http://www.afs.org/usa
View letters from students to USA.
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.
