School Relations Tips
From AFSWiki
School Relations Tips, generated by participants at December 2009 San Antonio Hosting Conference
Hosted AFS students add value to schools by:
- Creating global citizens.
- Providing the entire academic community with free education.
- Sharing their enthusiasm.
- Exposing their classmates to diversity that challenges US students.
- Giving presentations within the school district to all students (k-12) to broaden the American kids’ horizons.
- Helping American students learn that there is more to their world.
- Contributing diverse ideas to class discussion.
- Showing their appreciation for schools (and volunteers) by sending thank you notes.
- Adding to curriculum by broadening awareness of geography and cultural diversity.
- Introducing multiculturalism.
- Indicating importance of world awareness and cultural understanding for life skills, employment for the future “small world,” college admission.
- Making a great topic for essay questions on scholarship applications after American students have hosted an AFS student.
- Teaching local students much more about the world and its cultures.
- Stimulating interest in other students re learning foreign languages, studying abroad.
How can we convince schools that AFS is a valuable resource for them?
- Respond to California state standard 10.ll re globalization by having AFS students do guided (by AFS volunteer, to make sure they meet the demands of the standard) presentations to world history classes.
- Work with local colleges on their outreach to the schools. They want broader experiences in their students.
- Ask volunteers to create a list of problems they have had with school administrators and how they have solved them. Post it.
- Ask returnees to give presentations about their experiences or to become teaching assistants in language classes.
- Show them that we’re the best organization by:
- Offering diversity
- Providing complete and timely information
- Consistently providing good support to students, families, and schools.
- Provide:
- AFS clubs or boards at schools
- AFS presentations to school board meetings
- Opportunities for AFS students to go to “career day” or open house
- Consistency of AFS programs in community and schools
- Guarantee that we DO support our students and families
- Local volunteers
- Bringing the world to school for free!
- Network with other educators who already know the value of intercultural exchange.
- Ask schools what resources they need from us to allow us to help them.
- Submit AFS items for the school newsletter.
- Ask school marketing class to make an AFS video to play for student announcements and/or on the school website.
- Remind them that we have a volunteer base – committed support system.
- Identify school “gatekeeper” and extend effort to keep in regular contact. Schmooze - schmooze – schmooze!
See Also
