Student Travel

According to -  http://www.afsusa.org/study-abroad/parents/six-benefits/ - the six benefits to high school students studying abroad are the following:

1.  Stand out on college applications
2.  Learn a new language
3.  Gain a new perspective
4.  Explore the world in high school
5.  Embark on an adventure of a lifetime
6.  Make lifelong connections

I certainly do not disagree with any of the benefits but would possibly reorder or reword some of them...For example, if the main purpose for doing something in high school is to be able to put that something on a college application; well maybe that student needs to dig a little deeper.  Doing something for an application is pretty superficial! 

In place of learn a new language, I would put practice a language being learned, that probably goes without saying given that I am a World Language teacher! 

If the trip is planned well numbers 3 - 6 on the list are truly the most beneficial.  What I have always found interesting about the new perspectives gained is that they are hard to explain to someone who has not had this type of experience.  Exploration and adventure will hopefully be a part of the travelers' life for the long term, but learning how to embrace these things sooner than later is an important step in the journey of life!  And those lifelong connections can come in all shapes and sizes, and will also hopefully last a lifetime or at the very least provide a gateway for making future lifelong connections!

At North Central H.S. our World Language students travel during the school year and the summer.  We participate in exchange programs; hosting students we have visited in their countries in our hometown and school.  All offer tremendous benefits, but I have done some reflecting recently on our trip to Alsace, France that takes place two weeks during the school year and have some amazing benefits to share!

1.  All French students are involved, and not only the year in which the travel takes place.  The year prior to travel a pen pal exchange takes place with any students interested in this opportunity.  Even if a student does not have a pen pal, the experience is shared with the class in which these students are enrolled.

2.  All French students are involved, and not only the year in which the travel takes place.  On opposite years students from Alsace visit us for two weeks in the spring.  School is typically in session either one or both of these weeks so these visitors from Alsace become a part of the student body.

3.  All French students are involved while our teacher and students are in France via a blog   www.voicireidnchs.weebly.com and through the use of Skype.  French teachers incorporate the blog and communication via Skype into their lesson plans while our travelers are abroad.

4.  All French students are involved when our travelers return.  School is in session and travelers have returned and are eager to share their experiences...in essence "selling" this opportunity for the next time around.

To sum it up our Alsace, France trip is perpetual for all NCHS French students and teachers.  Could it get any better than that?!