A Closer Look at International Schools Programs

Education is perhaps the single best gift any parent could give his/her child, and if you live in the United States, for example, that education is not optional, but compulsory, at least for most of a child’s life. Most children in the US will grow up and become educated in a single system—one that caters primarily to United States citizens. Children are required to attend school from age 5 until approximately age 18, which will adequately prepare many of these students—those that choose to do so—to further their education at an American college or university. But what happens when parents of US children decide to take a position of employment that is outside of the United States, like an executive of an international corporation? Is it possible for these children to receive the same US-based education—one that is taught in English and will prepare them for college—even though they are living outside of the United States? The answer is yes, and this is usually accomplished through one of the many international schools programs.

What Are International Schools Programs?

In simple terms, international schools programs are those that endorse international education. They do this by using a core curriculum that is different from the country where the school is actually located. Many international schools programs use an international curriculum, such as the popular International Baccalaureate or the Cambridge Internal Examinations curriculum, the latter of which is very popular in India. Others will use a curriculum from another country, such as a United States-based curriculum, being taught at a school in France. To qualify as an international school program, the school must meet certain criteria as laid out by the International Association of School Librarianship. These are:

· Must offer transferrable programs and credits

· A regularly fluctuating school population

· A student body that is both multinational and multilingual

· Must use an international curriculum—a curriculum other than that of the host country

· Must be accredited as an international school

· Faculty that is both transient and multinational

· Curriculum in which instruction is presented in English (usually) or presented bilingually

As businesses and the world in general have become more globalized, the number of schools offering international schools programs has risen dramatically. International schools programs have long been the schools of choice for employees of many international businesses and organizations, foreign embassies and missionaries, but more recently, the number of local children attending international schools is also up—children whose parents want them to learn a new language, usually English, and prepare them for more gainful employment outside of their own country, i.e. the United States or United Kingdom..

International Schools Programs: About the Curriculum

The curriculum taught at international schools is typically based on that school’s country of origin, with the most popular models being based around US education or education in the United Kingdom. However, the use of an international curriculum—curriculum designed around creating a more global and collaborative citizen—is also becoming very popular.

Most International Schools programs—the schools using an international curriculum—provide instruction in all of the following areas:

· Mathematics

· Language Arts

· The Sciences

· Humanities

· The Arts

· Physical Education

· Information Technology

· Design Technology

· And more…

This curriculum is designed to create a well-rounded student who is prepared to meet the challenges of higher education. Also central to most international schools programs is a fostering of appreciation for the diversity of other cultures. Students will regularly interact with fellow classmates and instructors from around the globe, learning the importance of both independence and interdependence in the new global society.

International Students Accommodation: What You Need to Know

Are you a university-level student planning to pursue a course of study in the United States? Do you also plan to pursue an on-campus residence during your stay in America? Among the many options for international students accommodation in the U.S. is living on-campus. This option not only offers the utmost in terms of convenience, it also gives international students a great opportunity to make new friends and to learn the customs, traditions and language of the fellow classmates. Despite all the advantages, though, many international students will pursue this option with a bit of anxiety and trepidation, which, of course, is completely normal. While studying in a foreign land can alone be very intimidating, living closely with those from the host country can initially be almost paralyzing. To help ease your worries a bit, in this article we will provide a bit more information about on-campus international students’ accommodations, along with what you can expect while living at a U.S. university.

International Students Accommodations: Everything You Need to Know about On-Campus Living

Nearly every college and university in the United States offers on-campus living—a residency option ideal for an international student’s accommodation. Although in other parts of the world they are called residence halls, in the U.S. they are referred to as dormitories. Dormitories are large buildings that contain a number of student rooms (usually shared by two students), several large community bathrooms, a community kitchen and a community living space.

Student rooms usually come furnished with two beds, one or two desks and enough closet and storage space for each student. The rooms do not generally have private bathrooms, but instead students will use a community bathroom that usually includes toilets, sinks and a shower or tub. For meals, most residents of dormitories will flock to the on-campus cafeteria, which usually serves meals three times a day that are included in the price of the international student’s accommodation, as it is for US students as well. Those who prefer to cook meals for themselves can do so in the community kitchen.

The furnished living area is where most students will gather between classes and during the evening. Whether watching television, playing games, or just talking, this area of the dorm is the perfect place for international students to get to know their American counterparts and to make new and sometimes lifelong friends.

International students need not be concerned about supervision or safety in these dormitories. In each dorm there are supervisors, usually called “resident advisers” or “resident directors,” that are employed by the University. In most cases these supervisors are either upper-level students or graduate students, and they are responsible for making sure that each student follows the rules regarding the cleanliness of the dorm, noise limitations, and other rules that help ensure the safety and comfort of each student.

In terms of an International students accommodation, the dormitories located on most college and university campuses are safe, convenient, and in most cases, fun. While living in the dorms, not only are the classrooms and other University services in close proximity, but the opportunities available to meet new people, practice valuable language skills and soak up the American culture are virtually endless.

High School Study Abroad Programs

Are you a high school student who has always dreamed about studying and living in a foreign country? Do you enjoy meeting new people, seeing new and interesting sites and taking part in culturally diverse activities? If so, you may be a perfect candidate for one of the many high school study abroad programs. High school study abroad programs offer students age 15-19 a unique opportunity to study in a foreign high school and live with a host family in that country. Aside from the amazing academic opportunity this presents, high school study abroad programs are an exceptional vehicle through which students can learn the culture and the history of another country, and gain valuable language skills that could benefit them both personally and professionally in the future.

High School Study Abroad Programs

If you’re interested in participating in a high school study abroad program, your guidance counselor should be able to provide you with the information you need. Just as a backup plan, though, below we have compiled a list of some of the more popular high school study abroad programs you can contact:

American Council for International Exchange (ACIS)

The ACIS high school study abroad program has been in existence for 40 years, with campuses in London, Paris, Rome and St. Petersburg. These 4-week summer programs include academic enrichment, along with a number of short cultural and recreational excursions. Airfare and housing for these programs are included in the cost of tuition.

Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE)

The CIEE high school study abroad programs are very well-respected. Offering semester and full academic year options, the CIEE program has campuses in a number of diverse international locations, including, but certainly not limited to, Brazil, Costa Rica, France, Germany, Spain, Japan and Australia. Students live with a host family while attending the local high school, and will have an abundance of time to soak up the local culture.

Rotary Club International Youth Exchange

One of the oldest and most renowned service clubs in the world, Rotary Club International has been sponsoring high school study abroad programs since 1927. Programs are open for students who wish to pursue one of the many vocational studies programs, and scholarships available and based on merit.

AYUSA

Unlike some high school study abroad programs—programs that require an exceptional grade point average—the AYUSA program is available to all students who possess a minimum of a 2.75 GPA. Students can choose from summer, semester or full academic year programs in over 10 countries worldwide. Scholarships for the AYUSA program are also available, and like the Rotary Club scholarships, they are also based on student merit.

This is just a small sample of the many high school study abroad programs, and like these, every one of these organizations offers a very unique opportunity for students who want to see the world and expand their horizons.

Directory of International Schools and Study Abroad Programs

The world is a very different place than it was only a decade ago, and as we continue to march towards full globalization, international schools—schools that offer courses different from the normal school curriculum of the host country—are becoming more and more common as an educational option. Also becoming increasingly popular are the many study abroad programs being offered throughout the world—opportunities for students to study for a semester or an academic year in a foreign country. While international schools and study abroad programs are not the same thing, recently many international schools have begun offering study abroad opportunities for students desiring to live and study abroad for a few months in another country. In fact, there are so many of these opportunities available that there now several websites that offer a directory of international schools and study abroad programs—catalogs listing each international school that is participating, with a full description of the study abroad program as well.

How to Use a Directory of International Schools and Study Abroad Programs

When using an online directory of international schools and study abroad programs, the main page, or home page, will usually include some general instructions on how to use the directory. Most directories will allow you to narrow your search using certain criteria, including searching by country, language spoken, type of study abroad program and duration of the program. For example, if you’re looking for a 4-week summer study abroad program in France, you would first search for French international schools, and then narrow those results down to the 4-week summer programs.

Once you’ve decided how you will begin your search, the second page will usually include a list of schools, with a brief description about the program. For example, if you searched for programs in China, one of these listings might say:

“Academy of Chinese Language and Culture - offers year round study abroad programs and learning immersion courses to foreigners interested in the Chinese language and culture.”

There will normally be many listings just like the one above, and although this description is admittedly very basic, once you click on the hyperlink (usually the name of the school), you will be taken to a page that offers a more complete program description, as well as information about the institution that is offering it. Some of the information this page will contain includes:

Location of the school and nearby places to visit

Program description, including dates and important program features

Candidacy requirements for the program (GPA requirement, etc.)

Program duration—semester, academic year, summer program

Daily schedule, including classroom and recreational hours

Program cost

Financial assistance and scholarship opportunities (most study abroad programs offer scholarship opportunities)

Living arrangements—on-campus housing, off campus housing, host families, etc.

How to apply, including application deadlines

The primary advantage to using a directory of international schools and study abroad programs is that once you reach the website you can usually locate all the program information and details about the school all in one place. This is also a great type of site to bookmark, as you may want to come back to it several times for reference purposes.

Find the Answers You Need with an International Schools List

While 20 years ago an International schools list would be rather short and limited, that is certainly not the case today. International schools are becoming increasingly prevalent and can now be found in almost every world country. These multinational schools, which teach a different curriculum than the one normally offered in the host country, are perfect for foreign residents looking to receive instruction in their mother tongue, as well as for local students seeking to acquire new language skills and become better prepared for educational and professional opportunities in other countries.

Statistics indicate that there are currently over 5,000 international schools in the world, some of which teach a universally accepted International curriculum, such as the International Baccalaureate, and others that offer curriculums based on English-speaking models such as the SAT preparation program from the United States and the “A” and “O” schools model used in the United Kingdom.

International Schools List: Three Examples

If you need to perform research on International schools, either for personal or professional reasons, the Internet has made it easier than ever to find the information and/or statistics you require. Today there are several websites that offer a comprehensive International schools list—a list usually broken down by country or region that not only lists all of the International schools, but provides detailed information on those schools and the types of programs they offer. To illustrate the type of information you can usually locate from an International schools list, below we have highlighted a few International schools, including some details we discovered by consulting one of these increasingly popular lists:

The Kilmore International School. The Kilmore International School is located in Victoria, Australia, and a mere 1 hour from Victoria’s Tullamarine Airport. Kilmore is a secondary school that uses the International Baccalaureate curriculum—a curriculum designed to facilitate worldwide entry into universities. In addition to offering courses in language arts, mathematics, science and the humanities, Kilmore is renowned throughout Australia for its wonderful music program, led by the world-famous flautist Ms. P. Robinson.

Ryan International School. Ryan International School is located in Mumbai, India and was founded in 1976 by Dr. Augustine Pinto, chairman of the St. Xavier group of schools. The curriculum taught at Ryan International School is the very same curriculum used in the United Kingdom, which is designed to prepare students for the Cambridge Examinations. All courses at this college preparatory academy are taught in English.

Black Forest Academy. Black Forest Academy is a private primary and secondary school with on-campus housing for all students. Located in Kandern, Germany, the Black Forest Academy uses a North American curriculum, and all instruction is in English. Black Forest Academy stresses a Christian worldview, which is why admission to this school is conditional on acceptance of the school’s philosophy. While anyone can apply for the Black Forest Academy, preference is usually given to the children of Christian missionaries and international business families in Europe.

As you can see from the three examples listed above, an international schools list can be a very effective tool—a quick and easy way to compare schools from different regions. It not only helps parents determine the curriculum model used at the various schools throughout the world, but also provides important details regarding the school’s extracurricular programs and philosophy.

Are You a High School Study Abroad Candidate?

Are you a high school study abroad candidate? Are you interested in a great adventure—an adventure that will allow you to see the world while earning valuable high school credits? If you’re a student who wants to combine exciting travel with the opportunity to study in a foreign high school, then high school study abroad programs can offer you a unique, once in a lifetime opportunity.

Are You a High School Study Abroad Candidate? A Few Questions

High school study abroad programs are certainly not for everyone, but they are for students who enjoy a challenge and can easily adapt to a change in their routine. If you’re currently pondering an opportunity to study abroad, answer the questions below to see if you might make a good high school study abroad candidate:

· Does the idea of learning how to speak a new language, while studying in a locale where that language is constantly spoke appeal to you?

· Do you enjoy challenges? Studying and living in a foreign country can be an amazing adventure, but unless you are completely open to new challenges—learning a new routine, making new friends, staying with a host family—then high school study abroad programs may not be for you.

· Does the opportunity to learn about other cultures interest you? Studying in a foreign country means that, for a time, you will be totally immersed in a different culture. Students who can appreciate the value of learning alternate perspectives about the world usually thrive in high school study abroad programs.

· Do you like to travel? The world is a vast and interesting place, but sadly, many people will remain fixed in one location their entire lives. If you think you’d enjoy traveling and seeing the world, and you simply refuse to wait until your “golden years” to do so, then high school study abroad programs are perfect for you.

Where Do You Want to Study?

If you’ve decided you would make an excellent candidate for a high school study abroad program, the next step is to choose a location in which you would enjoy studying. High school study abroad programs are offered in an abundance of locations throughout the world, including France, with a famous reputation for academic excellence; Spain, with a more relaxed atmosphere and a number of historical sites to visit; and even Costa Rica, which surprisingly has one of the highest literacy rates in the world. Programs are available in almost every county and major city in the world, so take some time to research these areas thoroughly, and select a country that most closely matches your interests.

Researching High School Study Abroad Programs

When researching high school study abroad programs you must first consider your primary motivation for studying overseas. For example, are you looking for a rigorous academic program, language instruction, or do you merely want to visit some interesting landmarks with historical significance? Whatever your reason for wanting to study abroad, use that as your starting point, and it help to dramatically narrow your search results.

As long as you meet the requirements to study abroad, the choice of programs and locations is virtually limitless. And once there, you’re bound to have an exciting and educational experience that you will remember for the rest of your life.