Hamberites’ Guide to Exchange Programs
Katja Radovic-Jonsson
Hamber is home to many exchange students from all over the world who have come to the school to study as they explore a new part of the world.
There are many programs globally that allow students to participate in a student exchange to Vancouver, but the VSB doesn’t offer any outgoing student exchange programs. However, there are still plenty of opportunities available for Hamberites looking to study abroad.
One company who coordinates student exchange programs for Canadian high school students is YES Canada. YES offers a multitude of exchange programs ranging from one to ten months in over 20 countries worldwide, with both home-stay and dorm-stay accommodation options. For most destinations, previous knowledge of the local language is not necessary, and YES provides a basic language course at the beginning of the student’s trip if desired at an extra cost. YES allocates a program coordinator to each student to guide them along their pre-departure orientation. Each student’s trip with YES is tailored to their own needs, so no two experiences are alike.
Another option for Hamberites looking to study abroad is ASSE Canada. Operating in 31 countries across the globe, ASSE offers a more traditional high school student exchange experience. Students are not required to learn the language of their host country, but language lessons are provided upon arrival. Students can choose to partake in either a one-semester or one-year exchange, with home-stay accommodation. Additionally, ASSE prides themselves on being more affordable than other exchange programs. In order to qualify for an ASSE exchange, students must maintain a B average and be between 15 and 18.5 years of age.
For those interested in a more language-focused course, or perhaps a volunteering-based program, look no further than EF Tours. Their most popular course, the EF Intensive Studies program, is a six-to-eleven-month program for students and adults looking to improve their language skills abroad. Along with daily language lessons, the course includes a number of special interest lessons which allow students to choose topics of interest to learn in between their language lessons. EF also offers courses that combine academics and language studies abroad, as well as a few volunteering-focused courses. Unlike YES and ASSE, which match students with local secondary schools, most EF courses are taught in designated EF schools, located in the centre of each respective city. EF offers a wide range of trip customization, with trip lengths from two to 52 weeks in over 150 study programs, 50 destinations, and 10 languages.