Student Exchange Alliance

BENEFITS FOR A SCHOOL HOSTING

 

Why Secondary Schools Host Foreign Exchange Students

SEA-USA promotes the use of exchange students as important classroom resources.  Foreign Exchange Students add a different insight to the classroom.

The SEA Alliance of exchange student programs provides students from over 60 different countries.  Check out our current list of students for an overview of the types of students who participate in our programs.  Have questions about student exchange or just want to know more?  Please contact us to discuss the benefits of student exchange for your school.

WHY SHOULD SCHOOL WELCOME FOREIGN EXCHANGE STUDENTS?

To promote world peace and understanding, through:

• Learning about another culture and country.
• Teaching a foreign student about our culture and country.
• Exposing our American students to a different mentality.
• Becoming aware of the rest of the world.
• Encouraging more interest in foreign language.
• Stimulating American students to question and compare other political and economic systems.
• Exposing the community to the outside world.
  

HOW CAN SCHOOLS HELP THEIR FOREIGN EXCHANGE STUDENTS?

Offer Exchange Students the same opportunity given to American students.

• Assist them in understanding the school system, activities and curriculum.
• Provide a copy of the school rules. If applicable, explain diploma requirements.
• Understand that they have many things to learn in a very short period of time.
• Exercise patience for the first few months; they will catch up with the spoken English.        
• Encourage them to become involved in extra-curricular activities with other students.
• Share with them that they need and rely on relationships with American students.
• Encourage them to smile and say hello as they recognize classmates in the hall.
• Discourage exchange students socializing in exchange groups instead of being with Americans.
• Don't hesitate to contact the sponsor program if you have difficulty with a foreign exchange student.
• SEA program members want to provide service to their students, thus reducing obligations of the school counselor.

HOW CAN SCHOOLS GET THE MOST FROM THE FOREIGN EXCHANGE STUDENT EXPERIENCE?

Be informed and accepting, by:

• Familiarizing yourself with the exchange student placement program and the program contact person.
• Monitoring the countries that are represented at your school to avoid duplication.
• Realizing it is not necessary to give the student anything in the material sense (free lunch, yearbook, school ring, etc.)
• Reinforcing accountability with all exchange students. All credits should be earned.
• Showing patience - try to imagine “walking in the shoes” of the foreign students who have left home, family, and culture for the sake of learning.
• Knowing that our American students are not expected to be fluent when they go to foreign countries. We can afford to be patient with the few who have some language barriers. Time usually solves the problem.

Appoint an interested teacher or counselor to:

• Help the student feel welcome at school.
• Help prepare an appropriate school schedule.
• Coordinate with the family when using the exchange student as a resource for classes or school programs
• Give advice to host families on how the student can get the most from the school experience.
• Encourage the student to learn through experience in different situations, not just through study.
• Be a friend.

Our Representatives are waiting to assist with any problems with curriculum, teachers, or peers. Although we appreciate any help from the guidance department, we do not want exchange to be a burden on your guidance personnel. 

Visit our CONTACT PAGE to complete your preferred method of contact. When we receive your request, you will be contacted with no obligation. We appreciate your interest in learning more about SEA Member Programs and student exchange.

SEA assists schools with converting International grades to US Grades– see Converting International to US Grades.

SEA promotes secondary school use of exchange students as resources for the classroom. International Exchange Students have so much to add to the classroom. Foreign Exchange Students can share a different insight based on a different cultural perspective.  Allow your students to see the world through the eyes of a foreign exchange student.