Intercultural Experiences for Teens

Professionally, I focus on transformative intercultural learning at the university level. But personally—especially as the mother of two teenagers—I know that fostering intercultural curiosity and learning can and should start at a much younger age.

Last summer, my oldest child had her first international experience independent from us. She applied for an got a partial scholarship to participate in a month-long language and culture program in Argentina. She loved the experience, made many new friends, improved her Spanish language skills, and matured significantly. It was so impactful that we’ve told our younger child we want him to have an independent intercultural experience of his own before he graduates from high school.

There are many great intercultural learning opportunities for teens, but knowing where to start and weighing the options can be a bit daunting. I decided to poll some colleagues in the intercultural education field and put together a curated list of opportunities for high school students. This list is certainly not exhaustive, nor is it meant to be an endorsement of any program or organization. But I hope it can provide some inspiration and ideas to other parents and teens.

Host an Exchange Student

Even before your kids are ready to venture out on their own intercultural adventure, you can get them excited about the idea by hosting an exchange student. We started by hosting family friends for short periods of time in summer. When we decided to formally host an exchange student, I called up our local high school and asked which exchange programs they receive students from, which led to us hosting a young man from the Canary Islands through Rotary Youth Exchange. What I liked about hosting through Rotary in particular is that it’s a scholarship program, so students are carefully selected and typically very motivated; there’s usually a whole local Rotary chapter supporting each student; and students stay with three different families over the course of the year to ensure they get diverse perspectives on life in the United States (which also made it more feasible for us to host).

There are several great organizations through which you can host a student for anywhere from a few weeks to a full year. In addition to Rotary Youth Exchange, check out AFS, CIEE, World Learning, or the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational & Cultural Affairs.  If you’re considering hosting during the school year, I recommend contacting your local high school to ask about the organizations with which they collaborate.

Try a Virtual Exchange Program

Participating in a virtual intercultural exchange is a great way for a young person to test the waters, getting to know people from other countries and cultures without leaving home. The Stevens Initiative website is a great place to start to learn more about virtual exchange and find programs. Also check out AFS Global You, and the Experiment on International Living virtual programs.

Participate in a Short-Term Intercultural Experience

Short-term intercultural opportunities abound, especially during the summer months, from language and culture camps kids can attend without leaving the country, to immersive international experiences. Summer study abroad options are available through the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational & Cultural Affairs and organizations such as AFS, CIEE, and the Experiment on International Living. Many of these organizations offer scholarships.

For short-term immersive cultural experiences within the United States, check out Concordia Language Villages.  Most well-known for their summer language immersion camps in northern Minnesota, they offer language and cultural programs in 18 different languages for youth, adults, and families. I had the time of my life working as a camp counselor at one of the Spanish language immersion camps after graduating from college. Most of my fellow counselors were from Spanish-speaking countries around the world.

Become an Exchange Student

Adventurous teens can also spend a semester or a full school year attending high school in a different country. Leaders in high school exchange programs include Rotary Youth Exchange and AFS. Also check out programs offered through the U.S. Department of State.

Earn Your IB Diploma

Through the United World Colleges (UWC), teens can learn among a highly diverse group of students and earn an International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma in the process. I had not heard of this organization until two different colleagues mentioned it to me recently, each singing its praises.

According to UWC’s website, there are 18 unique, “deliberately diverse” schools across four continents, providing education to over 10,500 students per year (primarily between 16-19 years in age). “At each UWC, students come together from all over the world, and from very different cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds, to live and learn with each other and from each other what change is needed in the world, and how they can make it happen.”

Take a Gap Year

Taking a “gap year” after high school is becoming increasingly popular, and programming options are growing. Check out resources and explore international and intercultural programs on the Gap Year Association website. Some popular programs and organizations include Global Citizen Year, Where There Be Dragons, Habitat for Humanity, National Outdoor Leadership Schools, Sea|mester, and AmeriCorps.

This list is certainly not exhaustive, but hopefully provides an idea of what's possible and some useful resources to start your search. If there are additional intercultural or international opportunities for teens that you'd recommend, please share your suggestions below.

Photo credit: D.J. Paine, Unsplash