Exchange Student's Role

We expect the inbound students to be involved: involved in their  host family,  school, community and in Rotary.

 Learn the language

 It will take considerable effort to understand the spoken language, which is often different than the language taught in school.  Engage in real conversation, watch movies and television (particularly advertising!)

 Exchange students may be tested for language proficiency shortly after arrival and tutoring can be arranged by Rotary for students who are experiencing difficulty communicating.  School counselors and teachers can also be valuable resources for both the student and host family in addressing communications problems.

 Learn to Adapt

 Be positive, say yes to new things, be willing to do things differently, and recognize that cultural differences are neither “better or worse”, simply “different”.

 Obey the Rules

 All exchange students and their parents agreed to comply with the rules of Rotary Youth Exchange.  These common sense conditions are intended to insure the safety of the student, and assure that the student does not impose a burden on the families who open their homes to them.

 1.                   Driving: Exchange students are not permitted to operate motor vehicles, including motorcycles, boats, or any other powered device requiring an operators license as a condition of the medical and accident insurance. Under no circumstances may they take a Driver Education course.

2.                   Serious Dating – Exchange students are required to avoid sexual activity, and should also not "break someone's heart" by maintaining a long and serious relationship that will inevitably come to an end.

 3.                   Drinking - All exchange students must comply with our laws, including those applying to possession and consumption of alcoholic beverages and controlled substances.  Students may, with the approval of the host parents, accept an alcoholic beverage offered by the host parent in the host home.

4.                   Drugs: All exchange students must refrain from using illegal drugs.

 5.                 Smoking: Any student who stated on the application that he/she did not smoke is absolutely not permitted to smoke while here on exchange.

 6.                   School Attendance: This is an educational exchange, and students are required to attend school regularly, and maintain satisfactory class work.  The program’s objective is not to provide a high school diploma to the students, and each school agreeing to enroll exchange students will determine what, if any, certification will be provided for classes taken. 

7.                   Travel: Travel for the exchange student as part of your family, or with school or church groups, is highly encouraged and will provide the student with opportunities to learn about the host country.  However, independent travel, or travel without adult supervision is prohibited.

8.                   Visits               The student’s parents, family, and friends must request permission from the District two months prior to the proposed visit.  No visits will be approved within the first eight months of the exchange (generally before April 1), or at any time that will interfere with school or Rotary events, or cause inconvenience for the host family. 

9.                   Use of telephone and Internet: No more than one hour a day should be spent on social networking sites.  Occasional (perhaps every week) telephone calls to or from home, plus calls on special occasions, should be sufficient voice contact. Only prepaid cell phone plans are advised and the cost is the responsibility of the student.