Original Content By Caitlin CecicThought you had a few more years before your son or daughter asked for permission to travel abroad? It's a frightening thought for some parents, but he or she could get more out of the experience than you might think.
Student study abroad is an option for more than just college students. Programs are available for children as young as 10, but most only accept junior high and high school students.
Your biggest worry is most likely setting your student loose in another country. But unlike college study abroad programs, most programs for high school students offer 24-hour supervision and require students to observe curfews.
Another one of your worries could be how to pay for everything. Going to another country often means expensive airfare. In addition, boarding fees, meals and general expenses add up. The good news is your student can offset these costs by applying for study abroad scholarships. And telling him or her to apply for scholarships in order to travel out of the country will give you an idea of how much your teenager really wants to go.
Huge Benefits:
- Educational benefits like learning another language
- Intercultural development from your student's interactions with people from other cultures
- A greater "feel" for the world outside of their safety net
...and much more!
Determining a Program for Your Student:
- Summer Camps - instead of 50 miles away, send them 5,000 miles away!
- Educationally focused - often language courses are based on your student's academic proficiency level so they can learn at their own pace. Other types of classes are also usually offered for credit
- Choosing between student residence hall living or with a host family. Student residence halls come with meals, rooms and other students while a host family gives your student a greater opportunity for total immersion and educational benefits in language and culture
Now, where to?
- Before you send your student on their educational journey, remember to consider different countries' languages and cultures and then determine where to send your student based on their interests, goals and, of course, their safety
Helpful Resources:
http://www.amerispan.com/teenager_programs_abroad/
http://www.teenagersabroad.com/
