Information for parents
AFS is the leader in study abroad programs and is supported and assisted by its trained volunteers and staff.
Since 1947, AFS has been preparing young people with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in a global world. Today, we’ve strengthened these 21st-century skills by introducing the Certificate in Intercultural Learning, so you can track your child’s progress.
Many universities and employers are looking for students and young adults who have a worldview beyond their own community and are comfortable interacting with people from other countries and cultures.
Entering the world of work
Students who have completed an internship, a stay or studies abroad find it easier to enter and progress in the professional world.
— Source : Cereq
Frequently Asked Questions from Parents
Why should my child participate in AFS?
For over 70 years, AFS has earned an excellent reputation for delivering high-quality international programs that help develop skills essential for success in the 21st century. The AFS experience in 4 key ways:
- Builds confidence, broadens perspectives, and strengthens critical thinking and problem-solving skills
- Includes intercultural education and language learning components respected and valued by universities and employers
- Offers fun adventures that make learning easy and meaningful for young people
- Provides ongoing access to a global community of friends, international connections, and volunteer opportunities
What types of programs does AFS offer?
AFS offers a variety of programs for students:
- Academic programs: for the semester, term, or year
- Short programs between 4 and 8 weeks
- Language learning programs: between 4 and 8 weeks
- Volunteer/community work abroad: varying lengths
- Adult programs (internship, language learning, volunteering, study, teaching): varying lengths
All of these programs offer opportunities for cultural immersion, language study, volunteer opportunities, and specific courses.
Where will my child live?
- Most AFS students live with a host family. Our families are carefully selected, screened, and prepared to welcome an AFS student into their home. This includes participation in the AFS Intercultural Learning Program (facilitated by AFS volunteers and staff) before, during, and after their stay with the host family. Your child will be treated like a member of the family and will be encouraged to participate in the family’s routines, meals, activities, and traditions.
- Although much less common, some students live in dormitories and live with host families on weekends to experience daily life in a new community. In some short-term programs, students may even live in a camp-like environment.
- Once a student’s application is accepted, AFS volunteers and staff in the host country search for a community and family that are a good fit for the student. We encourage students to be as open and flexible as possible regarding placements.
- All facilities and living arrangements are inspected and closely monitored by AFS throughout the exchange experience.
How will AFS support my child?
- The health, safety, and well-being of our students are AFS’s number one priority.
- AFS volunteers and staff are committed and trained to support students and their families throughout the AFS experience.
- Our organization has consistent guidelines that apply to all AFS organizations worldwide.
- All AFS countries also have a 24/7 emergency telephone number.
- Participants have a contact person in their host community they can call to help them with any challenges they may encounter during their stay. These people are volunteers and accompany them throughout their experience.
What does the AFS Intercultural Learning Program provide?
The Certificate in Intercultural Learning covers the AFS experience before, during, and after your child’s exchange program. The program has three main objectives to help your child:
- Become more comfortable with their new family and school
- Learn to communicate and make friends with people from different cultures
- Begin to develop knowledge and skills, and understand that as young global citizens, they will need to participate, live, study, work, and become leaders in an increasingly diverse and global world
AFS’s educational objectives were created to support students in four areas:
Personal Values and Skills – Through their experience, students learn how to transform challenging situations into valuable opportunities for personal growth. They are encouraged to reevaluate their values, expand their abilities, and practice new life skills while learning more about themselves. Students generally become more confident, improve their creative and critical thinking skills, and learn to solve their own problems independently.
Building Interpersonal Relationships – AFS students become fully engaged in daily life and work collaboratively with a variety of people in a new environment. This may include host families, community residents, educators, and other students. These skills are transferable to many other areas throughout your child’s life. Being part of a family and community, and attending school, improves their communication and language skills, and teaches young people how to work more effectively in groups and teams.
Intercultural Knowledge and Sensitivity – The experience gained during an AFS exchange deepens students’ knowledge of their home culture, as well as their understanding of the other culture. Learning to appreciate other cultures helps students see the value of cultural differences and understand how they make our world so powerful and interesting.
Global Awareness – Students learn to appreciate and empathize with different perspectives on global issues and concerns, and thus understand that viable solutions often require cultural adaptation to succeed. Our goal is to encourage and enable students to work with other communities to help build a more peaceful and just world, here or around the world.
How will AFS help my child adjust to their new family, school, and community?
AFS staff, volunteers, and host families want to make your child’s experience enjoyable and memorable. That’s why we do everything we can to maximize their integration and well-being.
Will my child integrate easily with young people from the other country?
Most students are concerned about fitting in, especially when they don’t speak the language. Facing these kinds of challenges is an important part of the experience, and most AFS students adjust, make friends, and have fun in the process. Trained AFS volunteers and staff will help them every step of the way.