Classic High School Exchange in Argentina 2025

There are a few tips that will help your child feeling confident and secured abroad. Here are some ideas for him/her:

• Self-learning: try to learn usual expressions you may have to use in your daily life, do thematic wordlists (food, entertainment, clothes…).
• Try to read a book or see a movie in original version, with subtitles in the language too: this is a good training to improve your hearing skills and this will prepare you to your life abroad.
• Collect information about the country or area you will be living in: How is the climate there?

What activities can be done? Are there places to visit? If you are doing a Tour, check the different places you will go to! These tips will leave you with many ideas of outside-of-the-classroom activities and help you to plan your trip so you won’t miss a visit!

We believe that the success of a stay abroad largely depends on the quality of the host family. Our local coordinators carefully select and visit prospective host families.
Our host families are:

• Warm, welcoming & open minded,
• Proud to share their lifestyle & language,
• Willing to include an exchange student in their family & community,
• Aware that today's youth need to be world citizens.

Sometimes student are hosted in an individual room, sometimes in shared rooms. It depends on the destination and program. However, students of different sex won’t share a room.

Generally speaking, there won’t be more than 4 years of difference between two children sharing the same room. In all programs, host families have no duty to organize activities for the student (students must being their own spending money). Students must be mature enough to get occupied by themselves.

Here are some tips for you:
1) Communicate! Please talk about everything and be open with your host family. For example, tell them about your school life, where you are going, and what time you will return. Make a point to discuss host family rules, and schedules (such as when you can take a bath) right away.
2) Ask Questions. When in doubt, ask your host family for help. You might not understand everything at first, but your host family wants to help. You might feel less independent in the beginning, but these feelings will go away eventually. Don’t hesitate, or feel it is impolite to ask many questions. This is normal.
3) Discuss Issues. Sometimes there will be small problems adjusting for you and your host family. It is important to talk about these frustrations even if they seem small. Always talk to your host family first about any problems. If you become sick, tell your host family right away.
4) Allow adjustment time. You may form an image of your host family within the first couple of days that isn’t accurate. Your host family might take you sightseeing, fix special foods, or be extra polite when you first arrive. Little by little, you and your host family will feel more comfortable around each other and act naturally.
5) Participate in Family Life. Don’t hide in your room. If you are feeling homesick, hiding in your room will only make it worse. Have fun with your host family, and share in evening or weekend activities.
6) Keep an Open Mind. Look at differences as new and fun experiences. This is your chance to try many new things that you might not be able to do in your home country. Take advantage of the opportunity!
7) Be polite and friendly. This is important. You might not talk very much with your family in your home country, but if you shut yourself off from your host family they will assume that you are homesick or unhappy. When you like something, be sure you tell them. A “thank you” and a smile can go a long way!
8) Help with Housework and Chores. Seriously, you would be surprised at how much an offer to do the dishes will mean to your host family.
Remember, your host family will also be nervous, especially if it is their first time hosting. They worry about whether you like the food or their family. If you are open and friendly, you will help to put them at ease. At the end of your stay, you will probably find that you do not want to leave!

The benefits of studying abroad are multiple.

 Here are some that you may want to consider:

• Develop and improve new language skills.
• Immerse yourself in a new culture and way of living.
• Become more independent.
• Gain a new perspective of your country, the destination country and the world while appreciating diversity.
• Find a family, make new friends and establish international friendships that could last a lifetime.

Most certainly! Among the purposes of our programs are acquiring cultural understanding and making new friends.  One of the paths to obtain them is via extracurricular activities.

It's possible that your high school may not offer programs related to your interests or hobbies. However, this shouldn't be a problem as your host town will likely have various clubs, community facilities, and sports centers where you can continue to develop your skills and make lasting friendships. 

Argentina offers a unique blend of Latin American and European culture. Due to currency exchange, the country provides a very affordable cost of living. Students will encounter welcoming and hospitable people, experience a high-quality educational system, and enjoy a significantly safer destination than other Latin American countries. The country also boasts incredibly diverse natural environments.

In Argentina, High School Programs start in March and July, with flexible options including term, semester, full school year, and multiple years.

All placements are in Cordoba Province, specifically in smaller towns within 2 hours of the capital. Students will not be placed in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The Argentina High School Program has two main requirements: students must be under 18 years old and have completed at least one year of Spanish language study.

In Argentina, exchange students attend school as regular students. The school year includes 12-14 compulsory subjects, with school hours running from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Students must take tests and follow school rules, and English is taught as a foreign language.

No. The exchange students of the Argentina High School Program must attend the same subjects that are compulsory for local students.

Typical Argentinian families consist of a mother, a father, and 1-2 children. Both parents typically work from 8 am to 6/7 pm. Families have dinner together and follow eating patterns different from Northern countries, with lunch at 1-2 pm and dinner at 9:30-10 pm. They also enjoy an afternoon snack called "merienda" around 6 pm.

Yes, the abroad High School program in Argentina offers an optional 4-day orientation camp. Exchange students can also attend group trips such as a Patagonia trip in October and a Northern Argentina trip in April. Students can also take optional Spanish language lessons before or after their arrival.

Exchange students should use Cordoba Airport (COR) when arriving in Argentina.

High School students interested in applying for the abroad program in Argentina must apply by the end of November if they intend to arrive in March. For July arrivals, the deadline is the end of April. Check with the provider for exact dates.

Yes, Argentina is considered very safe for foreign students, with a higher cultural and economic standard compared to other Latin American countries.

Argentinian culture is characterized by warm and affectionate people who greet each other with kisses on the cheeks and hugs. The society has strong family bonds with frequent extended family gatherings and a close connection to traditions like mate drinking, football, and barbecues.

Argentina offers complete religious freedom. While Roman Catholicism is the official religion, the country embraces multiple religious practices including Protestant, Jewish, Muslim, and Orthodox faiths. Public education remains secular, with religion not part of the school curriculum.

Exchange students in Argentina can join sports clubs, cultural institutions, theatre groups, and music programs.

Yes! The Argentinian provider offers two annual trips to different country destinations for an extra cost, typically including Patagonia and Northwestern Region trips.

Independent travel within Argentina is restricted for exchange students who are participating in the High School program. Exceptional travel requires a signed parental permission letter, with acknowledgment that Nacel and the provider are not responsible for any incidents.

Language acquisition occurs through host family interactions, the school environment, the local community's willingness to help, optional Spanish courses, and immersive daily experiences.

Exchange students can potentially participate in different experiences including learning to drink mate, participating in family traditions like asados (barbecues), understanding local greeting customs, experiencing tango culture, and joining spontaneous social activities.

There are a few tips that will help your child feel confident and secure abroad. Here are some ideas for him/her:

• Research takes time to research the destination´s culture, geography, and climate. In addition, once you have been assigned a host family, we also suggest communicating with them to get to know them, start building a relationship, and understand their expectations. 
  
• Self-learning: try to learn the usual expressions you may have to use in your daily life, and do thematic wordlists (food, entertainment, clothes…).
• Try to read a book or see a movie in the original version, with subtitles in the language too: this is good training to improve your hearing skills and this will prepare you for your life abroad.
  

What activities can be done? Are there places to visit? If you are doing a Tour, check the different places you will go to! These tips will leave you with many ideas for outside-of-the-classroom activities and help you to plan your trip so you won’t miss a visit!

Usually, students bring a small gift from their home country to their host family but it is not mandatory at all. It should not be a high-value gift but something typical of your country and culture.

If your child plans on taking electronic devices with him/her, you should check if he/she will need an adapter and buy one if he/she does.

A small, two-entry language dictionary may be very useful (must-have!), as well as a travel book of the city/area, with a plan.

Participant must be aware that they are responsible for the handling of their luggage. We advise you to travel with light luggage.

Aside from essential documents (passport and travel information), school supplies, and a photo album from home, we suggest reviewing the local weather for the time your child will spend abroad so he can adapt his clothes and bring what is necessary.

Take your most important belongings with you on board (hand luggage): necessary drugs if you are sick on board or have medical treatment; acceptance letters, passport, visa papers, and insurance certificate, details of your host family and/or of the person who is supposed to pick you up at arrival, emergency phone number for the program, electronic devices like camera and music devices, jewels if any, glasses, etc.​

Students attending a High School exchange program are expected to follow the host family and school rules and attend school daily.

They are not allowed to drive, smoke, drink alcohol, or use drugs during the time he/she participates in the exchange program.

The student will be helped by our local representative and his/her host family to visit a local doctor and get the necessary medical treatment. If hospitalization, surgery, or repatriation is needed, the insurance should be first informed.

If necessary, our team at the headquarters located in France, which delivers a 24-hour emergency service, 365 days a year, may assist you. The phone number of this service will be given to you before the student’s departure.

Please be sure to have a medical insurance. We can provide you with one, for an additional cost. Ask us for more information about the insurance policy!

Your child’s trip abroad will be a rewarding experience, but he/she has to be ready to change his/her way of life for some time and toadapt to the host family.

Here aresome tips to check if your child is ready for this challenge:

• He/She is the one who wants to participate in thestudy abroad program. Never force your child to go abroad if he/she doesn’t want to! At best he/she won’t enjoy his/her trip as much as if he/she would have decided him/herself. At worst he/she will be repelled by his/her language studies back home!
• He/She showsinterest and curiosity about the language or the countryhe/she is going to visit.
• He/She isindependent enoughto be able to cope with problems that may occur (flight delays, loss of luggage, waiting time…), or with homesickness (has he/she already been far away from home? How did he/she cope with that?)
• He/She ismature enough. In some of our programs, supervision is high, and activities are planned all day long. But in others, students are less supervised and must be mature and responsible enough to behave according to the program’s rules and to find occupations.
  

If you are not sure if your child is ready or not, we can advise you!Meet the teamof Nacel! 

Homesickness may happen to everyone, even people who have already been abroad without having faced any problems before. To prevent homesickness, keep in touch with your child, but not too much/too often (see below), and follow our preparation tips. If it is your child’s first experience abroad, a short-term experience would probably be the best choice for you to make, so that your child can “test” himself/herself.

The purpose of most of our programs is the immersion in another country’s language and culture. During the first days, it is normal if your child feels a bit homesick, and too frequent communication with his/her natural parents could delay his/her integration into the host country. 

You can suggest she/he get involved in local activities, clubs, and sports to help her/him make friends with similar interests.