SUMMER PROGRAMS 2012
SOUTH AFRICA
School Program Duration : 8 weeks Departure : End of June Age : 16 to18 years old Program content: This is a 2-month school program. Participants go to a local school and live with a host family. Upon arrival into Johannesburg’s airport, participants will be greeted by AFS employees or volunteers who will take them to their orientation site where they will receive useful information. The next morning, the participants will be taken to their host families. AFS South Africa will arrange everything and will assist the participants. The first 2 weeks of the program the participant will have the chance to get to know his/her host family since it will be school holidays. Schools offer a wide range of after class activities for example: swimming, tennis, rugby, cricket, hockey, music, chess, theatre, etc. Contrary to many other AFS Interculture Canada destinations, participants are placed in a urban environment (80%). Several languages are spoken in South Africa, but participants will have the chance to learn English during their stay.
ARGENTINA
School Program
Community Service Program
Duration: 6 weeks Departure: End of June Age: 15 to 18,6 years old
Duration: 4 weeks Departure: June Age range: 15 – 18,6 years old Program Content:
Program content:
During the four weeks of the program, the participant will carry out voluntary work in a small community. The former participants who left for Argentina worked as well within the framework of environmental projects, as with children of the streets or people handicapped. Participants live with local families, sharing their daily lives, their meals and perhaps a host sibling’s bedroom. A typical day at a Childcare center could begin at 7 or 8 am and finish at 3 or 4 pm. Activities could be, among others: welcoming the kids in the morning, preparing breakfast. Playing, doing crafts, reading stories for them. Also, going for walks, taking them to playgrounds. Cooking lunch, washing dishes and helping to clean up.
During the first five weeks of the program, you will make friends while going to school, having cultural activities and learning Spanish! The last week coincides with the beginning of the winter vacations, which you will enjoy with your host family. You will have an orientation meeting upon your arrival in Buenos Aires and a city guided tour as well. Argentina is famous for its cultural life, gastronomy, and tango! With a wonderful architecture – inspired by America and Europe – and a warm and welcoming people, Argentina promises to bring an unforgettable experience!
BRAZIL
Soccer Program Duration: 4 weeks Departure: July 21to August 18th 2012 Age: 13 to 18.6 years old Play soccer with the world’s best and learn Portuguese! Program content: Learn Portuguese, immerse yourself in the Brazilian culture and play soccer with the best teachers in the world! During the first seven days of your stay, you’ll live with a host family and you’ll get to do cultural activities. Portuguese lessons and city tours will also be included in the program. For the three remaining weeks, you will stay at the Soccer Training Center . Every day you’ll get to train and learn the soccer techniques of the pros. Brazilians are known to be very warm and expressive people, where family is very important. This program is a unique opportunity to discover the Brazilian culture, learn Portuguese, play soccer and have the time of your life!
CHINA Chinese Lessons Program Duration: 4 weeks Departure: Mid-July Age: 15 to 22 years old Program content: AFS gives you the opportunity to visit the world’s most populous country and learn about its fascinating culture. During your four week stay, you will have Chinese lessons and learn about traditional Chinese cooking. There are other workshops on how to make traditional paper and an introduction to the beautiful and ancestral art of calligraphy. You will also have a tour of Shanghai and of Tong Li, a water village also known as the “Little Venice” of China. By staying with a Chinese family, you will get to know the essence of this amazing culture. It is a unique opportunity to discover the beauty of this country and have fun!
COSTA RICA Spanish Lesson Program Duration: 6 weeks Departure: End of June Age: 15 to 18 years old Program content: Learn to speak Spanish in a tropical paradise! The program includes living with a host family and Spanish classes in a school, 3 hours a day (Total of 60 hours – beginners and intermediate). In the afternoon, you can join the classes at the local secondary chool, a great opportunity to practice your Spanish and mingle with Costa Rican students. A five-day excursion is organized by AFS to visit different regions of this wonderful country (from mountains to sandy beaches as well as national parks). Costa Rica’s mainland includes huge mountains and is surrounded on both coastlines by endless beaches and tropical forests. You will have the chance to visit some volcanoes, national parks and get to know this heavenly place.
FINLAND Family and Cultural Program Duration: 6 weeks Departure: July Age: 15,8 to 18.8 years old Program content: You will live with and get to know a local family and enjoy many visits and activities. At the end of the stay, there is a three day cruise on the beautiful blue waters of the Gulf of Finland to the city of Tallinn, Estonia. Upon your arrival in the capital city of Helsinki, you will be welcomed by local AFS staff and/or volunteers, and then attend a group orientation and get some advice for the month ahead. The next day, you will be introduced to your host family, with whom you will learn about the Finnish culture by sharing and living together. Many Finns speak English as a second language. However, it is highly recommended that you make an effort to use the local language in your daily conversations. It is common for both parents to work, and for the whole family to share the house chores. You will probably live in a small city or a rural area. Finns spend a lot of their leisure time walking, visiting the library and meeting with friends, among other activities.
GHANA Cultural and Community Service Program Duration: 4 weeks Departure: July Age: 15-18,6 years old Program content: A four week learning program about the culture of Ghana. Program includes a home stay, community service opportunity in children’s home or in a community and cultural excursions. Excursions include visits in Accra to Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum, National Museum, excursions to Cape Coast and Elmina Castles, Kakum National Park and Kumasi (including Ahwia & Manhyia Palace Museum.) Most Ghanaians are Christians others practice Islamic religion, while others practice Traditional African Religion and a few practice Buddhism etc.
HUNGARY
Language Lessons and Visits Program Duration: 4 weeks Departure: July Age: 15,6 Ă 18,6 years old Program content: Upon your arrival , you will be welcomed by AFS volunteers and will attend a seven-day orientation camp. There you will have Italian classes and participate in activities related to many Hungarian traditions. During the next three days, you will visit beautiful cities and sites. Participants will then meet their host family and will spend the remaining weeks with them. This program is a great opportunity to discover Hungary and its culture, learn anew language and have a fantastic summer!
ITALY Italian Lessons and Visits Program Duration: 5 weeks Departure: End of June Age: 15 Ă 17,9 years old Program content: Upon your arrival in Rome, you will be welcomed by AFS volunteers and will attend a six-day orientation camp. There you will have Italian classes and participate in activities related to many Italian traditions. During the next three days, you will visit beautiful Italian cities and sites such as Siena and Florence. Participants will then meet their host family and will spend the remaining weeks with them. They will conclude their program with a visit to Rome. This program is a great opportunity to discover Italy and its culture, learn Italian and have a fantastic summer!
JAPAN Japanese Lesson Program Duration: 6 weeks Departure: End of June Age: 15 to 18 years old Program content: The program is a mixture of Japanese classes (a total of 80 hours – from beginner to advanced), living with a Japanese family and cultural activities. An orientation meeting will be offered upon arrival and you will have the opportunity to learn important information about the country and its culture. After that you will join your host family. The participants will be placed by groups in different towns depending on their level of Japanese and there will be one participant per host family. Different activities will be organized by the AFS volunteers. That means that while you’ll be living with Japanese and learn their culture, you will also have some activities with AFS participants from all around the world. The Japanese society is based on family and has a strong sense of social status, of obligations and responsibilities. Japanese people do not like to be the center of attention and they are known for their politeness. They value team work, cooperation, perseverance, loyalty and consensus.
LATVIA Russian Lesson Program Duration: 4 weeks Departure: Beginning of July Age: 15 to 24 years old Program content: This program offers Russian classes and activities. The program will take place in Daugavpils, the second largest city in Latvia. The Russian classes are held in the morning (3 hours /day) and cultural and outdoor activities will be organized in the afternoon. You will live with a host family chosen by AFS. Upon arrival in Riga, the country’s capital, you will have an orientation meeting after which you will join your host family. Latvia is a fascinating country rich in history and traditions, where you can find medieval castles, beautiful natural landscapes and many different attractions. Daugavpils has the greatest abundance of water in Latvia - 15 lakes, 8 rivers and brooks, as well as large and significant underwater reserves. The region has lots of beautiful parks and forests that make outdoor activities a remarkable experience.
NEW ZEALAND School and Family Program Duration:5 weeks Departure: July Age: 15.3 to 17.6 years old Program content: With this five week program in New Zealand, you will stay with a host family and attend classes at the local high-school. You’ll have the chance to make new friends and learn about a new culture! School is from Monday to Friday, from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm. Besides the usual subjects like English, Math or Science, you will also be able to take classes such as tourism, outdoor activities or agriculture. Several other activities are available: you can join a sports team, a choir or an orchestra, practice theatre or learn about the Maori culture. In addition to being very active people, New Zealanders also love music, movies, festivals, theatre, shopping and simply having a good time with friends! They also enjoy barbecues and spending time at home. New Zealand – where The Lord of the Rings movie was shot - is known around the world for its marvelous landscapes and outdoor activities.
PANAMA Community Service Program Duration: 4 weeks Departure: Beginning of July Age: 15 to 18 years old Program content: You will work as a volunteer as part of a group in a small community. The group will have participants from across Canada. Work projects change every year according to local needs, but are made in collaboration with primary schools. These are some examples of earlier projects: insulation of a classroom, the construction of an additional classroom in a small school, serving lunch for the school kids, etc. The work projects offer specific help according to the community’s needs. You will stay with a host family chosen by AFS Panama (one participant per family) and will have cultural and social activities as well as tours, one of which to Panama City. People in Panama are very warm hearted and love foreigners. This program is an excellent opportunity to discover a new culture, to offer your help and to learn Spanish!
PARAGUAY
Community Service Program
Soccer Program
Duration: 7 weeks Departure: End of June Age: 18-35 years old
Duration: 7 weeks Departure: End of June Age: 15-17 years old
Program content:
Program content:
On arrival, AFS Paraguay provides a basic Spanish language course (72 hours) with experienced teachers.
On your arrival at Asunción, you will meet AFS volunteers. You will have an orientation session giving you practical information’s about the country. Then, you will be able to rest and make some activities before meeting your host family.
This is a volunteer work program. Upon your arrival, you will have an orientation meeting and then you will travel to your host community. These are some examples of earlier projects: insulation of a classroom, the construction of an additional classroom in a small school, serving lunch for the school kids, etc. The work projects offer specific help according to the community’s needs. Although it is not a requirement, a basic knowledge of Spanish will help you to integrate into the project. You will live in a host family during your stay. This will help you to improve your Spanish significantly, contribute to the quality of life of a community, and to have an unforgettable intercultural experience!
The program includes visits to various football fields, team practices and professionals league tournaments. Optional, one weekend excursion to the water Falls of Yguazu. The participants live with a local family, and make activities. The families eat meat daily and little are vegetarians. They are cordial and accessible. It is an excellent occasion to discover a new culture, to contribute its share and to learn Spanish.
SPAIN Spanish Lessons Program Duration: 4 weeks Departure:Beginning of July Age: 15 to 18 years old Program content: This program combines Spanish lessons, social activities and sports. Upon your arrival you will be welcomed at the airport and driven to Málaga for your orientation camp. You will stay in a fully furnished apartment which you will share with other AFS participants from all over the world. You will complete a Spanish Certificate consisting of three hours of classes every week day for the four weeks. The program includes a total of 60 hours of Spanish classes, for which students will receive a certificate. Students live in the dorms for the duration of the program, under the supervision of an AFS employee. Many other activities are included during the stay, such as swimming, mountain biking, cooking, pottery, hiking, tennis, volleyball, paintball and touring in different cities. For example you’ll get to visit the: • Picasso Museum • Cathedral of Sevilla • Fort and Castle of Gibralfaro • Contemporary Art Museum • Historical English Graveyards This program is an amazing opportunity to discover some of Spain’s most wonderful treasures and to learn or improve your Spanish!
THAILAND School and family program Duration: 6 weeks Departure: July Age: 14.7 to 17.11 years old Welcome to the Land of Smiles! Program content: Thailand is a unique and remarkable destination! You will go to a local school during the day and live with a family. In class you will learn to speak Thai and have dance, music, fencing, cooking, arts, history, Buddhism and meditation lessons. You will have a welcome meeting upon their arrival in Bangkok, where you will have an intro to Thai class. During your stay, you will have the chance to participate in the activities organized by the local volunteers and discover this marvelous country! Thai people are known to be respectful and reserved. They are warm, welcoming and sensitive. Family members are very close and most families are quite traditional. Thailand is a country full of unique customs and traditions, filled with colorful ceremonies that have taken place for several thousand years. The country is also famous for its tasty food, exotic fruit, its temples and its always-smiling inhabitants.
Coomunity Service Program Duration: 6 weeks Departure: July Age: 18-35 years old Program content: You will have a welcome meeting upon their arrival in Bangkok. Then you will travel to the host community where you will meet your family. Different type of work is possible depending of their needs. During your stay, you will have the chance to participate in the activities organized by the local volunteers and discover this marvelous country! Thai people are known to be respectful and reserved. They are warm, welcoming and sensitive. Family members are very close and most families are quite traditional. Thailand is a country full of unique customs and traditions, filled with colorful ceremonies that have taken place for several thousand years. The country is also famous for its tasty food, exotic fruit, its temples and its always-smiling inhabitants.
TURKEY
Family and Activities Program Duration: 6 weeks Departure: End of June Age: 15.2 to 18.2 years old Program content: You will experience Turkish family life first hand while spending most of your time at a Turkish family’s summer house. You will visit different sites and participate in social and cultural activities. Upon your arrival in Istanbul, you will have a welcome orientation meeting and a basic Turkish language class. However, it would be a good idea to get familiar with the language before departure. A city tour will be organized at the end of the program. Turkish people are known for their generosity, their hospitality and their politeness towards the visitors. They are generally very interested in culture and every year Turkey hosts many international festivals.