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Student exchangeprograms in Spain

A lifetime experience!

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Visiting Madrid City Council and La Cibeles, Welcome Tour 2017

Typical views of the Mediterranean Sea

WHY SPAIN

Located in south western Europe, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, its geographical features and the excellent climate make the Iberian Peninsula a place of first order at the moment of choosing it as a destination. Spain is a very characteristic country, is a country full of life, celebration customs and traditions. From Andalusia to Madrid, Catalonia, Valencia, Galicia and the Balearic Islands: it is a country with most landscape and climate varieties across Europe, this makes that the Iberian Peninsula looks like a mini continent in which you can reach in a very short time a Mediterranean paradise beach or a luxuriant Atlantic forest. The fiesta and its rich gastronomy, as well as its beautiful historical cities with astonishing cathedrals, make this country really a unique one and between the best suited for spending some time here.

The countless participants, who have preferred Spain as their exchange destination, converted us in a country leader at the time of receiving people coming from all over the world, join them and live an experience they will never forget.

AN OUTSTANDING HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM

Spain is undoubtedly one of the best countries in the world for a High School programme combined with accommodation in host family.

The most important reasons for foreign students to visit Spain, besides the climate, are as follows:

• The warmth, friendliness and courteousness of its people, its cultural diversity, and particularly Spain’s myriad leisure options, and the safe environment it provides for students.

• A good quality education system that includes free state schools, semi-private schools (partly subsidized), and elite private schools with much lower fees on average than in other countries, without sacrificing quality under any circumstances.

• An unbeatable support service. Aston Herencia is one

of the pioneer organizations in Spain in the student exchange industry. AH offers a country network of 8 offices and more than 50 local representatives, covering the whole territory: the most committed team supporting foreign students 24/7.

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Tatum participates in the program thanks to a scolarship

THE MOST SUITABLE SCHOOL FOR EACH STUDENT

For the 12-18 age group, the school system is divided into Compulsory Secondary Education (four years) and two additional years (called Bachillerato) for entry into higher education. The schools are either state-run or private, but the latter are mostly subsidized by the state; hence their fees are very reasonable. Many of them are denominational schools, with many of them following the Catholic faith, although the level of student involvement varies accordingly from one school to another.

The quality of education provided by the schools is very high, and it is the students’ own personal background and the extracurricular activities on offer in particular that set them apart. The student’s family may choose one option or another with the peace of mind that their choice will not affect the programme’s success.

Students will spend 5 days per week at school, usually from 8 AM until 5 or 6 PM, in classes with Spanish classmates. Participants must be between 14 and 18 years old at the time of their stay in Spain.

PROGRAM OPTIONS

The majority of Spanish families choose their children’s schools by location, while those who generally opt for private schools do so according to other criteria. State schools: Generally speaking, for the programme in a state school, we choose the right family for each candidate, and our enrolment in a school will depend on their place of residence, to ensure it is the nearest and most suitable. We also like to take the host family’s opinion into account when enrolling in one school or another of the same area. Students can be placed anywhere in Spain.

Choice option: However, when it comes to semi-private or elite schools, it is their location instead that helps us to choose the right family; whether students can make their own way to the school, or whether they may need public or school transport. We provide a list of locations or schools and their conditions for this option. In many cases, we adapt to student’s preferences, considering any prior selection of a specific area, or even the kind of host family. Aston Herencia can offer the following placement guarantees:

• A choice of region, or even a city for early-bird applications• An urban placement• A placement adapted to specific dietary restrictions/

allergies• A specific activity (sport, music...)• A specific school (schooling in British curriculum, specific

class level, specific subjects or sections)• Boarding acommodation (very few options)

Students are automatically placed in a paid host family on a full board basis. Private school fees will be invoiced extra.

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Participants attending Spanish classes, during their Welcome Tour in Madrid

Very special birthday’s party abroad for Amelia

• Rules are an important part of the program but, in most cases, students and host families are able to establish a relationship based around friendship and understanding better than based on rules. In any case, boundaries for students are very clear, and they can rely not only on their host families but also on program coordinators and area representatives if need be.

THE KEYS TO AN OUTSTANDING PROGRAMME

It is sometimes difficult to strike the right balance to make a teenager happy, between an appropriate degree of freedom and the necessary supervision by their host family.

It is also very important to make allowances for any cultural, social and financial differences between the students and their host families, and whenever possible, any issues that might arise need to be resolved as quickly as possible through guidance and mentoring.

To ensure the best host families, we rely on:

• A huge database, compiled through more than 45 years’ experience. These families are trustworthy and screened because they have the right understanding and background for hosting a foreign student.

• A careful selection of the most suitable family for the candidate, as well as an initial visit to inspect the house and its surroundings, and gain a thorough appreciation of its social environment.

• Our staff’s firm commitment to these programmes and the necessary training enable us in turn to instruct the host families prior to each student’s arrival, liaise with them during the stay and, of course, monitor each student’s progress and wellbeing throughout the entire programme.

• Our team of collaborators are taught to pre-empt problems and, especially, to quickly defuse any potential misunderstandings between the teenager and their host family or school.

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Outdoor activities are essential for many host families

OPTIONAL EXCURSIONS

Aston Herencia offers our high school students optional excursions and tours to Barcelona, Madrid, Granada, Seville, Málaga, Valencia... organized by our own travel agency specialized in youth travel.

It is a good opportunity for our students to meet with other foreign students placed in different Spanish cities and towns and chat about their experiences while enjoying these fantastic trips.

The trips usually take place during the school holidays, weekends or bank holidays and have special and convenient rates for the students.

SHORT-TERM HIGH SCHOOL EXPERIENCE

Aston Herencia has hosted a wide variety of groups and can tailor any program to a range of specific needs at various times during the year, between mid-September to mid-June.

Our group programs can be purely cultural or meet a specific goal, such as experiencing a Spanish High School during a week or more.

Customized programs are available to groups wishing to gain an educational and cultural experience in beautiful Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Valencia, Salamanca...

Generally, each of these programs is developed around a core structure consisting of a morning in a High School and an afternoon of outdoor and cultural activities, or a combination between full day excursions and high school experience days.

MADRID WELCOME TOUR (OPTIONAL)

It offers a package of program orientation, morning Spanish classes, hostel accommodation, meals, chaperone supervision and an exciting social programme. Classes are designed to develop communication skills of the participants on their arrival to host families, and build their confidence in using Spanish. Lessons also prepare students for afternoon excursions and activities so that they can continue to use their new language skills outside the classroom.

The Welcome Tour usually includes: Madrid city walking tour, El Prado museum, shopping, rowing in Parque del Retiro lake, merienda de churros con chocolate, and some exciting evening activites. Special activities can be also arrangement like amusement parks, etc.

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Shopping with host family

SUMMER SESSION PROGRAM

For several weeks in the summer, usually July, an international student lives with a host family and takes part in a program of activities. Monday through Friday, students meet for Spanish classes, combined with excursions to cultural and recreational atractions in and around the city where they live. Evenings and weekends are spent with the host family and friends.

The program provides international students with intensive Spanish language training morning sessions, especially designed for:

• students interested in a summer experience in Spain, with or without an academic focus

• students planning on enrolling in a Spanish high school program in September

Led by certified teachers, this program will improve students’ listening, speaking, reading and academic writing skills.

The program is for beginners to advanced level Spanish speakers. Students are assessed upon arrival and placed in the appropriate level.

We also offer a Total Immersion homestay program during the summer. This is a unique opportunity for young students from all over the world to discover the Spanish culture and way of life while living with a Spanish host family.

They are carefully selected after an interview and a home visit by an Aston Herencia local coordinator. Availability, open-mindedness and hospitality are the major criteria. All families live in safe and quiet residential areas.

REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS

Much like other programmes of this nature, finding the right family and enrolling in a suitable school requires the following:

• The registration form• A letter to the host family and a photo dossier• A personal interview• A medical certificate• School marks for the past two years• Two letters of recommendation• A signed contract, including the programme’s rules• A photocopy of the student’s passport

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Otras acreditaciones de Aston Herencia son:

OFICCESMADRID · Antonia Mercé 8 - 1º · 28009 - Madrid · Tel.: 91 436 00 30 BARCELONA · Pg. Manuel Girona 82 · 08034 - Barcelona · Tel.: 93 396 71 00

BILBAO · Alameda de San Mamés 37, 3º · 48010 - Bilbao · Tel.: 944 109 591 MÁLAGA · Pº Marítimo Pablo R. Picasso 12, bajo 2 · 29016 - Málaga · Tel: 633 152 747

LEÓN · Alfonso V 3 - 1º Izq. · 24001 - León · Tel.: 987 875 922

VALENCIA · Colón 22, 3º G · 46004 - Valencia · Tel: 96 321 24 54

VIGO · Pi y Margall 70, Bajo · 36202 - Vigo · Tel.: 986 204 156

VITORIA · General Álava 7 - 1º Of. 2 · 01005 - Vitoria-Gasteiz · Tel.: 945 231 821 ZARAGOZA · Gran Vía 30, entlo. · 50005 - Zaragoza · Tel.: 976 37 00 17

...and more than 50 area representatives along the country.

With more than 45 years of experience in educational programs for young people, Aston Herencia has become world renowned for providing quality international programs for foreign students wishing to discover Spain, its culture and language.

hello@astonherencia.es · www.astonherencia.es · @astonherencia

Over succeeding years, we have built strong and standing relationships with international partners and schools.

Every year we are proud to offer students from all over the world the experience of a lifetime.