Program Description | Host Family & Community | Host School | Travel | Orientations & Activities | Eligibility
Program Description
The Swiss are famous for their achievements in the competitive fields of finance, medicine, and design, but they have a softer side as well, with a profound love of family and the natural world. The Swiss are passionate about outdoor sports, especially hiking, skiing, and bicycling in the beautiful mountains and forests. In a society where three languages are spoken – German, French, and Italian – the Swiss have earned their reputation for diplomacy.
Swiss schools are known throughout the world for their high standards, so your high school experience will be challenging but worthwhile. Although Switzerland is trilingual, most AFSers live with German-speaking host families. Students are placed throughout Switzerland, though are most frequently hosted in suburban areas (60%), rather than urban ones (20%).
Language
The official and written languages in Switzerland are German, French, Italian and Romansh. The Swiss-German dialect is spoken in the German-speaking areas of Switzerland. French is spoken in the western part of the country and Italian in the south. Romansh is a language that derives directly from ancient Latin and has survived and developed in the isolation of Alpine valleys.
For the Trimester program, placements are not possible without previous language background of French of German (at least 2 years). For the year program, previous knowledge of a language is always encouraged, but it won't guarantee you a placement in any specific region.
Host Family & Community
In Swiss culture, the nuclear family is the most important social unit and they enjoy participating in many activities together during the weekend or visiting family or friends. To get around, Swiss rely on well-organized public transportation, but many also walk and bike. It is easy to get around, and cities are in most cases easily accessible.
Host families in Switzerland, like all AFS host families worldwide, are volunteers and 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.
The Swiss
Family life is important to the Swiss and they often spend time with family taking trips to nearby natural resorts, as well as having healthy meals together. The Swiss have a love for the outdoors and like to go hiking, skiing, and bicycling in the beautiful mountains and forests.
Teens
During the week, high school students usually do not go out with friends because they have homework to do, but they are frequently involved with after-school sports, music lessons, and extracurricular clubs. During the weekends, Swiss teenagers enjoy participating in clubs or are involved in community activities such as village festivals, gymnastics meets, or historic celebrations.
Meals
Dinner is the main meal of the day and is an opportunity for the family to eat together, exchange views, and make plans. Swiss families tend to care about healthy foods. Swiss cuisine is mainly a union of French and German alpine cuisine. One famous dish is fondue, in which Emmenthaler and Gruyère cheese is melted with white wine and eaten with bread cubes. Rosti (a crispy, fried, shredded potato) is the Swiss-German national dish. When talking about the Swiss cuisine, one can’t forget to mention their chocolate, which is world-famous and beloved by all.
Host School
Swiss students are highly motivated and disciplined when it comes to academics. The Swiss school system is very competitive and a lot is expected of foreign students. Students cannot choose their subjects but have to take a given subject combination. Swiss schools don't allow much social life, especially for the Swiss students.
There are seven compulsory core subjects:
- First national language
- Second national language
- Third national language, English or an ancient language (Latin or Greek)
- Mathematics
- Natural sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Physics)
- Humanities and social sciences (History, Geography, Economy and Law)
- Visual arts and/or music
In addition to those seven core subjects, pupils have to choose one in-depth subject (Greek, Latin, Italian, Spanish, English, Physics, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry) and one supplementary subject (Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics, History, Geography, Philosophy, Visual Arts, Physical Education, and Religion,
Even though most placements are in small towns or suburbs, cultural activities are always available, i.e. theaters, museums, music forums. Schools do not provide social activities. Students need to be strong in motivation and initiative to create activities outside of 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 City. At that point, you may arrange your domestic travel. In New York City, you will join other AFS-USA participants for an overnight Gateway Orientation before you travel together to Zurich, Switzerland.
International airfare is included as part of the tuition, but it is your responsibility to get from your home town to the Gateway Orientation site.
Your Arrival
After the Gateway Orientation in New York, you and other fellow AFSers will travel together to Zurich, the capital city. On arrival, you will be met at the airport by AFS staff, volunteers and your host family. You will go directly to your host family’s place. If distance prevents your host family from coming to the airport, you will be accompanied by a volunteer who brings you to your host family’s home.
Your Return
Before your departure, there will be a final AFS orientation to prepare you for the return home. You will then fly from Zurish back to New York City with the other AFS students living in Switzerland.
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 orientations give you a chance to gather important information about your host country, to meet other AFS teens from around the world and make new friends.
Arrival Orientation
Within three days of arriving in Switzerland, AFS students with little or no knowledge of German, French or Italian will participate in a special intensive language course right at the beginning of their stay. For students with better command of German, French or Italian, school might start right after their arrival. Applicants must take a language test before being placed.
One to two weeks after your arrival, you will get together regionally for an orientation weekend. By then you will have formed first impressions of Swiss life and it will therefore be appropriate to talk about those experiences.
The Orientation camps are organized and held by volunteers. Students will receive an introduction to Swiss culture and life (e.g. school system, public transportation, family life) and an explanation of AFS rules.
Mid-Stay Orientation
In the first month after arrival, you will attend an intensive four-week long language course in German, French, or Italian (depending on the language placement). Each student will have to present themselves to the language school on the first Monday after arrival, where your language knowledge will be tested. Students with high language proficiency will directly attend regular high school and do not need to attend the language school. The language course is four hours a day of language instruction for four weeks.
End-of-Stay Orientation
Around six weeks before your departure, you will attend an evaluation weekend, which will be a great opportunity to evaluate what you have learned during your stay in Switzerland and gear your thoughts to your return home.
Optional Activities
In addition to the orientations, many local chapters organize activities for students and host families throughout the year, such as the option of attending a weeklong camp, usually up in the mountains, where students participate in regional projects, usually dedicated to nature. These activities will vary from chapter to chapter but may include parties or excursions to other cities or regions in Switzerland. Unlike the orientations, these activities are optional and are at the student’s expense.
Eligibility
To participate in this program, you must:
- (Trimester Program only) Have 3 years of French or German formal study
- 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 can be placed, though mainly in the German region.
AFS Switzerland strongly prefers non-graduates. Graduates should have graduated no longer than one month before the beginning of the program.
For the Trimester program, placements are not possible without previous language background of French of German (at least 2 years). For the year program, previous knowledge of a language is always encouraged, but it won't guarantee you a placement in any specific region.
It is possible to have a non-smoking placement.
