Eligibility
Program Description
Visa and Travel Documents
Getting There
AFS Orientations and Activities
Eligibility
To be eligible you must:
- Be between 15 years 0 months and 18 years 0 months old at the start of the program
- Have a minimum 2.8 cumulative GPA (on a 4.0 scale)
- Be mentally, physically, and emotionally healthy in accordance with the AFS Medical Evaluation Policy
- Have an open mind, willingness to be flexible, and the ability to adapt to new a culture, school, and environment
Program Description
Experience the magic of Malaysia—a rich collage of cultures, modern buildings next to traditional spice markets, and rainforests teeming with rare and endangered species. Imagine how your résumé will stand out from the rest of your peers with an experience in this fascinating South China Sea nation! Native Malays share citizenship with ethnic Chinese and Indians, and though the state religion is Islam, Buddhist shrines and Hindu temples are as commonplace as mosques. This diversity is celebrated throughout the year with many different multicultural festivals. Education plays an important role in Malaysian society: school is not only a place of learning, but reinforces the importance of family and community values. Forty percent of Malaysia, the more industrialized portion, is located on the Southeast Asian peninsula. The other 60 percent is on an island shared with Indonesia and Brunei, 400 miles across the South China Sea. The variety of people in Malaysia makes for a very interesting mix of cuisine—spicy Malay dishes, Chinese food, India cooking, as well as local Nyonya and Portuguese traditions. During your program, you’ll have time to learn about local activities too, like sepak takraw (a kickball type of volleyball), giant top spinning, and kite-flying.
You will arrive in Kuala Lumpur and attend a three-day orientation about the culture, life, and language. Thanks to the diverse society, your host family may belong to any one of the main ethnic groups: Malay, Chinese, or Indian. However, regardless of which family you are placed with, you will enjoy multicultural festivals celebrated throughout the year.
You will attend a public school, and uniforms are mandatory. The school year runs from January to December, with several vacations. The language of instruction is Bahasa Melayu, but English is a compulsory second language. Malaysian teenagers love sports, such as soccer, or badminton, and they also enjoy water sports such as surfing and jet skiing.
As with all AFS high school programs, you will be placed with a volunteer host family who will provide you with lodging, meals, guidance and support.
Students are placed throughout Malaysia, mostly in urban or suburban areas. Please note that your host community will be chosen for you by AFS Malaysia. AFS will offer you the opportunity to see different places and cultures in Malaysia by placing you with another host family for two to three weeks during the latter part of your stay.
Because Malaysia’s population is so diverse, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, Christian and other holidays are observed throughout the country. Depending on your placement, you will have the chance to savor a wide range of religious events.
Thanks to the diversity of cultures and religions in Malaysia, it is likely that AFS Malaysia will be able to accommodate vegetarians and students with religious-based dietary restrictions. If you require a special diet, please submit a dietary restriction addendum form (available in the supplements and addendums page of the online application) along with your Full Application.
Learn more about life in Malaysia.
Visa and Travel Documents
In order to participate in this program, you must have a U.S. passport that is valid for six months longer than your intended stay.
A passport is all that is required in order to travel to Malaysia. However, you will need a student visain order to reside in your host country.
AFS Malaysia will apply for the student visa on your behalf. In order for them to do so, you will need to provide them with a visa application form, several passport-sized ID photos, a clear photocopy of your passport (all pages), and other documents about 1-2 months prior to your departure.
The current visa processing fee is US$160, not including the cost of obtaining, translating, notarizing, and mailing the required documents. Please note that these fees and requirements are determined by the consulates and are subject to change.
AFS USA will provide you with detailed visa application instructions in the months prior to your departure.
Getting There
You and your fellow AFSers will travel together from between Los Angeles and Kuala Lumpur. After you collect your baggage and pass through customs you will be met by AFS staff and volunteers who will escort you to the arrival orientation site in the city. There you will participate in a 4 day welcome orientation in order to prepare you for your first weeks abroad.
After the orientation you and the other AFSers hosted in your region of Malaysia will travel to the host community by bus, train, or plane – accompanied by AFS volunteers – and be picked up by your host family.
AFS Orientations and Activities
In addition to the orientations that you will participate in domestically (the local Pre-Departure Orientation, Culture Trek, and the Gateway Orientation), you and your fellow AFSers will have several orientations while abroad.
The first orientation will take place upon your arrival in Malaysia. This will be a 4 day orientation that 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.
About 3-6 weeks in to your stay, you will have another orientation that will be organized on the local level. This will be a 4 day meeting and will focus on cultural and school adjustment. You will meet with AFS staff and volunteers to evaluate your first few weeks and be offered guidance to make the transition as smooth as possible.
Year program participants will also be offered a 3 day mid-stay orientation about 5-6 months in to your stay. Once again, this will be a time to meet with staff and volunteers, evaluate the first half of your experience, and gain more tips to aid your cultural adjustment.
Finally, there will be a 4 day 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.
In addition to the orientations, many local chapters organize activities for students and host families throughout the year. These will vary from chapter to chapter but may include parties or excursions to other cities or regions in Malaysia. Unlike the orientations, these activities are optional and are at the student’s expense.
