Overview

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Living and Learning

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High School Abroad in Australia:  Living and Learning

Host families:
All Pan Atlantic Foundation host families are carefully selected and live in rural areas, country towns or small cities; sometimes in capital city suburbs, in all states of Australia, including Tasmania!   

Australia is a very diverse country and every family is different, but in general all are warm-hearted, caring and welcoming.  They have an open-minded mentality, and you’ll notice they like to joke a lot- also at their own expense.   As part of the family, you’ll be expected to keep your own bedroom tidy and clean and help with household chores like vacuuming, washing the car, chores similar to the teenagers of the family.  You could also find yourself spending time outside enjoying various happenings with your family.  Possibly taking part in a picnic or barbeque at a local beach, bushwalking, playing sports or attending an outdoor music festival.  Join in the fun and get the true Australian experience!

Pan Atlantic Foundation will connect you with your host family prior to departing the U.S. so you’ll have a chance to “meet” before arriving in your new host country.

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Daily Life:

Most Australian students participate in sports training sessions after school or participate in different groups such as, drama, music, venture, or guide group.  As soon as school is over, students leave to go to their activity, they don’t “hang out” after school.   Most families spend their evenings together, if not at a sporting event or planned activity, eating dinner and watching their favorite TV shows.
Some of the nation’s most popular sports include rugby, golf, Australian rules football and sailing, tennis, volleyball and snorkeling.  Along the coastline you’ll find great beaches perfect for all kinds of water activities, maybe you’ll pick up surfing during your journey!
Be prepared to be called ‘mate’ by everyone, regardless of whether you know them or not.  And a simple ‘G’day’ could be the beginning of a brand new friendship.

School life in Australia:
The educational system in Australia is one of the finest and most innovative in the world. Thousands of exchange students enroll into Australian high schools and universities every year. You will find many modern schools with big and well-equipped classrooms.

High school in Australia make up the last five years of a 12-year school system. Most exchange students are placed in year 11, some in year 10 and very few in year 12. Since the seasons are the opposite from Europe, Australians have their summer holiday for two months from December to January. In January, a new school year begins, ending in December. As an exchange student, you can start in January or in July.

If you are placed in year 10, most of your subjects will be mandatory; this, for example, English, math and geography. In year 11, it is common that the only mandatory subject is English. The rest is up to you. You will be amazed by the unique range of subjects and sports, such as marine biology, multimedia, drama, Indonesian language, Aboriginal studies, surfing, diving and performing arts. 
The school day typically starts between 8:30-9:00am and finishes between 3:00-4:00pm Monday to Friday.  

All schools offer sports, including team sports like: Aussie rules football, netball, rugby, tennis, swimming, field hockey and more.