|
Mailing
Address
Suite
486
65
Cedar Pointe Drive
Barrie,
Ontario
L4N
9R3
Tel
705 722 9440
Fax
705 722 9441
info@iseontario.on.ca
Staff
Contact
---------------------------
Exchange
Programs
Students
Elementary
Secondary
Summer
Experience
Canada
---------------------------
Teachers
Internship
Summer
---------------------------
School
Groups
---------------------------
|
|
Parent
Information
Your
child has shown an interest in participating in an
International Student Exchange - Ontario
exchange.
An exchange is a serious undertaking and possibly one of the
most important activities your child will undertake during
their school career. This site can help to answer many of your
questions regarding ISE Ontario and its many programs.
"Why should my child participate in an ISE
Ontario
exchange
program?"
INTERNATIONAL
STUDENT EXCHANGE - ONTARIO offers your child
opportunities to:
-
Develop language skills,
-
Share their family and school life with another person,
-
Increase their cultural awareness through a direct
experience,
-
Enhance their understanding of others,
-
Gain confidence, responsibility and self-reliance,
-
Come home with a new appreciation of Canada
,
-
Prepare for 21st century life in the global village,
-
Establish personal relationships that may last a
lifetime.
"When do we have
to start planning for our child to participate in an ISE Ontario
exchange program?"
Students apply for an ISE
Ontario exchange in one school year and the
exchange takes place during the next school year. A typical
timeline is as follows:
October, November,
December
ISE Ontario's programs are announced in Ontario schools
through distribution of program information; in-school or
school board information meetings are held by the school or
board exchange coordinators for interested parents and
students.
December through
March, April
Students complete the application process through their
school.
April, May
Applications are submitted to the ISE
Ontario office by the exchange coordinators
from across the province. Successful applicants are matched
with a student of similar age and interests.
June, July
Students receive information about a proposed partner and upon
acceptance begin corresponding.
July, August (Summer
Programs)
Students host their partners and/or travel according to the
specific program timeline.
August to November
Visiting students arrive in Ontario in August and spend between 11 and 13 weeks in their partner's
home and school.
February to May
Ontario students leave in February to spend a similar period with
their partner.
"How are students
and families selected?"
ISE Ontario and each of its exchange partners separately determine
their particular screening and selection process. This process
varies from country to country depending on the organization,
culture, and logistics. However, only students who are
recommended by their teachers and principal are accepted for
participation in the programs.
It is evident that involvement in a student exchange is not
meant for everyone. Beyond academic standing, personality,
interest, enthusiasm and commitment, many other variables must
be considered when deciding if a particular student is indeed
suitable for an exchange: ability to get along with others,
variety of interests and range of activities, activities
planned for the hosting period, home accommodation for the
visiting student. Ideally, a separate room for the visiting
student should be available (siblings might share to free a
room); a separate bed is always required where room sharing is
unavoidable.
Host parents and families should be able to provide a warm,
friendly and secure home atmosphere, be open minded and
willing to allow for cultural differences, give evidence of
strong interest and commitment and of preliminary plans for
hosting in August and anticipated cultural activities that the
visiting student would experience.
"What kind of
support structure is in place for my family during the hosting
period in Ontario
and for my child in the host country?"
In
Ontario,
the school and school board exchange coordinators are the
first and most direct contacts for students and families.
These experienced people provide support at the school and
board level for both the visiting and hosting exchange
students and the host parents. The exchange coordinators
maintain regular contact with exchange students, parents, and
co-ordinate activities locally throughout the exchange year.
Each student will be given the phone number of the exchange
co-ordinators, as well as the Exchange Office.
"What are my
responsibilities as a host parent?"
Families are expected to host the visiting exchange student during
the exchange period and treat him/her as a member of the
family; to provide all three daily meals, a warm, safe and
friendly atmosphere and a safe means of travel to school; to
help him/her adjust to new surroundings; to assume parental
care for the exchange student; to ensure that he/she is
immersed in the target language and given full opportunity to
hear and use English at home as well as at school; and to
ensure that he/she is exposed to as many cultural activities
as possible, all of the foregoing at no cost to the visiting
exchange student.
"What about
school work missed during the period away, and credits for
secondary school students?"
Students must review with Guidance/Student Services in June their
schedule of courses for the upcoming school year. Students in
semestered schools take four courses in the first semester and
generally at least three in the second semester of their
exchange year; exchange participants in non-semestered schools
also can complete seven or eight courses during the year with
proper planning. Most schools have one Guidance contact who is
experienced with the exchange program and can provide the best
advice regarding course selection.
During the fall term, parents should attend the parents' night
at school to ensure that the appropriate teachers are aware
that the
Ontario
student will be attending school out of the province for three
months the following spring. It is the responsibility of
students to meet with their teachers to determine how to
complete the work in each subject; most often students are
able to work ahead, and may complete at least one assignment
while away. Ideally these assignments relate to the exchange
experience, the culture, language, or history of the host
country. All students return by mid-May, and again, work with
their teachers to catch up and prepare for the year-end and
exams in June.
Although the school work completed for subjects in the host
school cannot be considered towards the granting of credits in
Ontario, a report form is provided to the host school for teachers to
comment on attendance, effort and participation. These reports
are returned to the ISE
Ontario Office for distribution to Ontario
schools. Finally, parents and students should be aware that
the authority for the granting of credits rests solely with
the school principal.
"Is there a
language or academic requirement for the program?"
Students should have an above average academic standing, and have a
genuine interest in learning the language of the chosen
exchange country, as well as it's history, culture and
everyday way of life. Students must understand that this
program is intended to be a part of their secondary school
study experience, and not be undertaken as an opportunity for
personal travel or holiday time during the school year.
For exchanges in French-language destinations (Quebec,
Belgium,
France
and Switzerland -
French Cantons) students must be studying French as a second
language in a core, immersion or extended program. Students
from French-language homes and/or schools may wish to go to
these destinations for the cultural experience. They must
understand however that
Quebec, Belgian, French or Swiss students are seeking to improve
their English language skills while in
Ontario
.
For exchanges with Germany,
Italy,
and
Spain,
students should have some background in
German, Italian or Spanish. Where the language is not taught
in the school, participants in these exchanges should seek
other ways of acquiring a basic knowledge, such as courses
through various community agencies, interactive computer
programs, internet offerings etc.
Summer Programs carry no language requirement.
"How long are the
programs?"
ISE Ontario offers reciprocal exchange programs of varying lengths.
Each program involves hosting a partner, and traveling to the
host country to stay with the partner and host family for the
same length of time.
The One-Month Summer Exchange Experience takes place in July
and August, with France,
Spain
and Quebec.
A Two-Month program during the school year is available with Belgium
(French language)
France,
Switzerland
and for ELEMENTARY students; destinations for the Three-Month
program during the school year include France,
Switzerland (French
& Italian Cantons), Germany,
Italy, and
Spain.
Semester and School-Year programs may be arranged in all
destinations on an individual basis.
"Is there an age
requirement?"
Students must be between 13 and 17 years of age, in the year of the
exchange. Summer programs and Semester / School-Year exchanges
allow more flexibility for younger and older students;
however, opportunities are limited for students who are 18
years of age or older.
"How much
spending money will my child need overseas?"
Students should plan on covering all expenses outside of the host
family's activities. These personal social activities may
include (but are not limited to) movies, meals, or sporting
events while out with the partner and/or other friends, public
transportation for social activities, optional recreational
activities or excursions offered by the host school. Although
usually supplied by the host family, students should be
prepared to provide their own personal toiletries. As well,
personal expenses such as postage stamps and telephone calls
are the student's responsibility.
To a large extent, the amount of spending money can be
determined according to the student's own spending habits at
home. Younger students generally require less for social
activities than older students.
"My child would
like to continue practicing ballet (piano, martial arts) while
abroad. Is this possible?"
ISE Ontario works hard to match each student with a partner who
shares common interests or activities, so that each can pursue
the things that they enjoy. This is accomplished by matching
students who play a similar musical instrument or participate
in the same extra-curricular sport, or whose families indicate
access to specific facilities.
Students may indicate a particular request in their
application form (music lessons, fitness program, horseback
riding) and the host family will usually try to accommodate.
In such cases, students would be responsible for the fees
involved.
|
|
