Program Description | Host Family & Community | Host School | Travel | Orientations & Activities | Eligibility
Program Description
The Czech Republic is the traditional crossroads of Europe and the Czech people are among the most open-minded in central Europe. When the Czech Republic gained its freedom from communist rule after years of struggle, it proudly elected a poet, Vaclav Havel, as its first president. This romantic country is renowned for its support of writers, artists, and the bohemian lifestyle. Outside of the historic capital of Prague, you’ll find a countryside full of farms and forests, villages and castles.
AFS students live with host families and attend local schools, called gymnasiums, which prepare students for further academic education. High school in the Czech Republic is a challenging yet rewarding experience.
Language
Czech is the language of the Czech Republic. It is important to distinguish between formal and informal language; different forms of address are used even among people of same age.
The ability to speak Czech is not a prerequisite for the program but we strongly suggest that you learn as much as possible prior to departure.
Host Family & Community
Students are generally placed with traditional two-parent families in a variety of settings. These can include the major urban areas such as Prague and Brno, but the majority of students are placed in smaller villages in the rural areas of both Bohemia and Moravia.
Host families in the Czech Republic, like all AFS host families worldwide, are not paid. They open their homes to students in order to share their community and culture as well as to enrich their own family lives.
Czechs
Families are hospitable and friendly. They are usually close-knit, and it is not uncommon for members of the extended family to be living at home, especially grandparents. The vast majority of the population, even in small towns, live in apartment block buildings. Like most Europeans, Czechs must deal with limited space. Czechs are very conscious of the cleanliness of their private environments.
Czechs like to travel within the country and many visit cottages outside the city on weekends. Modesty is an important value. For example, a proper response to a compliment is not to say thank you but to disagree.
Teens
Czechs enjoy various sports like hiking, bicycling and swimming in the summer and skiing in the winter. They also like to visit historic sites, go to the theater and art galleries, and participate in cultural events. Teenagers can participate in extracurricular activities at school such as sports, drama, and computer sciences. In addition, community and youth organizations organize many out-of-school activities. Czech teens socially will not go out later than 8 p.m. and often as early as 6 p.m.
Your host parents will be as protective of you as they are of their own children; you should expect to keep them informed of when and where you are going.
Meals
Czech families love to eat. Czech cuisine is basically Central European, with German, Hungarian, and Polish influences. Meat is the main dish, along with big portions of dumplings, potatoes, or rice. Most dishes are topped with a thick sauce and a heavily cooked vegetable or sauerkraut. Caraway seed, bacon, and lots of salt are common flavorings.
Host School
AFS students are placed in public high schools called Gymnazium. These schools are highly competitive and are intended to prepare students for University. You will be placed in the equivalent of junior year.
You will not be required to wear a uniform, but it’s typical for students to change from shoes into slippers when entering school.
Check out the Host School FAQ (.pdf).
Travel
You will receive a Travel Notification email about 6 weeks prior to international departure with your international flight itinerary and detailed instructions for when to arrive at the Gateway Orientation site in New York. At that point, you may arrange your domestic travel. In New York, you will join other AFS-USA participants for an overnight Gateway Orientation before you travel together to Prague. International airfare is included as part of the tuition.
Your Arrival
AFS staff and volunteers will be waiting for you at the airport when you arrive in Prague. After a 3-4 day Arrival Orientation, either your host family will come pick you up at the orientation site or you will travel by bus or train to your host community with AFS volunteers.
Your Return
You will meet your fellow AFSers in Prague at the conclusion of the program, and fly together with the U.S. participants back to New York.
Orientations & Activities
In addition to the orientations that you will participate in domestically (the locally held Pre-Departure Orientation, the Culture Trek online orientation, and the national Gateway Orientation), you and your fellow AFSers will have several orientations while abroad.
These required orientations are intended to help you maximize your AFS experience, prevent culture shock and to gain knowledge, skills and a global understanding.
Arrival Orientation
The Arrival Orientation will last 3-4 days and is intended to prepare you for your first weeks abroad. This will be an international orientation and your opportunity to meet participants from around the world. In addition to covering the rules and safety tips, there will be an emphasis on approaching your experience from an intercultural learning perspective.
The Orientation also includes five Czech lessons. There will be a one-day trip to a local attraction, where you will discover one of the thousands of historical sites in the country. You will also learn how to barbecue in the Czech style. To present a bit of your national culture and your own personal talents, there will be a talent show one evening.
Mid-Stay Orientations
About 6 weeks after your arrival, you will participate in a second weekend-long orientation. You will evaluate your first few weeks and consult with your fellow AFSers and volunteers about any problems, doubts, or miscommunications that may have occurred up to that point.
If you are participating in a year program, you will also be offered a 2 day Mid-Stay Orientation about 5 months in to your stay. Once again, this will be a time to meet with staff and volunteers, evaluate the first part of your experience, and gain more tips to aid your cultural adjustment. You will also learn how to prepare a traditional Czech Christmas: bake cookies, decorate a Christmas tree and sing carols.
End-of-Stay Orientation
Finally, there will be an evaluation camp in the weeks prior to departure. This is your chance to reflect on your experience and to share with other AFSers. You will also prepare for the cultural readjustment that is a part of returning home.
Optional Activities
One highlight, organized by AFS Czech Republic, is a trip to Moravia. You will stay in a simple speleologist’s house, cook by yourself with other exchange students, visit castles and caves and relax in the beautiful natural environment.
During your time in the Czech Republic, there will be additional activities held by your local AFS chapter which will be optional and not included in your tuition.
Eligibility
To participate in this program, you must:
- Be within the age range upon departure (located in the ‘read more’ drop-down)
- Have a minimum 2.8 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale
- Be mentally, physically, and emotionally healthy in accordance with AFS Medical Evaluation Policies
- Have a U.S. passport at the time of application. Passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the program end date
- Have an open mind, willingness to be flexible, and the ability to adapt to new a culture, school, and environment
Participation Notes
Vegetarians will be considered for this program, but students other dietary restrictions may have difficulty in the Czech Republic.
Academically committed High School graduates may be considered for this program.
Although there is no language requirement in order to participate in this program, we strongly suggest that you learn as much Czech as possible prior to departure.
