LC Exchange Guide+School Toolkit - Flipbook - Page 9
Parents
It is really important to engage parents from the very beginning. Parents can sometimes encourage their
children to choose a language, or even a school, based on a successful school exchange. Parents should be
made aware of school exchanges at open days, and should be informed of the benefits well in advance. A
school exchange involves effort, shows that the school has dedicated staff and should be something that
the school is proud of. If the school exchange takes place in TY, ensure that parents are informed about it
when their child is in 3rd year. They will have many questions, so consider holding an information evening,
and keep them engaged, informed, and address any concerns, throughout the year. Some parents are very
capable, and others are very self‑conscious about their homes and maybe even their own language skills or
cooking skills, etc. Try to reassure them that it is not necessary to have a spare room, amazing cooking skills
or speak the language their child is learning. Experience and good planning will reassure parents. The video
clip from Lucan Community College includes very positive feedback and reassuring advice from parents
who have been involved in school exchanges, so do encourage parents to look at it.
Partner school
As with any partner, it is important to have things in common. It is not necessary to find a school that is a
mirror image of your own, but students and their parents might feel more comfortable if they are broadly
similar. Think about what your own school stands for, the socio‑economic backgrounds of the parents, and
where it is located.
Planning
Planning is absolutely crucial to the success of the exchange. Careful planning of everything – travel,
matching, programme, etc. – will make an exchange run smoothly. Good planning will also reassure
parents. Planning does take time, but teachers who have a successful exchange in place and can see all the
benefits know that it is worth it.
PME students
If schools have a PME MFL student and an exchange, they should involve the PME students with the
exchange, this will help with the work load and give an insight to the PME students on how to run a
successful exchange, which they can put to use in their next school.
Principal
A supportive principal is extremely important. Some teachers include the principal on the exchange so that
they can experience the benefits for themselves. A really supportive principal is more likely to lead to a whole
school approach, which balances the workload and provides support for the team of language teachers.
Teachers going abroad with students need to know that their principal trusts and supports them, and that
if something does not go to plan that their principal will defend them. The video clips include very positive
feedback from principals and deputy principals, so do encourage your school leaders to look at them.
Programme
It is really important to have an activity packed programme. If the exchange is during term time, ensure pupils
experience what school is like in another country. Give the students and their families some scope to do
things themselves, but ensure they have a reasonably busy programme. Cost, as always, is a factor, but the
programme does not have to be expensive, it just has to be enjoyable. An interesting programme should
appeal to students and parents, and can be an incentive for prospective students and parents on open days.
Single sex
schools
14% of students in Ireland are in boys’ schools, 18% are in girls’ schools and 68% are in mixed schools. The
vast majority of schools abroad are mixed. It is best to view this as the situation, as opposed to a problem.
There are examples in Ireland of single sex schools that have collaborated together to go on an exchange
with a mixed school abroad. The other option is to have boys and girls paired off together, this sometimes
happens in mixed schools, and there are lots of examples where this has worked very well.
How-to Manual for School Exchanges
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