High school, for many, is a period of concentrated self-development, a time where the realization begins to take place that there is a great big world around us. There is nothing that can put into perspective the challenges and successes of your own high school experience like going abroad. In uprooting from familiarity and venturing out to experience life in another culture, you will realize many valuable lessons about yourself and wherever it is that you call home. What are you waiting for? Start looking for the perfect high school program abroad now!
Step 1: Choose a Location
High school programs are available for international students all over the world. It may seem overwhelming to decide where you should go abroad, so here are some helpful factors that are important to consider.
First, the language barrier. While high school programs abroad don’t usually require students to be fluent in the local language, the ability to communicate with locals will make a major difference on the overall program experience. If you are in the process of learning a second language, such as Spanish, French, or Mandarin, you should seriously consider going abroad to a place where you can practice your language skills by conversing with locals daily.
Another factor to take into consideration is cultural difference. If you don’t have much travel experience or haven’t had very much exposure to other cultures in your life, you may be surprised (and even shocked) at how drastically different social norms can be across the world. It is important to be sensitive to cultural difference as you are developing a new appreciation for both the similarities and differences between your host country and your home country. Consider traveling somewhere very similar if you are a newbie traveler to avoid too much ...
