Australia, Greece, England, or France?

Question

I want to become a foreigner exchange student in either Australia, Greece, England, or France. I speak english and I'm in French 3 at my high school. Right now I'm in Orange County, California. I love sports: basketball, cross country, track, surfing, etc. I have a 4.0 GPA and don't know where to look to get try and become an exchange student. Can you help; any ideas on where to go or where to start?

I'm a sophomore, I'll be 16 in July, and I'm pretty tall for my age. I'm involved with school and want to travel while in high school. I've also heard about summer exchanges so I wouldn't have to miss out on my school. I can't decide when to go because junior and senior year are kind of big deals, but I don't want to miss going to another country.

Answer 1

You should go to France because you'll become fluent and then you won't have to take a foreign language in college.

Answer 2

Salut, comment ca va?

it really depends on what you want to get from being exchange student. i studied in Australia and the state. also, i went to England and France for vacation.

my experience, i would ask you to choose France, because they have the wonderful culture and lifestyle you will love to. also, you can practice your French as well. i know more people do know Spanish, but French is a romantic language, and you surly need to experience that from living in Southern France. lots of gorgeous French adn Italian there too.

Answer 3

My suggestion is to go to France. By being bilingual, you will get better pay in your future job. Or, if you are going to college, you can opt out of college credit (basically, you get free credits by taking fluency tests) which will allow you to have more free time in college and save money! I studied in Japan and I skipped a few classes when I came back. I talked to the professor at my college and got free credits - I graduated early even though I took one year off from college to work in Japan. But, if you are afraid of not knowing enough French, I would suggest going to an Englsih speaking country.

To get started: talk to your counselor at school. Usually, if you are in High School still there are funds that are available to students that want to study abroad. There are usually funds because not a lot of Americans go to study abroad.

Never listen to anyone that says because you are a woman, should be careful in some countries. You're a strong woman, don't listen to this rubbish. I lived in Japan, twice, even though people warned me, I never had any problems. In addition, I went on vacation in Korea - never any problems. You will be fine - it is a chance of a lifetime.

Some of the programs available: this really depends on what your major is going to be in college. (if available) You can talk to your teacher in High School and he/she will know the programs available in your area and how to get started. Or talk to the counsler! Good Luck!

Answer 4

Rotary clubs sponsor high school students for a year abroad. I know two people who did that and had an excellent experience. The downside is that you might end up a year behind your friends who are the same age, if you are willing to do that. (I would say totally go for it.)

Second, if you already know that you want to do this, when you look for colleges, ask about their programs. Given your good grades and extra-curriculars, it sounds like you should have a world of college options open to you. Ask about their programs and whether any scholarships you would receive can be transfered to those programs. My school did.

I studied abroad in London for a semester and it is one of the best things I ever did. I encourage anyone and everyone to do it.

Answer 5

Australia is a good place. I go to school in Australia and i became really good friends with kids who came out from asia (my school is a sister school to a schools in germany and china). other schools have these programs too.

id try rotary club or perhaps try talkin to ur international liasion officer at school. or perhaps the guidance officer. they should be able to give u some decent advice.

many schools in australia will have competitive sporting clubs, our school was more academic than sporty, but a school near us puts a lot of emphasis on sports.

so id put ur name down with an exchange group (try YFU) and then sort out the sort of school u want.

Answer 6

1. Any of those choices sounds awesome, but I daresay a single female traveller may find it easier in some countries than in others. I loved France (although parts of Switzerland or Belgium would offer a French-speaking alternative, and each has some unique opportunities), but a single American female is prone to be ogled there, and I'm even more inclined to believe Greece would be that way. (Typically, southern European areas a even more touchy-feely and prone to thinking less of women's independence.) So, personally I'd advocate any of those except Greece. And if you feel easily flustered by language use, skip a place with a real language barrier. Challenge is good and immersion helps, but you don't want to feel stranded and isolated.
2. As I can't think of a particularly helpful service to help you out and I don't know how much high school you have left/time you have to make high school arrangements --- please consider focusing on exchange time while in college. MANY schools offer programs which partner you with overseas university studies, and MANY offer scholarships (I was fortunate and spent months travelling on my own through Europe, working on a research project).
3. As you deepen resolve to find out more and make it happen, start looking at things which will make it more real to you and will help you focus your resolve to find a solution. Read travel books which may help you narrow your focus. Read about hostels and train passes; Europe in particular is a great place to use those to maximize travel opportunities. Contacting youth hostels may lead to a specific suggestion or two.

Bon voyage! Have a great time, and be safe. Remember that Europe's *mostly* a place of 'petty crime,' like wallet and passport robbery (I even knew someone dancing in a disco to have her discreet travel wallet cut off of her), so caution is good -- but you shouldn't have to worry so much about more sinister threats we Americans fear in big cities. :) And in Australia -- Australian youth are often encouraged to do a lot of world travel, so they tend to be broad-minded. Study well ... Learn a lot.

Answer 7

If I were you, I'd pick France!