Program Details
| Program Length | Start | End | Program Cost | Age on Departure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exchange Year | Early September | Early July | US$8,000 | 15 - 17 |
Age Explanation: Age on Departure reflect both the years and month(s) of the age of the applicant at the start of the program. For example, if the age is listed as 16.1 the applicant should be 16 years and 1 month at departure.
Italy Details :
Italians know how to enjoy life, whether through good food; exquisite art, music, or architecture; the company of friends and family; soccer; or an after-dinner passeggiata, or slow walk. Italians place great importance on friendship and family. Family members always eat together when they can to catch up on each other’s lives, and Italians love to stay in-the-know with current events. The country is full of art, including Roman ruins, Renaissance art, tiny medieval hill towns, and beautiful churches at almost every turn. Despite the amount of history evident, Italy reflects the 21st century as well with stylish electronic gadgets, sleek Milan fashions, and a modern economy that is part of the European Union. Of course, there’s also the famous Italian cuisine that you’ll be able to enjoy in your host family’s kitchen or at a local restaurant.
Year :
Your stay begins with a grand welcome from local volunteers and staff who provide you with a one-night orientation in Rome before you travel to the warmth of your host family. In October, a more detailed orientation for four days and three nights will be held. Soon after arrival, you begin classes at a public high school to study the sciences, humanities, or the arts. Language classes may be organized through a school or a private teacher for a group of students or individuals. Exchange students are expected to study and participate in school life the same as their peers. The school year runs from September through June with vacations at Christmas and Easter. AFS Italy offers a Global Education week where you might have the opportunity to live in another part of the country for a week, and several orientations during the year to meet with other AFS Exchange Students and learn more about their beautiful country.
Semester :
Upon your arrival in Rome, you will participate in an orientation for four days and three nights with fellow AFS Exchange Students from around the world, and then depart for your host family to begin an in-depth experience of Italian culture. School will start as soon as you arrive in your host community, and language classes begin shortly after. Language classes may be organized through a school or a private teacher, for a group or individually.
Summer Homestay Plus :
Experience Italy in the summer! The Homestay Plus Program provides students with many opportunities to experience Italy’s culture as you learn the language. The participants begin their experience by traveling to Tuscany for their initial orientation and to spend six days immersed in the beauty of the Tuscan countryside. Mornings are dedicated to Italian language lessons, and afternoons are filled with hands-on activities focused on Italian traditions in music, cuisine, art, and culture. There will be three half-day trips to Siena, Florence, and the medieval village of San Gimignano. At the end of the camp, the participants will travel to their host families, found throughout Italy, where they will join them in all their everyday activities. Finally, you will travel to the Eternal City of Rome before your departure!
