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.

Famous Educators that Have Made a Difference

One of the unfortunate truths of our current world era is that educators rarely get their due respect and admiration. Truth be told, this is a bit baffling, given that aside from those who have trained in medicine and law, teachers are, on average, the most educated professionals worldwide. Despite their long hours and meager salaries they persist in educating the youth of the world, molding and shaping the individuals who will soon take the torch as tomorrow’s leaders.

Despite that they fail to get their due attention and esteem in present day society, educators—and the teaching profession in general—have not always been overlooked. As it happens, in past eras teachers were held in very high regard and were considered some of the most prominent leaders of their day—in a number of different fields. Many of these famous educators went on to become some of the most celebrated authors, poets, philosophers and scientists the world has ever witnessed, with names that even today are synonymous with brilliance, genius and societal progression—responsible for words, techniques and ideas that have helped to shape the world we live in.

Some of these famous educators include:

Confucius (551-479 BC). Confucius was a famous educator and philosopher in China whose ideas about self-improvement through education are still widely read and valued today.

Plato (428-348 BC). Plato, who is said to have founded the first university, was a Greek teacher/philosopher who was adamant that both teachers and students should be lifelong learners and continue to improve themselves through education.

Jesus (5 BC-30 AD). No famous educator is more widely read today than Jesus, whose daily lessons via parables and proverbs continue to steer the lives of Christians around the world.

John Locke (1632-1704). John Locke was a famous educator who believed education should revolve around improving one’s character. He stressed guided training over rote instruction and preparation for life over preparation for university.

Horace Mann (1796-1859). Considered the “Father of the American Public School,” Horace Mann was a famous educator who believed that every child—wealthy or poor—should have regular, daily access to a well-rounded education. “Education for all,” says Mann “would become the great equalizer of men.”

Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862). Henry David Thoreau, although perhaps best known for his poetry later in life and his love of nature, was a schoolteacher who believed that education should involve more than textbooks and memorization. He introduced new teaching techniques such as journal writing and field trips that, he said, would enhance the overall learning experience.

Anne Sullivan (1866-1936). There is perhaps no teacher who demonstrated more persistence and commitment than Anne Sullivan—the famous educator who worked closely and tirelessly with Helen Keller, a blind student with severe learning disabilities. Despite a handicap of her own, Sullivan developed and implemented a form of touch reading for Keller, stressing that children learn from direct experience and repetition rather than vague concepts.

This is just a partial list of the many famous educators whose commitment to teaching and learning has revolutionized the world and made progress possible. Collectively, they are a shining example of how central teachers are to the fabric of our society, and why teachers today should receive the notoriety and praise they deserve for the consistent dedication they demonstrate in carrying out the most essential of responsibilities: Educating our children.

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.