Today's post going to be about the questions that people has been asking me about my exchange program :)
Let's start with the 1st question :D
1. How I know about my exchange program ?
In December 2014 , I was browsing around on Youtube ( as usual ) and watching Japan video. Then I came across this video talking about an exchange. So I became curios about it and what I did is that I research more about the exchange program. Luckily in Malaysia , they have the exchange program :D
2. How I apply AFS/ Exchange Program ?
First of all , I went to their website which is http://www.afsmas.org/ and in their website , they have this Study Abroad thingy right there.
After you clicked the Study Abroad thingy , it will move to other page which have the list of the programs they have.
which is :
Year Programme - 11 months
Semester Programme - 6months
Intensive Programme - 2months
Very Short Programme - 2-6weeks
So the reason why I choose a year programme is because my main aim is Japan and I want to experience all the 4 seasons in Japan xP so yeahhh!
After you choose the programme that you want , below of the list they have the apply button.
Just click that button , then it will automatically download the application form and you just print and fill the form and send it to AFS office :)
p/s : I will make another post about ' How To Become An Exchange Student' in details in the future ! so stay tune !
3. How long do I will be staying in Japan ?
Like I said earlier , I will staying in Japan for about a year. To be exact time that I will be staying there is actually 11 months but let just call it a year ( since its called a year programme xD )
4. How old do you need to be an exchange student ?
In their website, they already stated the qualification to be an exchange student. For Malaysia the age limit is 15-17 years old which is also known as form3-5. But I heard other countries the age limit is 16-18 years old. So yeah , its kinda depend on where you from :)
5. Do you need a good grade or need to be smart ?
I'm not sure about this but for me , my grade are pretty bad when I first apply the exchange application. But I think grade are not that really matter and I think they just wanted to know wether you still can learn or not xP and also in their website , they already mentioned that good grade are not that important but you need to passed you exam ( at least laa )
6. Interview ??
During the interview , is not that difficult. You just need to be yourself and be confident. If you worry about the question that they ask, what you can do is do researchs about the country that you want to go and just know what to talk about during your interview. Just be yourself and be confident. What I did a week before the interview, I go and have a talk with the teacher that I feel conformtable with which is my school counsellor. She gave me a lot of advice and motivation on just to be myself and be confident :)
7. Is it worth it to go on an exchange programme ?
Even if you choose to go to an intensive or very short programme , is really worth it. When you go on an exchange programme, its not like you wasting your time there slacking off and do nothing. Everyday you have new activities upon you during the exchange.Its really different from your own country. For me, I from Malaysia and I will be going to Japan and I know my life would 100% different when I in Japan soon! I heard lots of returnees experience saying how they life went after going to an exchange programme.
So its really worth it! Its like once in a lifetime opportunity!
And also for me, I'm 17years old last year and the age limit is 17years old. So if I didn't go , that is.. No next time for me! But if you 15 or 16 years old, there's still be next time for you guys !
Just remember ! If you get it ! Just grab it !
8. Price ??
For me , I'm going to Japan for about a year and its cost RM27K ( the price can be vary depend on what country and programme that you choose ) In the payment , they cover a lots of things in you home country and your host country.
So here's some of the things that they cover :
-Orientation in you home and host country ! which your pre-departure and arrival orientation.
-Flight ticket from home to host country and the flight ticket to your home country after you finished the programme.
- They also cover the transportation in your host country ! For an example , in Malaysia we have the Touch&Go card that we can use to ride public transport right ? Well , worry no more because they cover that thing also in your host country !
- They also gave you an emergency cellphone that you can use during your exchange.
- When they gave you a cellphone , they also gave you a simscard and monthly paid pre-paid. So you no need to worry about the communication in your host country !
- They also provide 24hours medical thingy. Meaning that if you get sick during the exchange , you just go to the nearby clinic or hospital and no need to worry about the payment.
- Of course your host school's fees and textbooks!
There's many things that the payment cover and the only thing that they don't cover is your pocket money which is the money that you want to have fun !
9. How do I pay the payment ?
The payment is pay by instalment meaning that in the beginning you pay this much , the middle this much and the end you pay this much. As long you pay all of it before your departure date. If you fail to pay all of the payment, they have the right to cancelled out your name from the programme!
10. Do I know my host family ?
Well actually yes and no xD Because yes I know my host family and no , I don't know that much ! When AFS sent me an email about my host family, they just said this is my host family and that's it.. but I'm still waiting for their email to give me my host family details T_T
11. How many subjects we learn in our host country ?
It depends on which country that you choose because the educational systems is different in each country.. For me , I will be learning the same subjects as the Japanese students but I will mainly focus on Japanese language :)
Well that's about it for my Q&A ! If you guys have more question about my exchange programme just go ahead and ask me :)
Ask me anytime and I'm sure will reply to you ASAP !!
Bye for now !!
