Programme details
| Programme length | Start | End | Price | Age on departure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AFS year programme (academic year) | August 2011 | July 2012 | $13,200 | 16 - 18.6 |
As one of the multicultural microcosms in the heart of Europe, mixing contemporary society with a rich history, Belgium provides an enjoyable and exciting exchange experience. You’ll walk through medieval town squares and streets in the midst of a thoroughly modern country that has influences in its culture from the French, Dutch, Austrians, and Spanish. Many towns stage re-enactments of medieval times once a year. Belgium’s cuisine reflects its varied people and history, boasting one of the best food experiences imaginable. And, of course, there’s chocolate!
Northern Belgians speak Flemish, a Germanic language, and they tend to be formal and more reserved than southern Belgians, who speak French. Local towns retain ravishing medieval streets and squares, and Belgium’s quality of life – as measured by education, food, health care, housing, infrastructure, high productivity and low poverty – ranks with the world’s best. According to international polls, Belgians are among the most satisfied with their lives of any nation’s citizens, and with good reason.
Belgium consists of three regions: Flanders in the north where most of the people speak Dutch, Wallonia in the south, where the majority is French speaking and Brussels, the bilingual capital located in the centre of the country. In the north, Dutch-speaking Flemings live in a flatland crisscrossed by canals. It boasts the medieval cities of Antwerp, Bruges, and Ghent.
Family life
Family life is very important in Flanders. Teenagers are used to deferring to parents at all times, and parents maintain authority and expect the children to follow their rules as long as they live at home. Both parents usually work and you will be expected to do your share of the housework and daily chores like the other children in your host family.
School life
The school year runs from early September to late June. Students attend school Monday to Friday from 8am to 4pm, except Wednesday afternoons which are free. You will either attend an independent school or one run by the Catholic Church.
Compulsory school subjects are French, mathematics, history, geography, sciences, religion or ethics and physical education. There are optional courses such as foreign languages, arts and computer sciences. School education tends to be rather intellectual and sports or artistic activities have less importance in schools, but most teenagers do these kinds of activities after school.
AFS Belgium Flanders does not accept vegetarians and students must have high academic levels.
