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 , 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
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Glance

Age Requirement

March 31, 2000 - August 30, 2003. Short term program: March 31, 2001-August 30, 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

Turkish. Previous language study is not required. Students may enroll in a supplemental Turkish Language Course while on program for an extra fee.

Host Family Placement

Host families are generally located in the Izmir or Ankara regions of Turkey. There is a possibility of limited placements in the Bursa and Adana areas. Istanbul is not among YFU Turkey's hosting destinations due to its complex structure and safety issues.

The Republic of Turkey is a unique blend of East and West. Home to over 70 million inhabitants, Turkey borders 8 countries and the Mediterranean Sea to the South. Make Turkey your home for a summer or academic year and experience this diversity for yourself!
Learn more about Turkey.

Summer Program

Explore Turkey

Your summer stay with a Turkish host family will enhance your knowledge of Turkish language and culture. During your summer in Turkey, you will attend a two-day orientation upon arrival in Turkey and two-day farewell seminar with cultural expeditions close to the venue (either Izmir, Ankara or Istanbul) prior to your return home. Students will also have the opportunity to experience cultural expeditions to Istanbul, the third largest city in the world! These trips are included in the program tuition. Additional cultural trips to various cities lasting from two to three days may be available at a nominal cost of €100-€200.

Academic Program

Your time in Turkey will be spent at a local high school while you live with a host family, which will expose you to everyday life in this beautiful country.

 

School: Throughout your stay, you will be attending either an Anatolian high school (a public or state high school) or private school in cooperation with YFU Turkey. Students are never placed in grade 12 for their program; instead, they are typically placed in 10th or 11th grade.

 

Host family: Students are placed in regions throughout Turkey that have a strong YFU presence. Students are mostly placed in Ankara, but may be placed in urban, suburban, small towns, or rural areas as well.

 

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.
Upon arrival in Turkey, students will attend a five-day arrival orientation in Izmir to introduce them to the language and culture through a Cultural Heritage Program. Trips to several cities such as Cappadocia, Ephesus and Olympos are incorporated into the orientations. There will also be a 5-day midterm orientation and a 3-day re-entry seminar prior to your return home. All orientation costs are included in program tuition.

Language Courses: Immediately after the arrival orientation in Izmir, students will attend a several-week Turkish language course in order to prepare them for Turkish high school. More information about the language course is available to students after enrollment.

 

Other: Although students will not need to pay to attend high school, they are responsible for travel to school, school uniforms, and textbooks. If you do not wish to pack a lunch for school, school lunches cost approximately €100/month. Smoking in strictly prohibited in Turkey for people under 18 and is not welcomed within the Turkish family culture.

Tuition Includes

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

Program tuition does not include personal spending money. YFU Turkey recommends that students plan for about €100 for every month that they are on program.

Application Deadline

The application deadline for all winter and spring departure programs (January-March) is October 1. The deadline to apply for scholarships is December 1. The deadline for all summer or fall departure programs (June-September) is March 15. Programs can fill up before the deadline, so we encourage early submission!

 

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