The Effects of Being a Foreign Exchange Student

Intercultural Awareness

Students studying abroad get more opportunities to meet friends. These friends carry different cultural assumptions, allowing students to become more aware of their own assumptions. Students can also develop a more global perspective, developing empathy toward other viewpoints.

National Benefits

When foreign exchange students travel to other countries, they sometimes receive some of these countries' benefits. For example, students traveling to France receive their Social Security benefits and medical care.

Cultural Education

Foreign exchange students can learn more about a culture by experiencing the culture firsthand. If the student is lucky enough to visit near a cultural landmark, the student will have an opportunity to visit that landmark.

Difficult Adjustments

Foreign exchange students might struggle to adjust to the foreign environment, possibly having a negative effect on the student's studies. Different cultures tend to value different kinds of knowledge, and cultures also have different teaching methods. Students who are not native speakers of the country might struggle to understand the course content until they gain more of a grasp of the language. Also, different cultures have varying attitudes toward scholastic achievement, with some schools challenging students more than others.

Emotional Stress
Students can be put under emotional stress when overseas. Some students are homesick and other students are not able to relate to the students from other cultures. Also, the student may or may not feel welcomed by the other culture, creating social strain.

Improved Education

The quality of education varies from country to country. Therefore, foreign exchange students can take advantage of the improved academic resources found in another country. For example, if a school has a better science program than the student's native country, a student already excelling in that subject area can benefit from the added instruction.

International Friendship

Developing an ability to form relationships with those from other cultures helps students become international leaders later on in life, whether they work for the government as diplomats or work for businesses that market products overseas.

Read more: http://www.ehow.com/info_8253035_effects-being-foreign-exchange-student.html#ixzz2jEZWeRJr


Making Friends 

A new study released today in the Journal of International and Intercultural Communication revealed that nearly 40 percent of foreign exchange students who have come to the United States for college report having no American friends.
 
Read more: http://www.newswise.com/articles/many-international-students-have-few-close-american-friends-survey-says

Today despite I picked a topic of exchange student programs, I am still considering getting into the topic of modeling and how does it influence the mentality of young people all the way thru the elderly and the society overall.

As I am getting exhausted of the formality of how I would have to write my paper about exchange student programs, this topic relates to it a way that modeling is international business, kinda working like the work 'n' study exchange programs however this is not the way I would go.

The narrowing of this topic could be the Fashion and modeling in Denver, The history of modeling and what its based on, what certain cultures prefer in the this business and how is this industry managed.  Also I could further go with my research into diseases like bulimia and anorexia and depression relate to this industry.

My other thoughts however regarding exchange student programs where weather it can actually lead to the loss of cultural pride when being in a certain country sometimes requires acclimatization and adaptation. 

Here is a side I found some information how acclimatization is needed in order to avoid multicultural conflict.

http://www.publiceye.org/ark/immigrants/CulturalDiv.html

Today I was wondering thru internet searching what countries and cities are best to live, and weather it would go along picking a country for exchange program. I have found several links with different opinions but share some that I could include for my paper.


http://images.businessweek.com/slideshows/2012-09-26/americas-50-best-cities

http://www.bestplaces.net/docs/studies/bestplaces05.aspx

http://blogs.seattletimes.com/fyi-guy/2013/10/16/bellevue-named-of-the-best-places-to-live-in-the-u-s/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/best-places-to-live

When exchange students apply to study abroad one of the  main reasons is to learn different language. For most of non-english speaking students its a challenge. They usually aim for english, spanish, german, Chinese and russian.But which language is best to study?English is a very important and necessary language in the world of business, technology and entertainment, therefore English speaking countries are one of the most searched for exchange programs.

http://digitaljournal.com/article/276960

This article talks about weather english should be a universal language so miscommunication can be avoided.

Another issue comes up thought, when english speaking students travel abroad to learn a little bit of english, but many times they are placed into an english school or foreign students can speak english.
This is one of the examples from exchange programs organized by rotary-www.rotary.com where I have interviewed a first hand source.

Today I found another article that talks about exchange students from thailand being messed over in Pennsylvania, when they were forced to manual work with paychecks that were being taken deductions from as well as examples of students that came to U.S.A to study english and got placed to a spanish speaking area. I believe this is another good article that I can use as contra argument but also as a good example of what to avoid when applying for exchange student program.

http://www.policymic.com/articles/3465/for-many-foreign-exchange-students-the-american-dream-becomes-a-rude-awakening

What specific examples can I use to demonstrate how exchange student programs connect people from different countries?
How do people build prejudice agains someone they don't know?
How could be an issue of racism solved by these programs?
What age should kids start attending these programs?
What countries should most focus to send out their students?
What countries should be more welcome to accept foreign students?
What should be the language of international students?

As part of my thesis about exchange student programs helping overcome prejudices of different culture, I think I should mention these prejudices. I think the biggest ones are religion, historical past and  economical background.

http://religiousaffections.org/articles/articles-on-culture/multiculturalism-cultural-prejudice/
 This article talk about cultural prejudices regarding the religion, where they arise and how to avoid them.

Other conflict I have personally seen was hate among young students from Russia and Germany, students of middle east and american students, russian students and american students or tension between the english and french. I believe though that thru ought the program those people got to know each other and actually become friends despite of history of their countries.

How and why exchange student programs were started, how they were regulated and how issue could have been investigated and solved was thanks to a bill introduced by senator J. William Fulbright in 1961, later signed by President Truman. This event occurred due to post war piece making, which exchange student programs could only help.

link:

http://us.fulbrightonline.org/about

I so far believe my thesis is going to based around the argument that exchange student programs help to overcome cultural prejudice, which I will support by presenting positive and negative outcomes of these programs, not only in USA but globally, as well as appointing the necessity of support to students that want to be part of these programs. 

During my exchange student program as a junior in hight school, I came across certain problems with being placed in a host family that I believe was not ready to host an exchange student in teen years. I also have met many other exchange students from all over the world who were placed into a host family that didn't exactly met criteria described in a link below to become a host family. This many times causes and exchange student to terminate his/her program or switch between family witch complicates the situation.

http://www.csiet.org/publications-resources/docs/csiet_student_safety_guidelines-final_6-23-09.pdf

This link talks about criteria that a host family should meet to be one.

As an exchange student from eastern Europe back in 2008, I believe my host mother thought I was able to work for her as an au-pair, taking care of her daughter while she was out and about. I believe it was absolutely rude and probably she had no idea where I come from and how much money it cost my parents to allow me to do this and that I didn't come to USA to work for her but to study. During these programs many times exchange students face prejudice upon where they come from and may be taken advantage of.

This article talks about many exchange students being taken advantage of and forced to unwillingly works at strip clubs or be working and living conditions similar to indentured servitude.

<http://www.denverpost.com/ci_20552744/foreign-student-exchange-

            program-revamped-after-abuses-exposed?IADID=Search-

            www.denverpost.com-www.denverpost.com>

I believe these negative aspects of exchange student programs are arising due to cultural prejudice which exchange student programs are trying to overcome.

http://pax.org/pax_exchange.php
History of exchange student programs- travels thru history into new places to explore and gain knowledge, to meet other cultures.
Exchange student programs starting after second world war

Exchange student companies-their rules
rotary.com
cetusa.com
ef.com
afsusa.com
ciee.gov
iseusa.com
ayuusa.gov
asse.com

types of exchange student programs

national/international exchange student program:
university
high school
work study

short term or long term or summer camps

When did exchange student programs started?
What is the purpose of an exchange student program?
What criteria applicant needs to fulfill to be part of the program?
What companies arrange exchange student program and what are the differences between them?
What is the most visited country for exchange student programs?
What are the criteria for picking a country to study at or the language to learn?
How can a a student apply?
How can a student finance this program?
When is the best time to do this?
What are some good examples of successful exchange program?
What are some negative experiences of exchange student programs?
How can I include my own exchange student experience?
How can I start forming my thesis after researching those questions?

Exchange Student Research Help

“Ripple Effects” in Youth Peacebuilding and Exchange Programs: Measuring Impacts Beyond Direct Participants.

http://0-web.ebscohost.com.skyline.ucdenver.edu/ehost/detail?vid=8&sid=863e5232-23d3-4d75-8487-fddbb10b8dac%40sessionmgr111&hid=127&bdata=#db=aph&AN=47842148

AFS International Programs

Long Term Impact Study

In 2006, AFS conducted a large-scale research effort in order to determine the long-term impact of an intercultural learning experience. The study compared AFS alumni to their peers, 20 to 25 years after their participation in an exchange program. More than 11,000 AFS Alumni in 15 different countries were contacted and nearly 2,000 submitted survey results. Each person who responded was also asked to nominate two high school friends to complete the survey as the control group. The study found that AFS participants showed significant advantages in language fluency and cultural competence that lasted far beyond the duration of the experience abroad.

Educational Results

The Assessment of the Impact of the AFS Study Abroad Experience was an independent research study conducted in 2005 by Dr. Mitchell R. Hammer in partnership with AFS. Thousands of students around the world were evaluated before, during and after an experience abroad. Compared to a control group of their peers, AFS Participants made significant improvements in language fluency, their knowledge of other cultures and their ability to forge intercultural friendships. The results of the research conclusively confirmed that exchange programs, especially at the high school level, play a critical role in building bridges across cultural differences.

Various PDF with charts and graph to analyze on the website

http://www.afs.org/afs-and-intercultural-learning/research/

Information on exchange student struggles

http://onelifelog.wordpress.com/2009/03/29/realities-of-the-exchange-student-experience/

Using searching term exchange student programs I have found many sources online as well as print sources that are very useful for my research.  There are also students that I personally know who I am preparing to interview as a first hand source, as well as a member of exchange student club Rotary. After talking to librarian online at Auraria library I have obtain school information about echange program students
links

http://www.ucdenver.edu/ACADEMICS/COLLEGES/CLAS/ABOUTUS/CONTACTUS/Pages/ContactUs.aspx

http://www.ucdenver.edu/ACADEMICS/COLLEGES/CLAS/ABOUTUS/CONTACTUS/Pages/ContactUs.aspx

books:

 Dalton, Jon C. Beyond Borders: How International Developments Are Changing Student Affairs Practice. San Francisco [Calif.: Jossey-Bass, 1999. Print.

King, Nancy, and Ken Huff. Host Family Survival Kit: A Guide for American Host Families. Yarmouth, Me.: Intercultural, 1985. Print.

Speck, Bruce W., and Beth H. Carmical. Internationalizing Higher Education: Building Vital Programs on Campuses. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2002. Print.

organizations:

rotary.org
cetusa.org

interviewees
Camron Jon Eidsness
Cary Eidsness

Articles:

1. The New York Times

Preston, Julia. "Foreign Students in Work Visa Program Stage Walkout at

            Plant." The New York Times 18 Aug. 2011: A12. Print.

b.The Denver Post

Bowman, Nick. "Egyptian Exchange Student Makes a Mark."

The Denver Post 15 June 2013: n. pag. Print.

           

c. The Denver Post

"Foreign-student Exchange Program Revamped after Abuses Exposed." –

            The Denver Post. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Oct. 2013.

 <http://www.denverpost.com/ci_20552744/foreign-student-exchange-

            program-revamped-after-abuses-exposed?IADID=Search-

            www.denverpost.com-www.denverpost.com>.

movie watched:

Like Crazy. Dir. Drake Doremus.

            Perf. Felicity Jones and AntonYalkin. Paramount, 2012. DVD.

When thinking of topics I would like to research, I aim for something I am familiar with although want to gain a lot more information about the topic.The two primary topics I am considering for further research are:
1. What is the best place to live at?
2. Why do students travel abroad for education and how can it influence their future career and life?

After analyzing those two topic question and writing a diagram, question one can be part of question two, therefore I am sticking with the topic of exchange student programs. I believe I am going to be able to find lots of research regarding this topic, maybe narrow it down a little bit, as well as answer my own personal questions. I will aim for first hand sources, university students and will definitelty use my own experience as an exchange student.