My family has hosted students from Germany for the summer since I was 5, but I've only recently really gotten serious about studying abroad. Right now I'm doing research write a paper about why I should go on exchange, different organizations, countries I want to go to, academics, fundraising, scholarships, and anything else related to exchange programs. I still have 2 years between now and when I want to go(my junior year year of highschool, 2018-2019), but I figure out never nuts to get a head start on convincing your parents to let you make a HUGE life change for your and your family
You convincing your parents was very similar to me. I asked and talked about it and they just said no. I made a PowerPoint. Answered the questions they had and then eventually they said fine, if you want to go, you can. I also changed countries. Originally I was going to the USA but I am now headed to Italy in August after talking to many different exchange students. I also 100% agree with the calling thing. I looked at different websites and I just got this anxious, determined feeling and knew I had to go.
I told my parents all of the benefits of exchange, but they brushed it off and thought it was a phase, and I managed to go silent, and talk them into it like you did! :)
Hey! I love your videos they really help out. I've been wanting to be an exchange student. It looks like a lot of fun and a really cool way to learn a new language and meet new friends.
some popular french music is actually a lot of american music, but one singer that is pretty popular right now is kendji girac or black m and basically any other music you would listen to in the US
I found out about AFS around March of last year and I just felt that connection you were talking about. I just know deep in my bones that I was meant to go on exchange. It's hard to explain to someone else but makes complete sense to me. Anyways at first I just dropped hints about it, and anything we would do that would relate to exchange I would point it out. I was reading all these blogs and articles and how it benefits you. I talked about it so much that my parents were so mad at me. Like it was clear they were so mad at me and they just didn't want me going on exchange. Then around like July the window to apply to go opened and that's when I went crazy and started talking nonstop like I never have before. I even had a returnee email both of my parents reasons on why they should let me go and my mom didn't even say anything about it. She said that I must not love her since I want to go half way across the country. Also we can't afford it, were struggling as we are right now. I even talked to them about the scholarships and the full tuition and they didn't like the countries they were in. I've tried being silent, I've tried talking to them, I've tried having a returnee talk to them, I've sent them the links of the afs page and articles and FAQs. Basically I've tried everything and it's almost been a year and still they won't let me go. Honestly I'm losing hope and everytime I watch someone's exchange blog I just get so sad knowing that probably never get to experience that. PLEASE help me on trying to convince them. I don't only want exchange but in a strange way I feel like I need it. Sorry this is so long but I'm tried of being turned down for something I'm so passionate about.
The slideshow is such a good idea. My parents are extremely stubborn, my mother thinks it's not good "parenting", if you let your child live with a stranger. And that you're not raising your kid for the full 18 years. Any ideas how to respond to the "parenting" thing .?
I understand why your mom might feel that way! But it is truly the best thing your parents can do for you because living with a host family really helps you mature and teaches you life lessons your parents probably couldn't teach you! I know that my mom at first had trouble with the idea of someone else "raising" me for 6 months but in the end my mom absolutely loves my host family, especially my host mom!:)
Ça m'a pris un longtemps pour convaincre mes parents de me laisser aller en échange! :) J'ai réussi d'expliquer que c'est une expérience incroyable, et je suis allée en échange cette année passé. Il peut certainement être un défi! J'ai étudié en Belgique.
Grace Speaks Je voulais d'aller dans un pays de langue française, et la France c'était ma première option. Cependant, j'ai fini par être placé en Belgique. Mon père est d'origine hollandaise et belge et c'était qq chose de différent. Cependant, je n'ai pas en fait choisi la Belgique. C'est un petit pays fou, et mignon! :) Je suis super contente que je l'ai reçu!
I'm going to France for the whole of 2016 and I'm just a bit worried about the language. Any tips to help learn it quicker? Also will I be fluent by the end of it?
Tom Mcnair I honestly have no tips for learning it quicker before you leave, because I didn't do that. I would suggest watching movies in French, because then you are listening to it in a conversational setting which is how it will be over there, I do that now that I'm home, just to keep up with it. and since you are going for a whole year, I would say yes you will be fluent by the end, but that also depends on your idea of fluency. for me after 5 months I can understand pretty much anything people say to me depending on the level of vocabulary, but my speaking isn't quite at the same level. So when people ask, "are you fluent?" I like to say I'm "conversational" !:) But don't stress about the language, it will come and as long as you try your best you will be fluent by the end.
hi grace when you first arrived did you speak any French if you didn't how did you communicate with your host family and your friends and how long did it take you to pick up the language thanks :)
Hi! I've been wanting to do exchange (to France as well!) and my mom straight up said no. ive asked only twice, im the bugging persistent type too! and i actually plan on doing this powerpoint as well haha. hopefully it works, and i would like to do an entire year but most likely if my mother even considers it, it'll only be 6 months. sorry if youve answered this before, i just found your channel, but are you American? if so what program did you use for exchange?
Hi! I am thinking of going on exchange to France or any other country for 2/3 months because of the money. I dont know any words in French. Do you think it will be enough to learn the languages? What grade were you on? Can I DM you for any other questions? Thank you so much!
Maria Belen Martinez Ferreyra I don't think 2-3 months is enough to learn the language unless you already known it pretty well. you will start to learn and get a feel for the language but you will not be anywhere near fluency. I was a sophmore, so 10th grade.
My family has hosted students from Germany for the summer since I was 5, but I've only recently really gotten serious about studying abroad. Right now I'm doing research write a paper about why I should go on exchange, different organizations, countries I want to go to, academics, fundraising, scholarships, and anything else related to exchange programs. I still have 2 years between now and when I want to go(my junior year year of highschool, 2018-2019), but I figure out never nuts to get a head start on convincing your parents to let you make a HUGE life change for your and your family
You convincing your parents was very similar to me. I asked and talked about it and they just said no. I made a PowerPoint. Answered the questions they had and then eventually they said fine, if you want to go, you can. I also changed countries. Originally I was going to the USA but I am now headed to Italy in August after talking to many different exchange students. I also 100% agree with the calling thing. I looked at different websites and I just got this anxious, determined feeling and knew I had to go.
I told my parents all of the benefits of exchange, but they brushed it off and thought it was a phase, and I managed to go silent, and talk them into it like you did! :)
thats so awesome! It can definitely be hard, but i am so happy you managed to convince them!
Grace Speaks i never thought about a power point though! haha creative!
kate, thats so great. im so happy you are getting to go on exchange! and i know, when you get that feeling there is no way you can let it go
Hey! I love your videos they really help out. I've been wanting to be an exchange student. It looks like a lot of fun and a really cool way to learn a new language and meet new friends.
Hi Rosa, yes I am American, I live in Texas. I went through a program called AFS. I highly recommend it.
some popular french music is actually a lot of american music, but one singer that is pretty popular right now is kendji girac or black m and basically any other music you would listen to in the US
I found out about AFS around March of last year and I just felt that connection you were talking about. I just know deep in my bones that I was meant to go on exchange. It's hard to explain to someone else but makes complete sense to me. Anyways at first I just dropped hints about it, and anything we would do that would relate to exchange I would point it out. I was reading all these blogs and articles and how it benefits you. I talked about it so much that my parents were so mad at me. Like it was clear they were so mad at me and they just didn't want me going on exchange. Then around like July the window to apply to go opened and that's when I went crazy and started talking nonstop like I never have before. I even had a returnee email both of my parents reasons on why they should let me go and my mom didn't even say anything about it. She said that I must not love her since I want to go half way across the country. Also we can't afford it, were struggling as we are right now. I even talked to them about the scholarships and the full tuition and they didn't like the countries they were in. I've tried being silent, I've tried talking to them, I've tried having a returnee talk to them, I've sent them the links of the afs page and articles and FAQs. Basically I've tried everything and it's almost been a year and still they won't let me go. Honestly I'm losing hope and everytime I watch someone's exchange blog I just get so sad knowing that probably never get to experience that. PLEASE help me on trying to convince them. I don't only want exchange but in a strange way I feel like I need it. Sorry this is so long but I'm tried of being turned down for something I'm so passionate about.
If you'd like you can DM on Facebook or something and we can talk further. I'd love to help you or talk to your parents.
My parents think it would be a great opportunity but are worried about safety and they wouldn’t be there if something happened to me
The slideshow is such a good idea. My parents are extremely stubborn, my mother thinks it's not good "parenting", if you let your child live with a stranger. And that you're not raising your kid for the full 18 years. Any ideas how to respond to the "parenting" thing .?
I understand why your mom might feel that way! But it is truly the best thing your parents can do for you because living with a host family really helps you mature and teaches you life lessons your parents probably couldn't teach you! I know that my mom at first had trouble with the idea of someone else "raising" me for 6 months but in the end my mom absolutely loves my host family, especially my host mom!:)
what is some popular french music? :)
before you left to france did you know how to speak any of the language, and can you speak dutch?
How old do you have to be to go be an exchange student
Ça m'a pris un longtemps pour convaincre mes parents de me laisser aller en échange! :) J'ai réussi d'expliquer que c'est une expérience incroyable, et je suis allée en échange cette année passé. Il peut certainement être un défi! J'ai étudié en Belgique.
c'est très genial que tu étudé en belgique! pourquoi tu choisi cette pays?
Grace Speaks Je voulais d'aller dans un pays de langue française, et la France c'était ma première option. Cependant, j'ai fini par être placé en Belgique. Mon père est d'origine hollandaise et belge et c'était qq chose de différent. Cependant, je n'ai pas en fait choisi la Belgique. C'est un petit pays fou, et mignon! :) Je suis super contente que je l'ai reçu!
I'm going to France for the whole of 2016 and I'm just a bit worried about the language. Any tips to help learn it quicker? Also will I be fluent by the end of it?
Tom Mcnair I honestly have no tips for learning it quicker before you leave, because I didn't do that. I would suggest watching movies in French, because then you are listening to it in a conversational setting which is how it will be over there, I do that now that I'm home, just to keep up with it. and since you are going for a whole year, I would say yes you will be fluent by the end, but that also depends on your idea of fluency. for me after 5 months I can understand pretty much anything people say to me depending on the level of vocabulary, but my speaking isn't quite at the same level. So when people ask, "are you fluent?" I like to say I'm "conversational" !:) But don't stress about the language, it will come and as long as you try your best you will be fluent by the end.
hi grace when you first arrived did you speak any French if you didn't how did you communicate with your host family and your friends and how long did it take you to pick up the language
thanks :)
Hi! I've been wanting to do exchange (to France as well!) and my mom straight up said no. ive asked only twice, im the bugging persistent type too! and i actually plan on doing this powerpoint as well haha. hopefully it works, and i would like to do an entire year but most likely if my mother even considers it, it'll only be 6 months. sorry if youve answered this before, i just found your channel, but are you American? if so what program did you use for exchange?
Hi! I am thinking of going on exchange to France or any other country for 2/3 months because of the money. I dont know any words in French. Do you think it will be enough to learn the languages? What grade were you on? Can I DM you for any other questions? Thank you so much!
Maria Belen Martinez Ferreyra I don't think 2-3 months is enough to learn the language unless you already known it pretty well. you will start to learn and get a feel for the language but you will not be anywhere near fluency. I was a sophmore, so 10th grade.
Hey Maria ! I'm french and I search an exchange my twitter is lea280601 or my Instagram is lea_cpn78