Why consider High School Exchange Programs in Canada? High school can be one of the best times in your life for growth and exploration. Aside from studying, there are usually far fewer responsibilities and firm demands on your time, compared to college and beyond. Studying abroad may be one of the most exciting ways to gain access to new ideas and experiences that could broaden your horizons and help you create memories to cherish for a lifetime. As you consider where to go and what to do, you may want to check out the United States’ friendly neighbor to the north and take a good look at high school exchange programs in Canada.
What It’s Like in Canada[i]
Canada offers a cosmopolitan society that is likely to feel familiar to most Westerners, but that is also uniquely its own. The nation boasts the second-largest land mass of any country in the world, placing it just after Russia in total area. It covers numerous time zones and climates and is home to several distinct cultures and a wealth of animal life. Canadian culture is a blended one, combining French- and English-speaking European descendants, indigenous peoples, and immigrants from all over the world.
How High School Exchange Programs in Canada Could Benefit You
Studying abroad is about the experience of a new culture more than anything else. It’s about seeing new things, meeting people with different lifestyles and belief systems than your own. Exchange programs in Canada could help students connect with a new society in ways that may stay with them for life, without compromising the standards for a quality education. In fact, when compared to 16 similarly developed nations, Canada’s school system ranked 2nd.[ii]
Work on Your French Skills in Canada
One reason to consider study exchange programs in Canada is the access to the French language. Courses are available that aim to help those interested in French culture and speech to enhance their understanding. Programs may take advantage of the prevalence of spoken French in Quebec[iii] to provide students with opportunities to experience immersion in the language, which studies suggest has the potential to help students develop brain patterns closer to those of native speakers.[iv]
French language schools in Canada may offer the following:[v]
- Classes taught in actual Canadian high schools
- Preparatory assistance to help improve existing skills to satisfy enrollment requirements
- Immersion in a bilingual environment
- Cultural and recreational activities
- Placement with a host family
Summer programs could also present a good option if you would rather study abroad in Canada during your break. Many of them may also offer immersion, the opportunity to live with a host family, and a variety of activities and excursions.[vi]
Add a Twist to Your High-School Education in Canada
Some high school exchange programs in Canada focus on unique skills or areas of study that could help you add fun to your experience, discover new things, or potentially enhance your existing abilities or knowledge.
Some of the interesting concentrations programs may offer could include:
- Instruction focused on helping you to enhance your golf game while also challenging you to grow personally and academically[vii]
- The singular experience of pursuing your education while also participating in the daily functions of a fully operational ship sailing on the open seas[viii]
- Sea kayaking to observe and study whales, dolphins, seals, and other marine animals in their natural habitats while having the opportunity to pursue knowledge alongside naturalists, researchers, and marine scientists[ix]
A Rare Opportunity
Taking time in high school to broaden your horizons by pursuing exchange programs in Canada could help you to grasp a new perspective that could only be earned through putting yourself out there and seeing the world beyond your local community. You could gain new memories, new skills, and possibly improve your college experience while participating in High School Exchange Programs in Canada![x]
