The PWS Foreign Exchange Program is a unique opportunity for high school students and families to learn and share language and culture within an international Waldorf context. The program encourages the direct exchange of PWS students with foreign students for part of an academic year, preferably 10th grade, with a few 11th grade exceptions. During that time, students from both countries exchange living and academic situations. Their primary focus, however, is immersion in intensive language training through academic practice and daily interaction with family, school, and local community.
Since its inception in 2001, the program has focused on direct student and family exchanges with Waldorf Schools in Germany and Austria, with a few students traveling to Peru and Argentina, and has proven to be a popular component of the curriculum.
Making Contact
Every week, PWHS receives letters of inquiry from foreign students seeking an exchange. The Foreign Exchange Coordinator periodically announces these opportunities at class meetings and language class. PWHS students may initiate an exchange by requesting a Foreign Exchange application and working with the Foreign Exchange Coordinator. The placement process can take 4-12 months and it is possible that not all applications may be filled.
Family Exchange
Students and families participating in the program exchange comparable living and lifestyle situations. Portland students live in and are hosted by their German or Spanish-speaking counterparts, and in return host them in a Pacific Northwest setting. The exchange includes room and board, family oversight of medical health and safety, and regular correspondence with family and school.
Students must have passports and required visas, health insurance, and be responsible for round trip airfare and adequate spending and travel money. No additional tuition is required from either party.
Each student also signs a statement of commitment that states expectations related to behavior as a PWHS ‘ambassador’, school and family etiquette, and the non-use of alcohol and illegal substances.
Academic Program
Students spend 6-12 weeks abroad, usually during the 10th grade. Each student is expected to participate in classes comparable in academic content to those required in PWHS’s 10th grade curriculum. A letter from the foreign school which describes the courses taken and the level of student participation serves as documentation of student performance. In addition, each student is expected to build a portfolio of school work to present to PWHS faculty and make a well-prepared, thorough presentation to his/her advisors and the Foreign Exchange faculty group upon return. Transcript credit will be determined based on the student’s portfolio and report from the school.
Contact Information
Amalia Parecki, Foreign Exchange Coordinator
503-654-2200 x216
