Don most programs require teens to know a foreign language?
The majority of exchange programs for this age group do not require prior foreign language skills, and many of the programs for U.S. youth go to English speaking countries. Often the trip leaders will know the language of the host country and can facilitate communication as needed. Many of the homestay families, tour guides, and local contacts for U.S. student groups are often English-speaking. Students on longer programs often learn the host language by being immersed in it. Many students begin to feel comfortable using the foreign language after a month of classes and practicing. The NCDE also has information on foreign language learning for people with certain disabilities. For international students coming to the United States, many programs require an intermediate level of English to enroll in a school program. However this isn’t always the case. Alina, who has a prosthetic leg, came to Minnesota from Switzerland on a Rotary Youth Exchange. “I didn’t have to do an interview or kno
