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AYA Exchange Student from Mali Chosen as Prestigious Student Speaker

May 27, 2025 AYA Leave a Comment

YES Student Mohamed Student Speaker with Host family

Every year, Academic Year in America (AYA) student support staff nominate some of our YES Program exchange students to speak at their End of Stay orientation in Washington, D.C., before everyone departs for their home countries. This year, AYA is excited to announce that Mohamed, … [Read more...]

Students Academic Year in America, cultural exchange, exchange year, south carolina, YES Program, YES student

Meet the AYA 2019-20 Host Family of the Year!

May 27, 2020 AYA Leave a Comment

At the end of each school year, Academic Year in America (AYA) international high school exchange students and their Local Coordinators across the United States take the time to nominate host families for the honor of AYA Host Family of the Year. In … [Read more...]

Host Families FLEX Program, host family, host family of the year, moldova, south carolina

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

Student Spotlight: Sophie’s First 100 Days

December 22, 2016 AYA Leave a Comment

Student Spotlight: Sophie's First 100 Days | Academic Year in America

Like many AYA students at this time of year, Sophie, an exchange student from Germany, has reached the milestone of her first 100 days in the United States. Sophie writes a blog (in German) about her high school exchange experience and was kind enough to provide the following … [Read more...]

Students Academic Year in America, AYA, Exchange Student, exchange year, germany, south carolina

About AYA

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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 >

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Recent Posts

  • Student of the Month: Thore from Germany, Hosted in Arkansas
  • AYA Students in Action: The Results of the Global Youth Trailblazer Grants
  • 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? 

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...]

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