The King’s School Languages Exchange Program 2025/26
The King’s School is a Christian community that seeks to make an outstanding impact for the good of society through its students, and by the quality of its teaching and leadership in education.
Introduction
Language is the custodian of culture. All knowledge, meaning and significance is expressed in language. Thus, to be human is to inhabit a linguistically mediated world. Yet, language is never precise nor determinative, but emergent and dynamic as it reflects and celebrates the human embrace of God, of each other and of our world.
Consequently, our experience of God, each other and our world is inevitably both limited and enhanced by our grasp of and competence in language. Thus, as linguistic beings, we need each other in and across communities to experience our world knowledgeably, meaningfully and significantly. The Languages Exchange Program offers Kingsmen a unique opportunity to engage with linguistic communities other than our own and the world in which we live.
Mr Tony George Headmaster
By taking up the opportunity to participate in the Languages Exchange Program, Kingsmen have been able to not only develop their linguistic skills and experience different cultures, but also take up the challenge of increased independence whilst adapting to new environments.
As a Language teacher, enabling students to take the first steps in what is potentially a lifelong love of language learning, is quite something. We are proud of our association with Kardinal Frings Gymnasium in Bonn, Lycée le Caousou in Toulouse, Institution St Dominique in Paris and Schiller Gymnasium in Cologne.
This booklet aims to provide an outline of the Languages Exchange Program. Please address any queries to your son’s classroom teacher in the first instance.
Merci—Danke
Mrs Suzanne Hill Languages Exchange Co-ordinator Head of Languages slh@kings.edu.au
Modern Languages Exchange Program
Guidelines for exchange
• Parents who wish for their son to participate in the Language Exchange Program sign an agreement to honour certain conditions pertaining to the hosting of an exchange student and the organisation of their son’s exchange.
• A contra applies to school fees; with each student and their family continuing to pay their respective school fees.
• Hosting families recognise and respect that the exchange student is there to learn the language of the country and will, as such, refrain from interaction in the student’s native language unless absolutely necessary.
• The parents of the exchange student bear the cost for airfares and the arrangement of passports, visas etc. They are to provide pocket money for personal expenses and to ensure that passports and visas (particularly where the student is travelling on a nonAustralian passport) are organised well before the date of departure. Copies of all relevant documentation must be provided to the organising staff member.
• Travel insurance must be taken out through the School’s Finance department. The Bursar’s Office will contact all participants to arrange this.
• Travel expenses to and from school are to be met by the hosting parents.
• School uniforms are to be provided by The King’s School Braeside Shop and host parents are responsible for obtaining uniforms for their guest as soon as it is feasible.
• Temporary arrangements are to be made with the appropriate staff to supply books without cost to the exchange student. The hosting student is responsible for such requests.
• The period of the exchange is fixed by the host schools, but will generally be 6-8 weeks. In exceptional circumstances, students may seek an exchange of a different duration and it should be noted that Australian students spending in excess of 90 days abroad require a visa from the relevant Consulate or Embassy.
• Boys do exchanges in tandem, ie together with their host at one school, then together with their guest at the other school.
• Host parents agree to the collection and delivery of their guest at airports, their delivery to school and liaison with supervising staff. Where the exchange period coincides with the school holidays, host parents agree to have the guest student stay with them. Where the The King’s School participant is an overseas student, the family must undertake to honour the “Australian” nature of this exchange by arranging to spend the holidays in Australia.
Responsibilities of King’s Parents
Hosting an exchange student
• The provision of clean accommodation and adequate board for the duration of exchange.
• The collection of the exchange student from Sydney airport and the subsequent delivery of the student upon the completion of the exchange.
• Welcoming the guest into their family, recognising that he is in Australia to improve his English and to gain an authentic experience of the Australian culture and lifestyle.
• The provision of the chance for the student to visit the sights of Sydney and its region.
• The inclusion of the exchange student in winter family holiday plans (in Australia).
• The provision of reasonable access to the internet and telephone for the student’s communication purposes.
Sending a son on exchange
• Ensure that the exchange student’s Profile Form is completed and returned to the supervising teacher by the end of Term 1.
• Ensure that class teachers are informed and that work is set for boys to do in their absence.
• Ensure that their son has discussed his pattern of study with the Year Coordinator.
• Ensure that passports and visas for their son are all organised and paid for by parents. Air fares must be paid for by the parents. It is a condition of participation that travel insurance is taken out through the School’s insurers, via the Bursar’s office.
• Ensuring that provision is made for the exchange student’s travel to and from King’s on school days (including Saturday sport).
• The organisation of a uniform for the student through the Braeside Shop and ensuring that he complies with School rules regarding hair colour and length and laundering of the loan uniform at the conclusion of the hosting period.
• Consenting to a Working with Children Check. This form will be provided to parents by the School.
• See their son to the place of departure, eg Sydney airport.
• Ensure that their son has a suitable gift for his host family.
• Continue to pay fees to The King’s School while their son is overseas. Fees will be on a contra basis.
• Provide their son with sufficient pocket money and the means to access sufficient funds in the event of an emergency.
Travel
Boys are expected to travel from Sydney to their exchange destination together. The Languages Exchange Program Coordinator will, once the dates for exchange have been finalised, write to the parents of participants with details of the flight to book for their son. Unfortunately, exceptions cannot be made for boys flying on alternative airlines because of the resulting inconvenience to the partner school.
When the exchange ends during The King’s School summer holidays, parents may wish to make alternative plans for their son’s return flight if, for example, they wish their son to visit family or to have a family holiday in Europe. Otherwise, it is expected that the boys will also return to Sydney together.
Parents are asked to confirm the booking of the flights and any alternative arrangements by email to the Languages Exchange Program Coordinator.
Language study
Immersion in a French or German family naturally develops a student’s listening and speaking skills. Surrounded by the written word, reading skills also improve in time. In order to avoid neglect of the fourth assessed skill, writing, we have arranged for our students to have weekly language lessons throughout the exchange.
The Languages Exchange Coordinator will arrange these and provide details of the languages school in the exchange city. The boys will be required to pay for these classes in Euros on the occasion of their first class.
Time Line
Term 4 2024
Term 1 2025
Term 2 2025
• Information Evening
Term 3 2025
• Exchange partners arrive (Bonn/Cologne)
• Pre-departure meeting between students, parents and staff
• Fill out and submit exchange application
• Students begin correspondence with partners
• Exchange partners arrive (France)
• Parents book their son’s flights according to advice from Languages Exchange Program Co-ordinator
• Participants ensure their passport and visa requirements are met
• Go through itinerary, contact lists and what to pack
• Distribution of exchange application pack
• Match students
• Finance office contacts participants regarding insurance
Term 4 2025
• Departure
Germany
Bonn
Kardinal Frings Gymnasium
The most academically gifted German students attend Gymnasiums and we are pleased to be associated with Kardinal Frings Gymnasium in the former capital of West Germany. It is intended that the German boys will come to Australia for their stay and then return to Bonn with the King’s boys for the second leg of the exchange.
With a population similar to that of Canberra, Bonn is a pleasant city, approximately 25km south of the larger city of Cologne (Köln) on the banks of the River Rhine in the West of Germany.
About Kardinal Frings Gymnasium
The school was founded in 1964 as part of the Diocese of Cologne and currently has an intake of about 1,050 students, mostly from middle-class, Catholic families.
The school is named after Kardinal Josef Frings who was a German Roman Catholic Cardinal of the Diocese of Cologne.
Until German reunification, it was the seat of the government of West Germany and it was not until 1999 that Berlin took over once more as capital of Germany.
The city’s history can be traced to Roman times. There are still medieval city walls and the United Nations now houses 17 organisations there.
King’s is an addition to a languages exchange program for KFG which also includes a school in Bordeaux, France and Central Coast Grammar. Students at KFG are expected to combine academic talent with a broader sense of responsibility towards the community.
www.kardinal-frings-gymnasium.de
BONN
Cologne
Schiller Gymnasium
Schiller Gymnasium is a co-educational day school in a friendly neighbourhood in Central Cologne. The school is located next to Cologne University. They take care of 1,000 students, and for two years they have been providing educational support for 100 refugee children.
The school offers a diverse range of subjects and co-curricular activities, from excellent theatre productions, art and music to science and
About Cologne
Schiller Gymnasium is located in Cologne, a 2,000-year-old city spanning the Rhine River in western Germany, is the region’s cultural hub and Germany’s fourth largest city.
A landmark of High Gothic architecture set amid the reconstructed old town, the twin-spired
computer technology. Schiller Gymnasium also proudly invites students to take part in sport programs.
But above all, they passionately wish to safeguard their students’ well-being and their Individual progress, which is what ultimately lies at the heart of their school.
www.schillergymnasium-koeln.de
Cologne Cathedral is also known for its gilded medieval shrine and sweeping river views. The adjacent Museum Ludwig showcases 20thcentury art, including many masterpieces by Picasso, and the Romano-Germanic Museum houses Roman antiquities.
COLOGNE
Toulouse
Lycée le Caousou
Le Caousou is an Ignatian school created by the Jesuits in the 16th century. Located in the city of Toulouse, it is a private co-educational institution that offers classes from maternelle (preschool) to Year 12.
With more than 2,000 students, the school organises many sporting, cultural and humanitarian activities and events throughout
About Toulouse
Toulouse, the capital of France’s southern Occitanie region, is bisected by the Garonne River and sits near the Spanish border.
It’s known as La Ville Rose (‘The Pink City’) due to the terra-cotta bricks used in many of its buildings.
the year. The school also specialises in preparing engineering students to enter the top universities in France.
www.caousou.com
The fourth-largest city in France, Toulouse is the centre of the European aerospace industry, with the headquarters of Airbus and it also hosts the European headquarters of Intel and CNES’s Toulouse Space Centre (CST), the largest space centre in Europe.
TOULOUSE
Neuilly-Sur-Seine – Paris
Institution Saint Dominique
The Catholic school was established in the 19th century by Dominican sisters in Paris. It was originally an all-girls school but diversified itself later in the 20th century and now welcomes both girls and boys.
With 2,000 students, the school has classes from maternelle (pre-school) to lycée (high school).
About Neuilly-Sur-Seine
Neuilly-sur-Seine is on the immediate outskirts of Paris, a city that hardly needs any introduction. Paris, from its iconic monuments such as the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe, to its prestigious museums such as the Louve, an exchange in this city will surely be a wonderful experience.
www.saintdominique.net
PARIS
A King’s Parent’s Perspective
Very appreciative of the organisation of such an amazing program for the boys. It changed by son’s life.
Ivy Wu
Mother of Patrick Luo (Lycée Blanche de Castille, Versailles, France)
Thanks to all involved in the organisation/ implementation of a brilliant program.
Gopal Sivagangabalan
Father of Prash Sivagangabalan (Institution St Dominique, Paris, France)
Ethan had a fantastic experience in Germany during the exchange, learning the language and culture. In fact, Ethan considers this as one of the highlights of his King’s education so far.
Lisa Pan
Mother of Ethan Zhu (Kardinal Frings Gymnasium, Bonn, Germany)
We had a fantastic experience with hosting Benjamin and great interactions with his family in Germany.
Lisa Pan Mother of Ethan Zhu (Kardinal Frings Gymnasium, Bonn, Germany)
A King’s Student’s Perspective
“My time on exchange was a transformative experience that profoundly shaped my personal growth. Stepping outside my comfort zone, I not only gained independence but also forged meaningful connections with people in Germany, thanks to the language skills I developed in the classroom at King’s. This exchange allowed me to form lifelong friendships that I will cherish for years to come. My language proficiency improved significantly, and I highly recommend this opportunity to anyone eager to challenge themselves and passionate about their language.”
Johannes Sampson
Year 11 German 2024
“Exchange is the best way to accelerate language learning and helped me significantly improve my understanding of French.”
Nicholas Wolfe
Year 11 French 2024
“The quintessential element of learning a language is being immersed in the culture itself. For me, exchange not only accomplished that, but also provided me with life-shaping experiences, and enabled lifelong friendships from across the world.”
Gerald Chen
Year 11 French 2024
My Exchange was fantastic. I made so many new friends that I still talk to today. I feel like my German became more fluid but take that as a bonus: the people you meet and friends you make along with experiencing life in a different country are more valuable!”
Lucas Yuen
Year 11 German 2024
“I think exchange was a great opportunity to embrace another culture and develop an understanding of colloquial french that is not necessarily always taught in the classroom,”
Nick Waterhouse
Year 11 French 2024
My host family provided a welcoming environment that allowed me to practice and significantly improve my French, all while offering me unforgettable experiences in one of the world’s most beautiful cities.
Oscar Hill
Year 11 French 2024
A King’s Student’s Perspective
“My time on exchange was a transformative experience that profoundly shaped my personal growth. Stepping outside my comfort zone, I not only gained independence but also forged meaningful connections with people in Germany, thanks to the language skills I developed in the classroom at King’s. This exchange allowed me to form lifelong friendships that I will cherish for years to come. My language proficiency improved significantly, and I highly recommend this opportunity to anyone eager to challenge themselves and passionate about their language.”
Johannes Sampson Year 11 German 2024
“Exchange is the best way to accelerate language learning and helped me significantly improve my understanding of French.”
Nicholas Wolfe Year 11 French 2024
“The quintessential element of learning a language is being immersed in the culture itself. For me, exchange not only accomplished that, but also provided me with life-shaping experiences, and enabled lifelong friendships from across the world.”
Gerald Chen Year 11 French 2024
My Exchange was fantastic. I made so many new friends that I still talk to today. I feel like my German became more fluid but take that as a bonus: the people you meet and friends you make along with experiencing life in a different country are more valuable!”
Lucas Yuen Year 11 German 2024
“I think exchange was a great opportunity to embrace another culture and develop an understanding of colloquial french that is not necessarily always taught in the classroom,”
Nick Waterhouse Year 11 French 2024
My host family provided a welcoming environment that allowed me to practice and significantly improve my French, all while offering me unforgettable experiences in one of the world’s most beautiful cities.
Oscar Hill Year 11 French 2024