years-experience access-alumni-network airfare airport-pick-up assistance-with-application-process community-service-placement continuous-support cultural-trips domestic-transport emergency-support field-trips global-competence-certificate grade-transcripts host-family-placement housing individual-contact-person internship-placement language-instruction meals medical-insurance orientations-during-your-time-abroad other pre-departure-orientation product-materials re-entry-orientation school-dipolma school-materials school-placement school-transport school-uniform stipend teaching-materials vaccinations visa-and-passport-fees visa-application-assistance world-wide-presence

High School in Paraguay

Spend a year or semester in el corazón de Sudamerica (the heart of South America) learning Spanish and immersing yourself in Paraguayan daily life.

Study Abroad in Paraguay

Spend a year or semester in el corazón de Sudamerica (the heart of South America) learning Spanish and immersing yourself in Paraguayan daily life. By living with a host family and attending a local high school, you’ll get an inside look at Paraguay’s fusion of Spanish and indigenous Guaraní cultures. This is your chance to participate in local customs like the asado (a traditional barbeque) and become an integral part of your community. Paraguay just might be South America’s most untouched, natural gem, so get ready for an adventure and learning experience that’s bound to change your life!

Experience first-hand the Paraguayan values, discover who you really are, make new friendships for life and be immersed in a fascinating intercultural experience.

Things to Know About Paraguay

In Paraguay, you might be greeted in Spanish (“¿Cómo está?”) or the local indigenous dialect, Guaraní (“¿Mba’eichapa?”). Paraguayans are generally bilingual—they say that Spanish is the language of the head, while Guaraní is the language of the heart. Hand gestures are a common way to communicate; you can give a “thumbs up” when saying “Al pelo” (which means that everything is good) or “Iporã” (which means that everything is fine). To be respectful, Paraguayans often address adults as Don (for men) and Doña (for women).

What's included in your experience

  • Airfare

Eligibility

Graduates Eligible? Yes, high school graduates are eligible to participate.
Minimum GPA 2.5
Age Range 15yrs, 0 months to
18yrs, 6 months at start of program
Language Skills Preferred, but not required
COVID-19 Vaccine Strongly recommended, not required*
*AFS cannot predict and is not responsible for changes to host school or government health requirements which may change from the time of application and could impact program eligibility

Based on differences in culture, strict government regulation of medications, and other local customs, it has been our experience that not all of our international AFS partners are able to support students with certain diagnoses, including but not limited to, severe allergies, strict dietary restrictions, ADD/ADHD, and those currently taking or who have taken psychotropic medications and/or received counseling for mental/psychological issues within the past year. If this applies to you, please get in touch with an AFS Study Abroad Specialist early so that we can determine the right experience for you.

Your Journey to Paraguay

Visa Information

AFS will provide visa guidance and support documents (if applicable). Visa processes can be lengthy and complex; you may be required to travel long distances to apply for the visa if there is not an embassy, consulate, etc. close to your home. Your passport should be valid for at least 6 months beyond a return date from your host country. We urge you to apply for or renew your passport as soon as possible if applying to an AFS program. We recommend not taking any trips (domestically or internationally) within 2 months prior to your AFS program as it may interfere with the visa application process and result in a late program start date.

Travel & Orientation

In the months before your departure, AFSers have the opportunity to participate in various preparatory activities, including an online Student Learning Journey, which is an interactive course that brings AFSers from around the world together to learn how to develop essential global skills, intercultural communication techniques, and practice social impact, maximizing the outcomes of the AFS learning experience.

Also during this time, AFS-USA will coordinate and share your international travel with you. You will need to coordinate your own travel to the point of international departure. From there, your journey in Paraguaywill begin when you land, where you’ll be met by staff and volunteers…as well as your fellow AFSers from around the world! Shortly after arrival, you will attend an arrival orientation and get a crash course on Paraguayan culture, living with a host family, safety, and support structures.

Your Accommodations

Meeting Your Paraguayan Host Family

Paraguayan society centers on the extended family, and children often live with their parents until they marry. That means you could have host siblings of any age, ranging from small children to young adults in their twenties or thirties.

Paraguayans are very social with their neighbors. Friends often drop in for impromptu visits, announcing their presence by clapping their hands at the gate. Invited guests don’t need to be punctual since it’s common to arrive even hours late at a friend’s or relative’s house.

PAR-HS-afs-students-in-paraguay-2

Your High School in Paraguay

Like in many South American countries, the school year in Paraguay begins in mid-February and ends in November, with a two-week winter break in July. You can expect to be enrolled in a private or public high school. Then you’ll begin to focus on one of three areas of study: business/accounting/administration, social sciences, or biological sciences. If you go to a public school, you’ll likely attend either morning (7 am to 12 pm) or afternoon (1 pm to 6 pm) classes, not both. After classes are over, you can use your free time to participate in community activities or explore Paraguayan culture with your new friends.

PAR-HS-afs-student-in-paraguay-1

Settling into daily life

Teenage Life in Paraguay

Teenagers tend to get together in town plazas to relax, chat, and get something to eat. They like to listen to music with a strong beat, and a lot of what you’ll hear in Paraguay is heavily influenced by music from Spain or the United States. Dancing is popular, whether traditional or contemporary, especially the Danza Paraguaya (the Paraguayan Polka). Soccer is the country’s favorite sport, with passionate fans of all ages. Your Paraguayan friends may also enjoy volleyball, tennis, or basketball, and some of them might play on community teams.

PAR-HS-Yerba-Mate

Foods You’ll Encounter in Paraguay

In Paraguay, you can find vendors selling food on the street almost anywhere you go, and it’s common for people to eat and drink their meals in public squares. Popular dishes include mandioca (cassava), sopa Paraguaya (cornbread baked with cheese, onions, and sometimes meat), chipa (hard cheese bread), tortillas, and empanadas (deep-fried meat or vegetable turnovers). Paraguayans often relax by drinking tereré (cold herbal tea) and mate (hot herbal tea) with friends and family. It’s common to share tea from a guampa (a container made of wood, cattle horns, or gourds), taking a sip through the bombilla (metal straw) before passing it on to the next person. For breakfast you can try a hot drink called cocido, which contains mate, cooked sugar, and milk.

What's Included

  • 75+ years of experience delivering high-quality programs through a worldwide network of 30,000 dedicated volunteers
  • Accommodations with a vetted host family
  • Round-trip international airfare for the designated program dates
  • School enrollment fees
  • Worldwide, 24-hour emergency assistance
  • Access to an in-country support team and network, as well as our Participant Support Department based here in the U.S.
  • Orientations and intercultural education before and during your program
  • International secondary medical travel coverage
  • Visa support and guidance
  • Inclusion in a worldwide returnee and alumni network of over 1,000,000 people

Scholarships and Aid

We believe that studying abroad should not be contingent on personal finances. When you apply, we work with you to understand your family’s needs and match you with available scholarships and aid. 100% of accepted applicants with demonstrated need receive funds.

Learn More

Visa Info

Do I need a visa/residence permit for Paraguay? YES. Visa + Residence Permit
How do I apply for the visa? (By mail, In-person, In host country) In host country
Visa/Residence Permit Process Difficulty Level (Easy, Average, Complex) Easy
Estimated Visa/Residence Permit Expenses
($ – $$$)		 $$$
Frequently Asked Visa Questions Visit our general visa FAQ page for more information.

Returning Home

“Life-changing” is hard to describe, yet it’s nearly always the first thing that AFSers say when asked about their experience abroad. “Transformed” is another one. When you return home from your study abroad in Paraguay, you’ll bring with you a sense of accomplishment unlike any other. You’ll have gained maturity and independence, discovered new passions, and developed the confidence and resilience to accomplish anything you set out to do.

That transformation isn’t only visible to you, though – others see it as well. AFSers gain critical skills for college and careers. Second language fluency, intercultural competence, creativity, and critical reasoning will help you succeed, whatever path you take. “Life-changing” means it’s only the beginning. It’s not just an adventure abroad; it’s a whole new reality. The perspectives and personal connections you gained will stay with you and likely draw you back to the second home you found in Paraguay.

In fact, our alumni reviews have made AFS one of the top-rated organizations in the study abroad industry.