As summer approaches, Berkeley High presents various exchange program opportunities, and students are already signing up. Students and teachers alike recognize the different beneficial and challenging aspects of studying abroad.
Angie Soto is a Spanish II and III teacher at Berkeley High School, and she said, “I strongly believe that exchange programs are invaluable for students.” Soto herself has done an exchange program visiting the U.S. while living in another country. “It allowed me to fully immerse myself in a new educational system, engage with different teaching methodologies, and contribute to a cross-cultural learning environment,” Soto said.
She says that the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE), which is one of the exchange programs, has just added new destinations for traveling abroad. “I have some students that even though they study Spanish, they are deciding to travel to Japan in order to learn the language.” She says they have so many destinations nowadays, and that means there are so many more cultures to explore too. Soto believed that exchange programs are growing in popularity because “our students have been inviting their friends to do cultural exchange programs with them, and also they like the idea of feeling independent in another country.
According to Soto, some challenges that an exchange student might face are culture shock, language barriers, and homesickness. Adjusting to different customs, food, and ways of communication can be difficult, too. “However, these difficulties are part of the learning experience and help students build resilience and adaptability.” She adds that exchange programs can help with the school's Spanish curriculum by reinforcing what students learn in class and providing real-world context. “Exchange programs encourage students to interact with people from diverse backgrounds, teaching them how to communicate effectively and adapt to new social situations,” Soto said.
Students travel all over the world for exchange programs for all kinds of experiences. One student who's traveling to Spain this coming summer is Amalia Huntington-Ortega. She is traveling to study marine biology and said, “I think exchange programs are a really cool way to broaden your horizons … I certainly want my kids to experience that.” She is attending a CIEE program, and she heard about it from representatives and from others who have done it before. “I was just hearing about these stories of these kids going on amazing adventures and learning so much,” Huntington-Ortega said. She explained that she is excited to gain more independence and learn more about marine biology.
Huntington-Ortega said she has noticed more travel happening recently, noting, “I’ve definitely seen a rise of interest in exchange programs, even though my first time doing one is this year.” She expressed some worries about traveling abroad like losing her passport or getting lost, but she says she wants some risk to learn and grow from.
A teacher who has encountered many exchange programs at BHS is Daniel Nube, who teaches Spanish II and AP Spanish Literature. He said, “I think an exchange program can be a wonderful, life-changing experience.” When he was four years old, Nube moved from Michigan to Bolivia. He lived there for thirteen years until he came back to the U.S. for university. “So, in a sense, my whole childhood was an exchange program,” said Nube.
He said that anyone who spends a few weeks in a Spanish-speaking environment will need to use Spanish all day in ways big and small. “If you go there with an open mind, willing to take on the challenge, you will find your vocabulary and grammar growing faster than it ever could in a classroom.” The three programs he recommends are AMIGOS, Global Glimpse, and the Experiment in International Living. Nube says that one problem students come across is the price of these programs. “Some of the exchange programs can be pricey, but don't be scared away by the cost! The three programs I recommend all have very substantial financial aid.” says Nube.
He added that even if you have the most wonderful language teacher in the world, a classroom can never offer you the same level of immersion and motivation that the real world can. “I think everyone should get out of their comfort zone and their bubble and experience awesome, amazing things,” Huntington-Ortega said.