High School Immersion in the USA – 1 semester or 1 academic year
This programme is open to motivated participants aged 14 to 18 who wish to spend a school year or semester in a High School and experience a real immersion in the American language and culture, sharing the daily life of a host family and attending an American secondary school.
Although similar in principle to the“Classic – 15-18 years” high school programme, this programme offers greater academic flexibility, as well as age and enrolment deadlines.
- It is open from the age of 14 up to and including the age of 18 (you must be under 19 on the 1st day of the course)
- Enrolment deadlines are later
- Allows you to indicate a school preference (state or private) and a subject or activity
- Allows students in Grade 12 to obtain a High School Diploma
- It allows you to obtain equivalences in certain subjects depending on your study objectives
- It allows you to do a 2nd year in a High School (public school only)
- The minimum level of English required is lower than for the traditional programme
The United States is such a vast country that it’s hard to cover it all, even in one lifetime! Immersing yourself in American culture for a semester or a school year with our high school programme will give you an insight into different facets of this immense country: a multi-cultural society, unforgettable landscapes, but above all warm-hearted people who are always willing to share their values. By immersing yourself in a different education system, you’ll be able to discover a different form of teaching, choose subjects that you wouldn’t have the opportunity to study here and get involved in a range of extra-curricular activities to enrich your stay and create lasting memories.
Stays can take place anywhere in the United States. Families can be located in small communities or large cities. Either way, you’ll be totally immersed in the language and culture of the country.
The United States and Canada are vast countries with great geographical distances. The car is the main means of travel and public transport networks are generally underdeveloped, with the exception of certain large cities. European exchange students, who are used to using public transport to get around, will have to adapt to this cultural difference and learn to plan their journeys according to the transport options available.
What do our students think?
You attend a local secondary school (High School), either public or private, depending on your choice. In the United States, we don’t operate by class but by year and by level. The course is therefore individualised. The level at which you study may differ from one subject to another, depending on your level in the chosen subject and your level of English. For example, you could take maths in 11th grade and history in 10th grade.
there are 3 compulsory subjects: English, Maths and History. Some schools also require science. If you choose to take the Diplôme de fin d’études (for Grade 12 students only), you will also have to take other compulsory subjects.
Classes are held in the mornings, with the afternoons devoted to extra-curricular activities.
In most American schools, the choice of subjects is vast and varied: Calculus, Science, Physics, Biology, Foreign Language, Psychology, Sociology, Literature, Drama, Pottery, Journalism, Speech, Media, Computing…
This is a unique opportunity to discover new fields or improve your skills in a subject you love. Some courses run for a semester, so you can change options in the middle of the year if you wish.
There is just as much choice in extra-curricular activities: Football, Baseball, Tennis, Field & Track, Basketball, Charity club, Student council, School band, Debate club, Speech club, Year book, etc.
When youregister, you can indicate 1 of the following preferences:
Students of the right age and level to enter Grade 12 can obtain a High School Diploma. In this case, you must indicate this on the Student application.
Schooling in the United States lasts 12 years, as it does in Europe: the High School covers the last 4 years of secondary school, from 9th grade to 12th grade. However, the school system and the way it works are very different from ours. We don’t operate by class, but by year and by level. The curriculum is therefore individualised. Students take each course at the level that corresponds to their level in that subject and their level of English.
There is no government-imposed syllabus, which is defined locally. Students take 4/5 subjects per semester. The choice of subjects is generally wide and varied: US history, English, Maths, Sciences, Debating, Speech, Pottery, Cooking, etc.
Classes start early in the morning (7.30am/8.00pm) and finish around 3pm, with the rest of the afternoon devoted to extra-curricular activities. The school year starts between early August and mid-September, depending on the school.
They are selected by the local correspondent for their genuine desire to welcome a young foreigner and share their culture with him or her through daily life. The local correspondent visits the families’ homes and ensures that they can offer the participant a balanced and warm environment.
There is no typical family profile. Each one is unique and reflects the society and way of life of the country you have chosen. Your host family may or may not have children; it may be a blended family or a single-parent family, a single person whose children no longer live at home, retired people or younger people. They may live in a large conurbation or a smaller town. It’s not the composition of the family or where they live that matters, but their willingness and motivation to share their culture with you.
Families receive a small financial allowance to cover daily expenses.
From a practical point of view, you will haveasingle or shared room, depending on the placement, and will be offered half board during the week and full board at weekends and during school holidays.
The local correspondent is an experienced person who knows the host families and stays in regular contact with the students and their American parents throughout the stay. He or she organises regular meetings and ensures that the stay goes well, both with the host family and at the school. As they are able to act quickly in the event of a problem, they remain your first point of contact on site.
The local correspondents work closely with our partner in the United States and have been looking after foreign students for many years, so they know how to react quickly and effectively if the need arises.
Before you leave
To ensure that your stay goes as smoothly as possible and that you are informed about the different elements of the programme, we organise an information meeting before departure, which it is important to attend.
It is organised by Langues Vivantes in Brussels in June. It provides an opportunity to discuss the various aspects of the programme (the school, the family, cultural differences, programme rules, etc.) as well as all the practical issues (travel, luggage, insurance, etc.).
If you don’t live in Belgium, we can organise a meeting at our offices in Paris or, if necessary, an online meeting to explain all the steps you need to take to ensure your stay goes as smoothly as possible.
On arrival
A few days after your arrival, the local coordinator will organise an orientation meeting for all the students for whom he or she is responsible.
Dates 2024 – 2025
- School year: August* to June (varies according to school)
- Academic semester: August* to December or January to June (varies according to school)
*The dates for the start of the school year are set by the schools and can range from the end of July to mid-September. The dates of your stay are therefore fixed once you have received your placement.
Fares with flights subject to ticket prices at the time of booking.
Prices 2024 – 2025
| Tuition, room and board, transfers and taxes included (No flights) | |
|---|---|
| Programme duration | Price |
| Academic Semester | € 15.695 |
| Academic Year | € 20.995 |
| Tuition, room and board, transfers, roundtrip flights and taxes included | |
| Programme duration | Price |
| Academic Semester - Departure from Brussels or Paris | € 17.595 |
| Academic Year - Departure from Brussels or Paris | € 22.895 |
Our prices include :
- English level test and pre-application interview
- All documents required to obtain the F1 visa
- High School registration formalities for a semester or academic year
- Accommodation with a host family, meals (excluding school canteen fees)
- Assistance, support and follow-up throughout the stay
- Medical and assistance insurance
- Regular contact and evaluation reports
- Official certificate of attendance with transcript of marks for courses taken, depending on destination
- American diploma (if the student is eligible and has applied for one)
- Return transfer from the designated airport to the host family
- Return flight, if chosen, from Brussels or Paris.
Not included:
- Visa fees (approximately USD 535)
- Lunch at the school (approximately $3-5 per day)
- Pocket money: between $300 and $350 per month
- School fees for the use of books, lockers, labs, etc. (depending on the school, allow up to $400)
- Optional insurance
- Return travel to the designated airport, depending on the option chosen
- Any additional costs associated with Covid (e.g. quarantine, tests, etc.)
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High School in the United States – Classic – 1 semester to 1 school year
