What is the Host School Orientation?
The Host School Orientation is a weekend conference organized by American Councils in Washington, DC during the first weekend of exchange teachers’ extended Orientation. Host schools’ mentor teachers and principals (or administrative representatives) participate in sessions that discuss program expectations and policies and cross-cultural communication. The Host School Orientation is also the first opportunity for school officials to meet with their exchange teachers. Recognizing the role that first impressions have, American Councils expects host schools to come to this Orientation with concrete information about exchange teachers’ transitional housing and school schedules, as well as specifics about who will greet them when they arrive at their host communities. School representatives’ participation in the Host School Orientation is provided by American Councils who will arrange their transportation, per-diem, and lodging, double-occupancy by gender.
