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Exchange abroad

Language Exchange

A 14 -year-old student with high functioning autism is going to participate in a language exchange in Spain. He will be staying with a host family whose son will later come over to Britain. I wonder if the boy's school should provide the Spanish school and the host family with detailed information about the case. Should any kind of extra aid be provided? Must a member of the English school share the household with the student to  guarantee his communication and well being? The boy attends an independent school and is doing well academically but his skills in Spanish are low as he hasn't studied it for long. Will this be a problem considering his host family doesn't speak any English?

What does the UK legislation say about these cases?

Thanks for helping

  • Hi again, I don't think it's to do with having courage, more to do with satisfying yourself that the child concerned will have a positive experience, rather than a traumatic one.  I can only go by what you say in your post so have responded from the info you've given....as you say, you cannot provide further info.  I appreciate that.  Sometimes adding a bit more info, by doing a 2nd post, or getting a response from your 1st post can set off a good discussion.  Looks like that's what's happening now. Smile

  • Thanks a lot Hope. It's a relief to hear from someone who had and enjoyed! the experience. I thought a new language would only make things more difficult. Unfortunately, I cannot provide any more information. I've only been given his diagnosis and a couple of comments saying 'He's very quiet and does not socialize much but he answers to direct questions'

  • Well I think it depends on the individual circumstances. I have Asperger's and went on a French exchange when I was 12 years old, and really enjoyed it. My host family had rubbish English, but although my French was fairly rudimentary, I got by through the use of phrase books. I did not have a diagnosis at the time but coped with the whole thing well, and with no individual support. It helped that the days were structured and planned, and also I could socialise better with the French kids precisely because of that language barrier; we just played Hide and Seek and rather childish games, which meant that I was not as disabled by my social impairment as I was at home with my peers.

    Just because someone has autism it does not mean they cannot enjoy these experiences, but each case is unique and support may well be needed in this case- could you provide more information?

  • Thanks Crystal,

    I wouldn't send my son either, but some peoplehave more courage than both of us. At least, I hope it's courage and not lack of common sense. I wouldn't like it to be a traumatic experience either for the boy or the host family. I feel I need more support from the school or institutions.

    One more thing, you mention posters to comment. How can I do it?

  • From what you say, I wouldn't send my son on this exchange.  I think that if you have any more info then it might help posters to comment.  It is fraught with problems for all concerned, to put it mildly.