Study abroad in high school?

Question

I'm a homeschooled high school student and I will be a junior next year. I want to study abroad next year for my junior year in 2008-2009, or for the spring semester 2009. I will be 16 next year (birthday is in Feb.) I want to go to either Italy or England. I don't speak Italian, and I can't find any online courses for it so far. Do I have to know Italian if I decide to go to Italy?

Is it worth it to go abroad? And I know that I can do independent study, does this mean I could take 1 or 2 AP courses online? What about taking the PSAT or AP exams? Would I be allowed to come home to take them?

Please only answer if you have studied abroad in either Italy or England. Thanks.

Answer 1

There are lots of study abroad programs out there you can sign up for.  The only thing is since you're 16 they'll probably require that a parent go with you because they don't want to be held liable if anything happens to you.  However, there are some high school sponsored trips that don't have that requirement.  Most high schools language departments do yearly trips to the country of the language they're speaking and the cost isn't too bad considering it's a trip abroad. When I was in high school our French class had tours of France they did every summer if you could pay the $2000 fee.  I definitely know the International Baccalaureat Program does yearly tours of Europe.  Try contacting some of the high schools in your area to see if they'll let you sign up for one of the trips they're holding.

Most study abroad programs don't require you to speak the language of the country you're going to.  You might want to contact the College Board or your school about doing independent study for the AP exams although to my knowledge they don't require you to actually take any classes in order to take the AP exams.  The PSAT can only be taken your sophomore and junior years so you'll probably be able to take it as long as you're back by the scheduled testing date.

Answer 2

No, you don't have to speak the language to study abroad through most programs.  I went to Japan for a summer when I was in high school.  I went with Youth for Understanding.  I know they're still around and placing students.  You would have to contact companies that place students as the policies will vary from program to program and from country to country.

Given that you have very specific questions, you should contact a couple of service providers who place students and find out what's available for AP, PSAT, etc.

Answer 3

I studied in England at the University of Richmond (London) during my Junior year of college. Yes I think it is totally worth it. It will change you life. I dont know what program you are planning on doing but I dont understand why you would do an independent study. The whole point would be to experience attending a foreign school. Unless you want to do independent studies from home while also attending a foreign school.

As for comming home to take the PSAT and such you would probably just have to wait until you got home or take them before you left. Unless you are doing a whole year then you might could come home for Christmas. You wouldnt be able to just come home for a couple days to take the test. It is very expensive to fly back and forth from Europe.

I have never been to Italy but I have read about programs where the courses are taught in English. It would probably not be mandatory that you speak Italian.

If your nervous I would recommend England as a good first abroad experience because you dont have to deal with the language barrier.

I can not say enough good things about my experience abroad though. Get some more information and go for it. Good luck.

Answer 4

You can do this.  Go to rotary.org.  The rotary club is the way to go.  It's the most organized and largest exchange program in the world.  No matter what country you go to, you can come back and do your SATs and ACTs.  I went away for the full year and totally missed out on my Junior year.  It was the best choice I have ever made.  Go to Italy, you'll learn the language when you get there.  You don't need any experience.  Even if you do have experience in the language, unless you can actually speak it, studying from an online course or anything like that means nothing.  You learn more in a week abroad than you will in 3 months at home.  Any school you miss, no matter how much, will be made up when you get back.  AND YOU WILL GRADUATE ON TIME!!!  I am now a senior in high school and my friends and I (who went abroad) all missed a year of school here and are still going to graduate with all our friends.  Just remember, you can go to england any time, you speak their language.  Italy is the way to go.  Once you go, you are set for life.  This program changes you and turns you from boy to man.  Go to the website or message me.  I'd be happy to answer any questions.

Answer 5

I can't speak to your latter questions about AP classes and the like, but for the earlier parts of this question:

Whether you must speak Italian or not to be accepted by an exchange program depends on the program.  When I was an exchange student (over 20 years ago) through Rotary, there were a few countries that required fluency, including France.  I went to Japan with only the ability to greet people.  It was an outstanding experience, and in the course of a year, I became quite fluent in daily Japanese, though I wouldn't have wanted to try to go to college with my language skills.  I was sixteen at the time, and came back with one year of high school to complete.  I still got into the most competitive university in the state.  I then earned a BA in Japanese, an MA in teaching English to speakers of other languages, and a job teaching international students.  I can't imagine doing anything else.  Being an exchange student changed the direction of my life completely, and I love it.

I'm sorry for answering this question not having studied in Italy or England, but I hope you found some of this of use.