In the UK our track record of learning languages is pretty poor and we are left behind other countries who place more emphasis on learning languages in the classroom. As a teenager who holidayed in the South of France I would meet many European children and I was always amazed at how easily they could chat in English. The Dutch were particularly impressive and many stayed penfriends long after we left the campsites on which we met.
Our teenagers and children travel more than ever for work and being able to say more than hello what’s your name is culturally important. Being able to understand each other creates tolerance and understanding of how we live.
As a mother, I want my three children to be global citizens. To me, this means to understand how others live and the customs and traditions they follow. I was fortunate enough to spend a couple of weeks living with a Russian family when I was 17. I went with my friend and we immersed ourselves in the culture and lifestyle of our host family. We were welcomed as guests and will never forget the experience. I would love for my children to experience the same. The advantage of actually staying with a family is that you have to adapt and ‘live like a local’, You eat and socialise together which gives you an authentic experience that you do not get from staying in a hotel. You are also able to see places off the tourist trail as you will be experiencing life from a locals perspective.
After I had been to Russia, Vadim came and stayed with us and we took him out and about and showed him how we lived.
As a teacher, I saw many benefits after children visiting other countries on exchanges. It teaches teenagers so many life skills from being more independent, especially as we helicopter parent our children too much. The interpersonal skills it also teaches are invaluable.
Swap Family can also be a complement to the school exchanges, maybe your school exchange does not take place in a country you would love to experience. Swap Family can provide opportunities in the country of your choice, rather than the schools!
Likewise when you are on a school exchange, much time is still spent with the group and teachers, Swap Family is more immersive and can accelerate learning a language or experiencing the culture as you spend more time living like a local.
Swap Family has been developed to help families make those connections and arrange exchanges to the countries that they are interested in. Swap Family gives you the control and freedom to choose the family you want to contact and engage within language exchanges, stays and visits according to your preferences. By connecting ahead of the exchange you will build a relationship and have more confidence that this will be an exciting and fun exchange that everyone enjoys.
If you have a teenager studying languages at school or at university spending time in the country will bring your fluency alive, the greatest way to learn a language, after all, is by immersing yourself in it.
Swap Family is free to register and all participants are checked for safety. The advantages are highlighted below:
- Active role; you decide with whom and when
- No intermediaries; Swap Family creates the space so you can contact each other
- Trusted setting; all members are reviewed
- Any time of the year; open all year round … including holidays, spring break…
- Growing community; every new member means a new opportunity
Have you ever wanted to learn about another culture? Then Swap Family could be the ideal way to do this and enjoy another culture.
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