High School Study Abroad Opportunities:
KL-YES Abroad
Their program overview:
The U.S. Department of State's Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study Abroad (YES Abroad) program, provides competitive merit-based scholarships for U.S. secondary school students (age 15-18) to study for one academic year in select countries.
The U.S. Department of State also provides scholarships for secondary school students (age 15-17) from countries with significant Muslim populations to study for one academic year in the United States through the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) program.
Link: http://www.yes-abroad.org/
A link for the inbound program can be found here: http://yesprograms.org/
Their program overview:
The U.S. Department of State's Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study Abroad (YES Abroad) program, provides competitive merit-based scholarships for U.S. secondary school students (age 15-18) to study for one academic year in select countries.
The U.S. Department of State also provides scholarships for secondary school students (age 15-17) from countries with significant Muslim populations to study for one academic year in the United States through the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) program.
Link: http://www.yes-abroad.org/
A link for the inbound program can be found here: http://yesprograms.org/
CBYX
Their program overview:
The U.S. State Department funded Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange Program (CBYX) is for motivated high school students who want to fully immerse themselves in German culture by living with a host family and attending a local high school. No previous language experience is required.
Link: http://www.usagermanyscholarship.org/
Their program overview:
The U.S. State Department funded Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange Program (CBYX) is for motivated high school students who want to fully immerse themselves in German culture by living with a host family and attending a local high school. No previous language experience is required.
Link: http://www.usagermanyscholarship.org/
NSLI-Y
Their program overview:
The National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, provides merit-based scholarships for eligible high school students and recent high school graduates to learn less commonly taught languages in summer and academic-year overseas immersion programs.
NSLI-Y is part of a U.S. government initiative that prepares American citizens to be leaders in a global world. Now more than ever, it is important that Americans have the necessary linguistic skills and cultural knowledge to promote international dialogue and support American engagement abroad. NSLI-Y aims to provide opportunities to American youth that will spark a lifetime interest in language learning.
Previous language study is not required, and language learners of all levels are encouraged to apply.
Link: http://www.nsliforyouth.org/
Their program overview:
The National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, provides merit-based scholarships for eligible high school students and recent high school graduates to learn less commonly taught languages in summer and academic-year overseas immersion programs.
NSLI-Y is part of a U.S. government initiative that prepares American citizens to be leaders in a global world. Now more than ever, it is important that Americans have the necessary linguistic skills and cultural knowledge to promote international dialogue and support American engagement abroad. NSLI-Y aims to provide opportunities to American youth that will spark a lifetime interest in language learning.
Previous language study is not required, and language learners of all levels are encouraged to apply.
Link: http://www.nsliforyouth.org/
ExCEL Abroad
Their program overview:
ExCEL Abroad is the reciprocal extension of Exchanges for Culture, Education, and Leadership (ExCEL). Program participants will serve as “youth ambassadors” of the United States. By forming lasting relationships within their host community, participants will promote mutual understanding between the U.S and Lithuania. Students will live with a host family, attend a local high school, and engage in activities to learn about Lithuania’s people, culture, and values. Such activities can be through the host high school, through community organizations, through an independent study project, and through community service, in which participants are expected to take part.
ExCEL Abroad is made possible by a generous three-year grant from the Kazickas Family Foundation. ExCEL Abroad builds on the success of ExCEL, a program for Lithuanian high school students which has provided transformational exchange experiences and strengthened the foundation of U.S.-Lithuania friendship since 2010.
Link: https://www.americancouncils.org/programs/excel-abroad-program
A link for the inbound program can be found here: http://inbound.americancouncils.org/programs/excel
Their program overview:
ExCEL Abroad is the reciprocal extension of Exchanges for Culture, Education, and Leadership (ExCEL). Program participants will serve as “youth ambassadors” of the United States. By forming lasting relationships within their host community, participants will promote mutual understanding between the U.S and Lithuania. Students will live with a host family, attend a local high school, and engage in activities to learn about Lithuania’s people, culture, and values. Such activities can be through the host high school, through community organizations, through an independent study project, and through community service, in which participants are expected to take part.
ExCEL Abroad is made possible by a generous three-year grant from the Kazickas Family Foundation. ExCEL Abroad builds on the success of ExCEL, a program for Lithuanian high school students which has provided transformational exchange experiences and strengthened the foundation of U.S.-Lithuania friendship since 2010.
Link: https://www.americancouncils.org/programs/excel-abroad-program
A link for the inbound program can be found here: http://inbound.americancouncils.org/programs/excel
Host an Exchange Student!
As exciting as going abroad is, hosting an exchange student can be equally (if not more) rewarding. All of the programs I've listed above are always looking for great host families for their students -- and so are organizations like AFS and Rotary.
If you (or a friend, or family member) are interested in hosting a student for any amount of time, check out the links below to get in touch with exchange organizations and see if hosting is something that you want to do.
Host a YES student: http://yesprograms.org/host
Host an AFS student: http://www.afsusa.org/host-family/
Host a Rotary student: https://www.rotary.org/en/get-involved/exchange-ideas/youth-exchanges
Host an EF student: http://www.efexchangeyear.org/host-a-student
Host an Ayusa student: https://www.ayusa.org/families/what-is-hosting
There are plenty more organizations looking for wonderful host families for students all over the world -- there is sure to be one you would like to work with. Good luck, and Inshallah you will find what you are looking for. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you need help or have questions about hosting.
If you (or a friend, or family member) are interested in hosting a student for any amount of time, check out the links below to get in touch with exchange organizations and see if hosting is something that you want to do.
Host a YES student: http://yesprograms.org/host
Host an AFS student: http://www.afsusa.org/host-family/
Host a Rotary student: https://www.rotary.org/en/get-involved/exchange-ideas/youth-exchanges
Host an EF student: http://www.efexchangeyear.org/host-a-student
Host an Ayusa student: https://www.ayusa.org/families/what-is-hosting
There are plenty more organizations looking for wonderful host families for students all over the world -- there is sure to be one you would like to work with. Good luck, and Inshallah you will find what you are looking for. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you need help or have questions about hosting.
University Study Abroad Opportunities:
CLS
Their program overview:
The Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program is an intensive overseas language and cultural immersion program for American students enrolled at U.S. colleges and universities. The program includes intensive language instruction and structured cultural enrichment experiences designed to promote rapid language gains.
CLS is part of a wider government initiative to expand the number of Americans studying and mastering foreign languages that are critical to national security and economic prosperity. CLS plays an important role in preparing students for the 21st century's globalized workforce and increasing national competitiveness.
The CLS Program is a program of the U.S. Department of State.
Link: http://clscholarship.org/
Their program overview:
The Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program is an intensive overseas language and cultural immersion program for American students enrolled at U.S. colleges and universities. The program includes intensive language instruction and structured cultural enrichment experiences designed to promote rapid language gains.
CLS is part of a wider government initiative to expand the number of Americans studying and mastering foreign languages that are critical to national security and economic prosperity. CLS plays an important role in preparing students for the 21st century's globalized workforce and increasing national competitiveness.
The CLS Program is a program of the U.S. Department of State.
Link: http://clscholarship.org/