Did You Know? What Educators Need to Know About AFS-USA
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Connecting Lives, Sharing Cultures Did You Know? What Educators Need to Know About AFS-USA. contents Welcome from AFS-USA AFS-USA Fact Sheet Teachers Can “Go Global” Scholarships and Need-Based Aid Invite the World into Your School Introduce Your School to New Cultures Dear Educator, Welcome to AFS-USA, a global leader in intercultural learning. For more than 65 years, AFS has partnered with schools, educators, families and communities to provide life-changing learning experiences for high school students. Whether for US students abroad or international students in the US, AFS has worked with educators in over 50 countries to give students key skills and global competencies for success in college and beyond. Enclosed you will find some resources to assist you in fostering global citizenship with your students, both inside and outside the classroom—especially the Teachers Can “Go Global” flyer in this packet. There, you will find out how to subscribe to our Global Classroom e-newsletter filled with intercultural tips and tools on our educator’s portal atwww.afsusa. org/educators. One more thing: AFS works with schools to customize an educator-led, short program abroad for your students. Why work with a travel or touring company when you can partner with a longstanding leader in international high school exchange who customizes programs with a focus on community service and intercultural learning? Please feel free to contact us at [email protected] for more information on how to go global with AFS. We look forward to working with you. Sincerely, Tonya Muro, Ed.D. Director of School Outreach and Educational Partnerships AFS-USA AFS Intercultural Programs/USA One Whitehall Street, 2nd Floor New York, NY 10004 Tel: (800)876-2376 Web: www.afsusa.org Connecting Lives, Sharing Cultures AFS-USA Fact Sheet Misson AFS-USA works toward a more just and peaceful AFS-USA TODAY world by providing international and intercultural learning experiences to individuals, families, schools, and communities through a global volunteer partnership. 1,100: number of US high school students we send abroad History AFS Intercultural Programs/USA has been a leader in international high school student exchange for more than 65 years and is part of a 2,300: number of worldwide AFS network. Formerly the American international high school Field Service, AFS Intercultural Programs was students we welcome into founded during World Wars I and II by young the US Americans who volunteered as ambulance drivers. The founding belief was that building a more just and peaceful world begins when people from different countries and cultures meet, learn together, and better understand one another. In 1947, AFS exchanged 52 young people from 11 countries formerly at war, establishing a movement to promote understanding and peace through international student exchange. 5,000: number of volunteers The AFS Network in the US whose support makes AFS is a worldwide, nonprofit organization that the work of AFS possible has been a leader in international high school student exchange for nearly seven decades, and: • exchanges almost 13,000 individuals each year • has more than 50 partner organizations including AFS-USA 2,100: number of US schools • maintains an alumni network of more than partnering with AFS-USA 424,000 individuals around the world through hosting and sending • is supported by nearly 44,000 AFS Volunteers worldwide Contact us: 1-800-AFS-INFO www.afsusa.org 13020427_2_Lit13003.indd 1 2/26/13 8:54 AM Studying Abroad AFSers are high school students and immediate graduates interested in studying abroad and gaining global competency through cultural immersion programs for college and career readiness. AFS offers programs in over 40 countries. Our newest programs are in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovakia and Latvia. Participants can choose to study abroad for an academic year or semester, summer or Gap Year. The 3 Durations of AFS Programs Hosting an depicted below by percentage of participants in 2012 Exchange Student Summer 46% Year 42% Semester 12% AFS-USA welcomes 2,300 international high school exchange students from 90 countries to the US to study in high schools and live with host families. AFS-USA staff and volunteers work with 1,500 US Scholarship Opportunities schools to support these outstanding young people US STATE DeparTMENT SCHOLArSHIPS who contribute greatly to academic and community life, many of whom arrive on US State Department Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study sponsored programs. Volunteers provide local Abroad (YES Abroad) support and work with students, families, schools, Full merit-based scholarships for semester and year and community organizations to illustrate the benefits programs to countries with significant Muslim populations. of an intercultural educational opportunity. National Security Languages Initiative for US State Department Programs Youth (NSLI-Y) Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange Full merit-based scholarships for summer and year programs with a focus on critical language acquisition. (CBYX) Strengthens ties between the youth of Germany Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) and the US by facilitating international dialogue and Full merit-based scholarships awarded to outstanding cooperation. students for a year of study in Germany. Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) COMMUNITY-Based SCHOLArSHIPS Builds bridges of international understanding, especially Faces of America (FoA) between Americans and people in countries with AFS-USA’s signature diversity program makes it possible significant Muslim populations. for high achieving high school students from underserved communities to receive scholarship awards to study Future Leader’s Exchange abroad for a summer, semester or year in 17 (FLEX) unique destinations. Builds future US relations with the countries of the former Soviet Union based upon bridges of personal COUNTrY, rEgION AND state-SPECIFIC friendship and mutual understanding. SCHOLArSHIPS ALSO AvAILABLE For a comprehensive list of all scholarships please go to www.afsusa.org/scholarships 2012-2013 AFS-USA is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization ©2013 Lit. No. 13003 1-800-AFS-INFO www.afsusa.org 13020427_2_Lit13003.indd 2 2/25/13 7:36 PM Connecting Lives, Sharing Cultures Teachers Can “Go Global” Inside and Outside the Classroom with these Five Great AFS Resources! Intercultural learning is a great way to take action to foster global competency and 21st century skills, as well as the common core college and career readiness standards required of students. AFS firmly believes in the value of global education via experiential learning through real- world experiences and primary sources. We are proud to partner with schools across the US. As school educators your presence is invaluable; encourage your students to study abroad or host an incoming student from a diverse region of the world. AFS offers you the following resources to assist in fostering an environment with opportunities for intercultural learning through global education. These intercultural skills are indispensable to an interconnected, globalized world. Resource #1: Resource #2: It’s Your World, Too: Global Classroom eNewsletter and Teacher Edition Prezi Weekly Global Education Blog The Prezi presentation is a professional Keep up-to-date with the latest trends in global development tool for teachers and a guide to education, AFS news, scholarship opportunities, global education through intercultural learning. community events, classroom materials and study It can be used at an in-service day, afterschool abroad opportunities for your students with our workshop, teacher training seminar, etc. This can quarterly newsletter. Sign up at www.afsusa.org/ be found under the Teacher’s Toolbox Activities at educators/global-classroom to receive future www.afsusa.org/educators. editions. Also, follow our weekly blog to keep abreast of the current trends and topics in global learning at www.afsusa.org/global-education-news. Continued on back 13020427_3_Lit13004.indd 1 2/25/13 7:38 PM Teachers Can “Go Global” continued Resource #3: Resource #5: Educator-Led Programs AFS Intercultural Learning (ICL) Blog With AFS, an educator or youth leader can The ICL Blog is a virtual, international space travel with their class or group to foster global for sharing ideas, articles, materials, videos and citizenship on a customized educational recommendations related to intercultural experience. Go where you want, when you want, learning, as well as the digital version of the with an emphasis on what you want your group AFS Intercultural Link Newsletter at to see, do, and learn. www.afs.org/afs-intercultural-link. With flexible dates, competitive pricing, and the world-renowned support of AFS staff and volunteers, our group programs offer the alternative to generic package tours. Let us help you organize your dream program today. Learn more at www.afsusa.org/groups. Resource #4: AFS-USA Educator Portal On our website, you will find various ways — such as lesson plans from AFS and partner organizations — to take action to foster global competency through intercultural learning — both inside and outside the classroom at www.afsusa.org/educators. 2012-2013 AFS-USA is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization ©2013 Lit. No. 13004 1-800-AFS-INFO www.afsusa.org 13020427_3_Lit13004.indd 2 2/25/13 7:38 PM Connecting Lives, Sharing Cultures Invite the World into Your School AFS Exchange Students in US Schools AFS-USA has been a trusted leader in intercultural high school student exchange