Stories from Academic Year in America

  • Volunteers
  • Host Families
  • Students
  • About AYA
  • Learn More
  • Request Information

7 Simple Ways to Learn About a Different Culture

November 2, 2018 AYA 16 Comments

Interested in learning about a different part of the world – but not sure how to do so? Cultural exchange programs like Academic Year in America (AYA) offer a great way to start. With so much to discover, though, even participants of our program may be stumped on the best ways … [Read more...]

Host Families, Students Academic Year in America, AYA, cultural exchange, exchange students, exchange year, host family, international education, international exchange, why hosting matters

How Local Coordinators Bring the World Together

September 6, 2018 AYA 1 Comment

Wondering what makes Academic Year in America (AYA) wonderful? Our Local Coordinators are the wheels that keep us moving and inspired. If you’re asking why our Local Coordinators are so special, here are just a few things they do to move our world closer together. Help Families … [Read more...]

Local Coordinators, News, Volunteers Academic Year in America, cultural exchange, exchange year, host families, international high school students, local coordinator, volunteer, Why volunteer

Reflecting and Goal-Setting: AYA Students at Mid-Year Orientation

January 25, 2018 AYA Leave a Comment

Reflecting and Goal-Setting: AYA Students at Mid-Year Orientation | Academic Year in America (AYA) | Host an Exchange Student

Government sponsored students are required to participate in a Mid-Year Orientation and AYA is pleased to be able to offer our students the opportunity to attend a group orientation. The AYA Mid-Year Orientation provides invaluable cultural education and student support during … [Read more...]

Students albania, american councils, department of state, exchange program, exchange students, exchange year, FLEX Program, foreign exchange students, idaho, illinois, international exchange students, kazakhstan, local coordinator, mid-year orientation, north carolina, ohio, philippines, republic of georgia, south carolina, turkey, west virginia, YES Program

What Being an Exchange Student Means to Me

November 20, 2017 AYA Leave a Comment

Italian Exchange Student Reflects on First Half of Year in the United States | Academic Year in America (AYA)

It's hard to believe we're approaching the half-way point in 2017-18 academic year! First semester is almost over, which means many of our students are reflecting on the first half of their experience so far. Alice, an AYA international exchange student from Italy hosted in South … [Read more...]

Students Exchange Student, exchange year, international exchange student, italian exchange student, italy, south carolina

YES Student from Gaza Grateful for Exchange

November 15, 2017 AYA 2 Comments

#IEW2017: YES Student from Palestine Grateful for Exchange

International Education Week (IEW) is such a great way to reflect on all the ways that international education opportunities and exchange programs influence participants and the greater world around us. Karam, a Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (KL-YES) student from Gaza … [Read more...]

Students #iew2017, cultural exchange, department of state, Exchange Student, exchange year, international education, international education week, kennedy-lugar youth exchange and study, palestine, YES student

Madina from Kyrgyzstan Shares Why Exchanges are Important

November 14, 2017 AYA Leave a Comment

#IEW2017: Madina from Kyrgyzstan Shares Why Exchanges are Important | Academic Year in America (AYA) | International Education Week | FLEX Program

Madina, an AYA and FLEX program exchange student from Kyrgyzstan hosted in New York, shared with us why she feels international education and partaking in an exchange year are important — both for the student and the host family. Read on for her insightful comments: There so … [Read more...]

Students department of state, Exchange Student, exchange year, FLEX Program, high school exchange program, international education week, international exchange student, Kyrgyzstan

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • …
  • 16
  • Next Page »

About AYA

AYA logo

AYA is sponsored by the American Institute For Foreign Study (AIFS) Foundation, a not-for-profit organization founded in 1967. Its mission is to promote worldwide understanding through cultural exchange. Learn more >

Follow us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • TikTok
  • YouTube

Follow blog via email

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Categories

  • FAQs
  • Host Families
  • LC of the Month
  • LC of the Quarter
  • Local Coordinators
  • News
  • Students
  • Uncategorized
  • Volunteers

Recent Posts

  • AYA Exchange Student from Mali Chosen as Prestigious Student Speaker
  • Four Exceptional Host Families: AYA’s 2024-2025 Host Family of the Year Runners-Up 
  • Can Families with Older Children Host an Exchange Student? 
  • Can I Host an Exchange Student for a Semester? 
  • Do I Have to Have Children to Host an Exchange Student?

LC of the month

Local Coordinator volunteer academic year in america AYA cultural exchange high school exchange year

We love to recognize our field staff every month by asking … [Read More...]

Search

Copyright © 2025 · Daily Dish Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in