Youth For Understanding USA
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What kind of exchange experience do you want?
I want to spend a all program lengths  studying in Slovakia, or maybe all regions. And I'm looking for something with a traditional exchange  and I definitely want to show off my need for  any language skills. Can I go whenever?
  • All around the world.

    all regions
    Africa & Middle East
    Asia & Pacific
    Eastern Europe
    Latin America
    Scandinavian Countries
    Western Europe
    North America
  • Pick a place, any place.

    Say what?

    Any language requirements?

     Any  Yes  No
  • What I'm into.

    a traditional exchange
    a gap year option
    college & university programs
    language classes
    a connection to the Arts
    sports & outdoors
    a volunteer program
  • How long I want to go.

    All program lengths
    Summer
    Short-term
    Semester
    Year-long

    When can I leave?

    whenever
    May to September
    December to March
Show me my options >

Glance

Scholarships Available

385 - Holcomb & Farnell Foreign Stud...
368 - YFU Community Grant
384 - YFU Financial Aid Fund

Age Requirement

December 1, 2001 - August 1, 2004. Students who do not meet this age requirement or will graduate from high school before the start of their program will be considered for admission on a case-by-case basis.

Language

Slovak. Previous language study is not required. YFU Slovakia offers an intensive 4-5 day language course immediately after the arrival seminar at no additional cost.

Host Family Placement

Students may be placed throughout the country in rural, suburban, or urban areas.

School

Begins in early September and ends in late June.

Pastimes

Most Slovakians enjoy ice hockey, spelunking, sailing, skiing, hiking, and soccer.

"Lepšia hrst' priatel'stva, ako voz dukátov." This traditional Slovak saying translates to "A handful of friendship is better than a wagonload of gold," and as a YFU student in Slovakia you'll get to experience this sentiment for yourself!
Learn more about Slovakia.

Academic Programs

During your time in Slovakia, you will live with a carefully selected host family and attend a local high school. Part of your experience will be:

 

School: Slovakian high schools offer a variety of courses, and exchange students have some degree of flexibility when it comes to choosing their classes. Lots of YFU students take Slovak literature and history in order to learn about their new home! YFU Slovakia also offers a bilingual (English and Slovak) program, where students are placed in a bilingual high school and take classes in both languages.

 

Orientations: All students applying for the semester or year program must be available for a mandatory 3-day National Pre-Departure Orientation, which usually takes place in mid-July. This orientation is a required part of the program aimed at preparing students for their experience overseas. All students will participate in a one-day local pre-departure orientation in May or June. 

Your program in Slovakia will start with a three-day arrival orientation in Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. It will be followed by an introductory language course. Here, you will study the Slovak language under the tutelage of a professional instructor and develop the language skills required to attend and be successful in a Slovakian high school.

For year students, YFU Slovakia will hold a four- to five-day mid-year seminar in January or February, which includes a ski course (skiing is one of Slovakia's most important sports) and trekking excursion. During this seminar, you'll get the opportunity to experience some of Slovakia's favorite pastimes with other YFU students from around the world!

Your program will end with a re-entry orientation, during which you will reflect on your experiences and say goodbye to the friends and family that you made while in Slovakia. All orientation costs are included in program tuition.

 

Extracurriculars: YFU exchange students are encouraged to participate in school-sponsored clubs and teams, as well as any extracurricular activities offered by their host communities. Slovakia is renowned for its after-school art programs that it offers nationwide, and some students opt to apply to one of these schools upon arrival in Slovakia.

 

Optional Excursions:  YFU Slovakia also offers a range of cultural trips for an additional fee. During your academic program, you may participate in a trip to Krakow (Poland), travel to the Czech Republic to visit Prague, visit the Capital City of Hungary - Budapest (for a weekend trip), see Christmas Markets in Vienna (Austria) or visit local folk art and music festivals. More information about these expeditions will be provided upon arrival in Slovakia.

 

Bilingual Program

Students on the bilingual school program have the opportunity to attend a high school where courses are taught in both English and Slovak. Students will be enrolled in the one of the best English Bilingual high schools in Slovakia and will attend most of their traditional classes in English, but will be enrolled in at least one Slovak language and literature course. Those in the bilingual high school program should keep in mind that they may be asked to pay for private school tuition of up to €500.

 

Tuition Includes

-Placement with a host family
-Enrollment in a local Slovakian high school
-Airport transfers
-Domestic and international travel
-All pre-departure and post-arrival orientations
-Pre-program support by trained YFU staff
-Language Course
-Support from a YFU Slovakia Area Representative while on program
-Comprehensive Insurance

 

Additional Information

 

Visa Information: Information regarding visas and other immigration processes will be provided upon enrollment. 

 

Additional Costs: Program tuition does not include personal spending money or school-related costs such as books and school trips.  

Programs Code Departure Return Full Tuition
Year
Fall Year
Year Bilingual School

1110 *
1431 *

late August
late August

late June
late June

$14,495
$15,995
Semester
Fall Semester
Fall Semester Bilingual School

1111 *
1432 *

late August
late August

early February
early February

$13,995
$14,495

* Programs also available to graduates