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.

Host Families: Providing Structure and Support for International Exchange Students

Do you have the type of family that celebrates education, embraces different cultures and looks forward to meeting new challenges? Have you ever thought of becoming a host family for an International Exchange Program? Host families are the glue that hold together the world’s impressive number of international exchange programs, for without host families, not only would these programs not have achieved the amazing success they have, they wouldn’t even be possible. To give you some more information on what to expect as a host family, here we will explain some of the duties and responsibilities required, along with all the benefits this experience will provide to you and your family.

Host Families: What Are the Responsibilities—and Benefits?

There are more than 140 countries that participate in international student exchange programs, and due to this incredible success, host families are always needed and are perhaps the most essential component of the program. In these student exchange programs, young people are given the opportunity to study and live in a foreign country, for durations that range from 4-weeks to an entire school year. This can be an exciting time in a youth’s life, but it can also be a time of great trepidation and anxiety, as the students try to adjust and fit in to a world in which they are entirely unfamiliar. This is where you come in and can be so beneficial to the program and the student, acting as both parent and ambassador. Once your student arrives your family will be the first faces that he or she sees, giving you as parents the opportunity to welcome this new student not only into your country, but into your home as well.

Host families are responsible for providing room and board for exchange students, including meals, which means in the month to 9 months they are in your home, you will become there second family—a type of “home away from home.” This can be a wonderful experience for both the host families and students, as it gives everyone the chance to learn from each other the history, culture, traditions and language of a foreign land. Perhaps even more importantly, the experience will almost certainly help your family gain a new perspective on the world, and will teach your children kindness, tolerance and acceptance.

Host families help provide a sense of normalcy and structure, including the exchange student in normal family activities, including homework help and games. There will also be a countless number of occasions for you to showcase your country to the student, becoming a type of teacher of sorts on your family outings. Additionally, there will be several activities that are sponsored in part by the exchange program—culturally diverse activities that will allow you to meet children from regions throughout the world, including Asia, Europe, Africa, Australia, Latin America, the Middle East and more.

Finally, host families act as a type of security blanket for exchange students—a place they feel comfortable, despite their geographic distance from home and their inevitable homesickness. Each and every day as a host family will be a rich and rewarding experience, as students will learn something new from you every day, just as you and your family will also become learners about their country and customs.

International Students: Who Are They and What Are the Benefits?

What is an international student? Actually, the term “international students” has a dual definition. Of course, anyone studying in a foreign country, such as students in a study abroad program, would be considered an international student. But you also must consider those students who, because they currently live in another country, usually because one or both of their parents are employed by an international or multinational company, attend a type of international school in which the curriculum is based on their country of origin’s curriculum, and delivered in their own native language. In this article we will discuss both types of international students in a bit more detail, including the benefits of studying at an international school.

International Students: Study Abroad Students

The “study abroad” type of international student is one who applies in his or her home country to study abroad in one of the many participating foreign countries. These international students typically study in a host country for a predetermined amount of time; one semester, a full academic year, or a more short-term summer session spanning 4-5 weeks.

Studying abroad as an international student can be the experience of a lifetime, with memories that will be cherished forever. A couple of the benefits to being an international student include:

Academic Enrichment. Studying abroad not only allows students to experience an alternate academic setting and atmosphere, it gives them an alternate perspective on the world and teaches them new approaches to studying and solving problems. These benefits are invaluable and will almost certainly improve their academic success upon returning to their home school.

Learning to Appreciate other Cultures. The variance between tolerating other cultures and appreciating them is vast. International students studying abroad have the unique opportunity to be entirely immersed in another culture; the customs, language and traditions. And because of that, most students will usually come to embrace that culture as if it were their own.

International Students: Foreign Residents

International students who are residents of a country other than their homeland can benefit greatly from attending an international school. Two of these benefits are:

Preparing for College. When students attend an international school—a school that offers a curriculum they are familiar with in a language they comprehend—they are able to improve their academic success and prepare for college either in their home country or at any number of international universities.

Increase Professional Opportunities. International students regularly interact with students and faculty from a number of diverse backgrounds. This experience, which often includes new language acquisition, will become a major benefit to them professionally in our new global economy.

International students, whether foreign residents or those studying abroad, not only benefit greatly from an academic standpoint, but their exposure to different cultures and new ideas will continue to pay dividends long after they finish school.

Student Exchange Scholarships: Applying for CIEE Scholarships

Have you ever thought about taking advantage of an opportunity to study abroad? If so, the following information about student exchange scholarships may be quite helpful. Student exchange programs, through which students have the opportunity to study and live for a time in a foreign country, can be the experience of a lifetime, but the truth is that for some students participation in these types of programs is only made possible through financial assistance. Fortunately, there are many organizations, including the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE)—the organization we will feature here—that make applying for these student exchange scholarships a fairly simple process.

Student Exchange Scholarships though CIEE

Among the large fraternity of students who have previously participated in a student exchange program, it would be very difficult to find a person who didn’t enjoy the experience immensely. In fact, many former students will fondly recall their opportunity to study abroad as the experience of a lifetime. However, for some students these opportunities would not even be possible without some type of financial assistance. This is a fact that the CIEE is well aware of, and because of that, the organization has become a vehicle through which students can apply for a number of student exchange scholarships. Just one application packet through the CIEE allows students who are interested in studying abroad to apply to many student exchange scholarships and grants simultaneously, thus increasing their odds of receiving a financial award.

How to Apply for Student Exchange Scholarships through CIEE

Applying for one of the many student exchange scholarships through CIEE is a fairly straightforward process, but candidates should be very careful and meticulous when preparing their application materials. Competition can be rather stiff for these scholarships and the quality of your materials can often be the difference between receiving funding and being passed up.

When applying for one of the many CIEE student exchange scholarships students should first read over the eligibility requirements and procedures for each individual scholarship. Also, keep in mind that incomplete applications will not be considered, and it is the applicant’s responsibility alone that their application packet is complete.

Below are the items that must be submitted together when applying for CIEE student exchange scholarships:

A completed scholarship application form

A financial administrator form

A 500-Word Essay. The 500-word essay you submit should of course be typed, and will require that you address certain areas and topics. These include the location where you plan to study, the term you are applying for and the names of each CIEE scholarship for which you are applying. You should also include information regarding your primary objectives for studying abroad, details regarding your financial need and how the CIEE student exchange scholarships for which you are applying will help you meet those needs. In the final component of your essay, be sure to include any extenuating circumstances or situations that may be relevant in the consideration of your scholarship application. This essay is your first, and perhaps only opportunity to showcase who you are, and therefore, you should write an interesting and polished essay with no spelling or grammatical mistakes.

Additional items may also have to be submitted, based on the eligibility criteria for each individual scholarship. Failure to include these items could significantly jeopardize your student exchange scholarships application.

There are two firm deadlines for submitting CIEE scholarship applications, April 1 for summer, fall, and academic year programs, and November 1, for winter, spring, and calendar year programs. Awardees will be notified by email approximately 4 weeks following either of these two deadline dates.