This year, some twenty-three hundred teenagers from all over the world will spend about ten months in their US homes.
This
year
,
some
twenty-three
hundred
teenagers
from
all
over
the
world
will
spend
about
ten
months
in
their
US
homes
.
They will attend US schools, meet US teenagers, and form impressions of the real America.
They
will
attend
US
schools
,
meet
US
teenagers
,
and
form
impressions
of
the
real
America
.
At the same time, about thirteen hundred American teenagers will go to other countries to learn new languages and gain a new understanding of the rest of the world.
At
the
same
time
,
about
thirteen
hundred
American
teenagers
will
go
to
other
countries
to
learn
new
languages
and
gain
a
new
understanding
of
the
rest
of
the
world
.
Here is a two-way students exchange in action.
Here
is
a
two-way
students
exchange
in
action
.
Fred, nineteen, spent last year in Germany with George's family.
Fred
,
nineteen
,
spent
last
year
in
Germany
with
George
's
family
.
In turn, George's son Mike spent a year in Fred's home in America.
In
turn
,
George
's
son
Mike
spent
a
year
in
Fred
's
home
in
America
.
Fred knew little German when he arrived, but after two months' study, the language began to come to him.
Fred
knew
little
German
when
he
arrived
,
but
after
two
months
'
study
,
the
language
began
to
come
to
him
.
School was completely different from what he had expected--- much harder.
School
was
completely
different
from
what
he
had
expected
--
-
much
harder
.
Students rose respectfully when a teacher entered the room.
Students
rose
respectfully
when
a
teacher
entered
the
room
.
They took fourteen subjects instead of the six that are usual in the United States.
They
took
fourteen
subjects
instead
of
the
six
that
are
usual
in
the
United
States
.
There were almost no extracurricular activities.
There
were
almost
no
extracurricular
activities
.
Family life, too, was different.
Family
life
,
too
,
was
different
.
The father's word was law, and all activities were around the family rather than the individual.
The
father
's
word
was
law
,
and
all
activities
were
around
the
family
rather
than
the
individual
.
Fred found the food too simple at first.
Fred
found
the
food
too
simple
at
first
.
Also, he missed having a car.
Also
,
he
missed
having
a
car
.
'Back home, you pick up some friends in a car and go out and have a good time.
'Back
home
,
you
pick
up
some
friends
in
a
car
and
go
out
and
have
a
good
time
.
In Germany, you walk, but you soon learn to like it.'
In
Germany
,
you
walk
,
but
you
soon
learn
to
like
it
.
'
At the same time, in America, Mike, a friendly German boy, was also forming his idea.
At
the
same
time
,
in
America
,
Mike
,
a
friendly
German
boy
,
was
also
forming
his
idea
.
'I suppose I should criticize American schools,' he said.
'I
suppose
I
should
criticize
American
schools
,
'
he
said
.
'It is too easy by our level.
'It
is
too
easy
by
our
level
.
But I have to say that I like it very much.
But
I
have
to
say
that
I
like
it
very
much
.
In Germany we do nothing but study.
In
Germany
we
do
nothing
but
study
.
Here we take part in many activities.
Here
we
take
part
in
many
activities
.
There ought to be some middle ground between the two.'
There
ought
to
be
some
middle
ground
between
the
two
.
'
This year, some twenty-three hundred teenagers from all over the world will spend about ten months in their US homes. They will attend US schools, meet US teenagers, and form impressions of the real America. At the same time, about thirteen hundred American teenagers will go to other countries to learn new languages and gain a new understanding of the rest of the world.  Here is a two-way students exchange in action. Fred, nineteen, spent last year in Germany with George's family. In turn, George's son Mike spent a year in Fred's home in America.  Fred knew little German when he arrived, but after two months' study, the language began to come to him. School was completely different from what he had expected--- much harder. Students rose respectfully when a teacher entered the room. They took fourteen subjects instead of the six that are usual in the United States. There were almost no extracurricular activities.  Family life, too, was different. The father's word was law, and all activities were around the family rather than the individual. Fred found the food too simple at first. Also, he missed having a car.  'Back home, you pick up some friends in a car and go out and have a good time. In Germany, you walk, but you soon learn to like it.'  At the same time, in America, Mike, a friendly German boy, was also forming his idea. 'I suppose I should criticize American schools,' he said. 'It is too easy by our level. But I have to say that I like it very much. In Germany we do nothing but study. Here we take part in many activities. There ought to be some middle ground between the two.'