Editing Student exchange program (section)

== Types of exchange programs ==

=== Short-term exchange ===
A short-term exchange program is also known as STEP. These focus on home-stays, language skills, community service, or cultural activities. High school and university students can apply for the programs through various government or non-governmental organizations that organize the programs. A short-term exchange lasts from one week to three months and doesn't require the student to study in any particular school or institution. The students are exposed to an intensive program that increases their understanding of other cultures, communities, and languages.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2015-01-27|title=What are Short-Term Programs?|url=https://educationusa.state.gov/your-5-steps-us-study/research-your-options/short-term/what-are-short-term-programs|access-date=2021-09-26|website=EducationUSA|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-09-06|title=Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs - Office of Non-Public Education|url=https://www2.ed.gov/about/inits/ed/non-public-education/other-federal-programs/dos.html|access-date=2021-09-26|website=www2.ed.gov|language=en}}</ref>

=== Long-term exchange ===
[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-09709-0002, Dresden, Ankunft eines indischen Gaststudenten.jpg|thumb|Enthusiastic welcome offered to the first Indian student to arrive in [[Dresden]], [[East Germany]] (1951)]]
A long-term exchange is one which lasts six to ten months or up to one full year. Participants attend high school or university in their host countries, through a [[student visa]]. Typically, guest students coming to the United States are issued a [[J-1 visa|J-1 cultural exchange visa]] or an [[F visa|F-1 foreign student visa]]. Students are expected to integrate themselves into the host family, immersing themselves in the local community and surroundings. Upon their return to their home country they are expected to incorporate this knowledge into their daily lives, as well as give a presentation on their experience to their sponsors. Many exchange programs expect students to be able converse in the language of the host country, at least on a basic level. Some programs require students to pass a standardized test for English language comprehension prior to being accepted into a program taking them to the United States. Other programs do not examine language ability. Most exchange students become fluent in the language of the host country within a few months. Some exchange programs, such as the [[Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange]], [[KL-YES]], [[Future Leaders Exchange|FLEX]] are government-funded programs.

The Council on Standards for International Educational Travel is a not-for-profit organization committed to quality international educational travel and exchange for youth at the high school level.<ref>{{Cite web |title=CSIET |url=http://www.csiet.org/ |website=csiet.org}}</ref>