Thiago Schmidt

Student Council Proposal N005:

Exchange programs/ Studying abroad

What?
The Student Council proposes the idea of setting up an exchange
program where pupils from the school can spend up to 1 year living
abroad. Students will learn life lasting lessons and will return more
mature after spending time separated from their families. This is non-
compulsory. A student from the host country does not necessarily need
to come live with the departing pupils family in Rio.

How?
A tertiary company will coordinate the exchange; I personally
recommend AFS, Rotary, or GLS (German Language School for pupils
going DE, A, CH). Our pupils will live in host families. Host families are
families the exchange program agencies search for prior to the students
departure. Depending on the company host parents receive
compensation money. Once the pupil returns he must be offered
assistance to make sure he is at par with the curriculum. A good idea is
to institute a member of staff as the Expatriate/Exchange Director to
help guide not only exchange students, but as well as new expatiate
students.

Why?
Having spent 6 years living abroad and the whole of last year, 2013, in
an exchange program in Germany, it was noted that spending time
abroad; learning new languages, learning to fend-off for ones self, being
integrated into an entirely different culture and social position gives
perspective and various new life and academic skills to any pupil.

Opinions from a former Exchange student
I personally discourage companies that pay host families, because they
accept you for the revenue you will bring and not because of you.
When ever possible, the selection of large to medium sized cities,
50,000+ inhabitants, is best.