Rotary District 5130 Youth Exchange

Youth Exchange
Rotary District 5130
For the Counties of
Sonoma, Napa, Mendocino, Lake, Humbolt and Del Norte
California, USA

 
Untitled Document

For the Outbound Student Counselor

Advertise the Opportunity

  • Put up posters at the school.
  • Schedule announcements on the "morning bulletin" at the school.
  • Flyers in parent addressed school mailings.
  • Engage the Interact Club in the search for candidates.
  • Promote the program through newspaper articles.
  • Existing Inbound students can be excellent "promoters."

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Student Applications

  • All applicants should be required to fill out a brief introductory application, which should consist of at least page one of the standard application form. In addition the student should be asked to submit a handwritten response to such questions as:
     
    1. Why do you want to be an exchange student?
    2. What are the four most important problems in world?

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Interviewing Candidates

 

All applicants that respond in a reasonable manner should be shown the courtesy of an interview with the Youth Exchange Committee. Establish a consistent set of interview questions for each candidate.

The following is an example of a standardized interview:

  1. What was the most and least important course in your High School career?
  2. What is your GPA?
  3. What is your most favorite way to spend a Saturday night?
  4. Do you drink or smoke?
  5. When was the last time you went on a family trip? What was your level participation?
  6. What are your home chores? Do you get paid for them?
  7. Do you or any of your family members speak languages other than English?
  8. What languages are spoken in Belgium?
  9. Where is Bosnia?  Are we after oil there?
  10. What is the average family income in the United States?
  11. Briefly describe Rotary.
  12. What can you gain from being a Rotary Exchange student?
  13. What is the most important thing you have ever attempted?
  14. You won't be able to drive while on a Rotary Exchange.  What effect will this have on you?
  15. Do you share a room with a sibling?
  16. Do you have any medical problems or allergies?
  17. Does it bother you to be in the same room with a smoker?
  18. What will you do as an ambassador of your country and Rotary?
  19. What is the "greatest" thing about your hometown?

Whatever the questions may be, they must be consistent from student to student.

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Selection Criteria

  • Age Requirements
    Minimum of 16 years at departure. Can be no more than 18 during exchange year.
  • Relationship to Rotarian
    Neither preference nor disqualification based on this.
  • Language Requirements
    No specific requirements. A student that has studied any language is going to be more responsive to the learning process when they arrive in their host country.
  • Reasons
    Are the student's motives in agreement with the objectives of the program?
  • Ambassadorial Skills
    Do they know their own country? What do they know of the host country?
  • Worldly Experiences
    Has the student traveled in the USA? In any foreign country? Has the student been away from family for any extended period of time?
  • Educational Qualifications
    Has the student taken a broad spectrum of course material? Has the student been involved in extracurricular activities? Sports, drama or leadership roles? Are communication skills sufficient to speak before a Rotary club meeting?
  • Social Flexibility
    Does the student demonstrate an ability to bend with the demands of new situations? Does the student indicate that he/she has an agenda of political - social activities or attitudes?
  • Appearance and Dress
    Does the student appear or dress such that they represent the mainstream of American students? Is the Rotary club going to be proud to be represented by this student? Does the student demonstrate a high level of personal hygiene that will be acceptable to their host parents? Would you want this student in your home?
  • Residency
    Is the student going to be available to participate in sponsoring Rotary club activities when he/she returns from exchange?
  • Parental Support
    Does the student have the emotional support of the parents? Does the student have the financial capability? $3000 by the date of departure.

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Selection Phase 1

  • Prior to November 15, establish a quantitative mechanism for judging the applicants. An example of a uniform score sheet is provided here.
     

Youth Exchange Evaluation Student

 

Academic qualifications

1

2

3

4

5

Ability to speak to adults

1

2

3

4

5

Interests

1

2

3

4

5

Social values

1

2

3

4

5

Social values

1

2

3

4

5

Language skills

1

2

3

4

5

World understanding

1

2

3

4

5

Ambassadorial skills

1

2

3

4

5

Reason for exchange

1

2

3

4

5

Flexibility

1

2

3

4

5

Curiosity / Initiative

1

2

3

4

5

Physical appearance

1

2

3

4

5

Totals

         
 
  • Determine the top three candidates to enter phase two of the selection process.
  • Those three candidates should be asked to complete the entire Rotary Exchange Student application. Arrange an interview with the parents of the three finalists.
  • Determine the parent's level of interest. This may be a determining factor as to whether the student fulfills the exchange.
  • Advise the parents verbally and in writing of estimated expenses for the Rotary Youth Exchange program.
     
    1. Application fee: $200.00
    2. Rotary Jacket: $25.00-$150.00
    3. Language Course: $300 (when applicable this is an estimate of usual cost)
    4. Insurance: $320.00
    5. Airfare: $2000.00 plus

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Selection Phase 2

  • Prior to December 15, review the complete applications and at committee level determine an order of selection.
  • Inform the candidates in writing of the selection.
  • Encourage the second and third place candidates to remain involved as possible alternates.
  • Advise the candidates of the dates of the winter and spring orientations. In the event that the first choice student resigns from the program prior to the orientation the alternate may be asked to attend that orientation. Remind the alternates that other clubs may have an opening that they may be eligible to fill.
  • Compliment ALL of the applicants for their involvement. Address a letter to each thanking them for their participation. Samples of such letters may be found in the appendix of this manual.
  • Encourage eligible students reapply next year. Inform all students of other Rotary opportunities such as Group Study Exchange and Ambassadorial Scholarships and summer short-term exchanges.
  • How well you manage the letter of regret will have a significant affect on the future of your program.
  • Notify District chair of your selection.
  • The student must attend all District activities from the date of selection. The ski trip is crucial in introducing the student to the program, and in assuring that you have a good candidate before it is too late to change.
  • All candidates must be submitted to District prior to January 15.

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After Selection

  • Encourage the selected student to attend Rotary meetings to learn more about Rotary and increase the probability of their remaining in the program.
  • Assist the selected student in the process of developing a "program" for the Host Rotary Club that will represent our area, school, Rotary Club and the student's family.
  • Advise the student on the importance of selecting gifts for the families, counselor and Rotary Club in the exchange country.
  • These should be token gifts that are representative of the student's hometown and industry.

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Preparation for Departure

  • Advise the student to write or FAX the host parents in the exchange country as soon as the student is aware of his / her assignment.
  • Advise the student to discuss clothing requirements with host families prior to packing.
  • Have student contact airlines to determine luggage limitations. Advise student on methods of money transfers, use of credit cards and costs of living in the host country. Provide the student and parents with information regarding "Rekap" and "It's Your World Travel!"
  • Be sure to give the student and the parent an orientation on the type of open-ended ticket to purchase, advise them that the district in their Host country will set the date of travel.

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Departure

  • Present the student with 4 to 5 Rotary Club banners to be traded in the host country.
  • Present the student with 4 to 5 small American flags for the host parents and Rotary Club.
  • Provide the student with a club roster so that the student can write members during the exchange year.
  • Enlist as many members of the club as possible to attend the student's departure at the airport.
  • Encourage the student to write to members of the club. Wave Good-bye! Comfort the student's parents. Compliment yourself!

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During the Year

  • Write to the student and encourage other members of the club to write to the student.
  • Send the student a Christmas card and birthday card.

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 Contact District Chair Sondra Schaub: sondrajschaub@earthlink.net
707-822-7807 Cell 707-616-7790 Fax 707-822-7807
Copyright 2007 - RI District 5130 Youth Exchange Program

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