Print

European schools offer the possibility of hosting other students as well as supporting their students to visit other schools. Both can take place as real exchanges - visit and return visit - or as one-way visits. 

European Schools' Parents' Associations run an informal student exchange network called Intercambio, to facilitate student exchanges between schools. But this only works if families are willing to take on exchange students. Even if your child is not in the same grade or section, you will help a lot by hosting a student!

If your child(ren) would like to participate in the school mobility programmes please read the following information carefully.

ESF Students eligible to participate in an exchange

Mobility programmes take place regularly within the 1st semester of S5. However, if there are justified reasons, the 1st semester of S4 is also possible.

How to request an exchange

The permission to participate in the student exchange program depends to a great extent on a) the student's academic performance, and b) the availability of the student’s subject choices in the host school. However, many schools have established their own rules to the students’ mobility: some schools accept only mutual exchange – the families host the students mutually; some schools limit the number of incoming and outgoing students (it should be equal); some schools accept only the whole semester exchange and give the opportunity only to S5 students.

First, parents need to formally request the exchange (e.g. via e-mail) to both:

Third, once the host school has decided whether it is possible to host the new student or not:

Finding a Host Family

Parents, once you have received confirmation about the host school, you need to start organising the exchange early and get your child(ren) to prepare a one-page introduction letter in English, ideally in the host country language as well (with or without a photo). Don’t forget to include contact information, such as student e-mail, parents full contact details.

General information about the role of the host Family

The host family looks after the student during the exchange. The language spoken at home is the L2 or L3 of the visiting pupil so that the exchange pupils can be encouraged to practice in a family environment. The host family is the primary care parent during the exchange with regards to the pupil’s well-being. They are responsible for having a day-to-day dialogue with the student and liaise with the school, e.g. giving permission to leave school during school hours using the specific ESF permission form to this effect. The host parent informs the school via the school online contact form if the pupil is absent due to illness.

Generally speaking, the host family makes the student feel welcome, ensures that he/she settles in, practices the family’s home language or L2 and L3 if this is not the same and above all enjoys the experience.

Financial Terms and Conditions

Families are required to pay their own travel expenses (flights, train tickets etc.) to and from the host school and all school and school-related expenses (books, canteen, local transport, etc.). In addition, for incoming student, the parents' association offers a transport service. For more information check out the following link

https://www.esfparents.org/index.php/en/our-services/school-bus

In principle and in the spirit of an exchange, families host a pupil free of charge, on the understanding that the exchange family will host in return, but this only if possible.

Information pack

The following information pack was gathered to facilitate your tasks; in order to find a host family for your child in Frankfurt, or in a different city where your child will be visiting another European School, please contact the Parents' Association via esfexchange@esfparents.org. You can find more practical information following these links:

1. European School Frankfurt

2.European Schools Exchange Programme

https://www.esffm.org/en/secondary/student-exchanges

3. List of European Schools and of Accredited European Schools

 

Published: 11 March 2011 11 March 2011
Hits: 29598 29598