Belgium
High School Classic
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- Age: min.14 max. 18 years old upon arrival
- Duration: 1 calendar year, 1 academic year, 1 academic semester or 1 term (12 weeks)
- Arrival: August or January – varies depending on program duration (check with WEP for program dates)
- Accommodation: volunteer host family
- Placement area: French-speaking Belgium (including Brussels)
- Language: French
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Belgium is where Europe comes together. Belgium is a compact country nestled between Germany, France, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and the North Sea. The cosmopolitan nature of Brussels, capital of the European community, has created an open-minded and welcoming attitude towards foreigners. Belgians are known for being humble and welcoming, with a great sense of humour. There is more to Belgium than chocolate and waffles, it is the scene of a very rich cultural past (paintings, architecture) and thrilling present day artistic creativity (exhibitions, music, fashion, comic books, theatre…).
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School Life
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The Belgian educational system is one of the most thorough in the world. Expectations are high for the students. Participants will follow classes in a local school from Monday to Friday. Those classes include French, mathematics, biology, geography, physics, history, physical education, foreign Language (Dutch or English)… and optional classes include economics or another language. The school year starts the last week of August and ends the first week of July.
School Day
- 8:30am to 4:00pm or later
- Wednesday afternoon free
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How does the Classic program work?
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The Classic school program allows students to study in a local high school and have an authentic experience abroad, they can be placed anywhere in the French-speaking regions of Belgium: in either Wallonia or the Brussels region. Although a placement in an urban area is possible, many families live in small or medium-sized towns. Students doing the Classic program in Belgium are not allowed to go home nor receive visits from their relatives/friends during the program.
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For what type of student is this program a good fit?
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- Students who want to discover the heart of the European Union
- Students who want to study French in a small country, easy to get around
- Students who want to have an authentic experience abroad.
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Participants will live with a unpaid Belgian family. Like family members they will share the family’s everyday life, participate in activities and adapt to the family rules as if it were their own.
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- To be booked during the program by the students
- Optional and limited spots.
- Examples: Paris, Maastricht, Strasbourg...
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• Be min. 14 and max. 18 upon arrival
• Have good academic results
• Have a minimum of 1 year of French lessons
• Have travel insurance covering sickness, accidents, repatriation and third party liability
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Included
- host family search, screening and placement process
- accommodation as described
- school registration
- return transfer from/to the nearest airport to the host family as specified by WEP
- 24 hours emergency support
- coordinator assistance & progress reports
- mandatory local orientation
- WEP support to obtain the permit of stay
- administrative costs
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- return transportation
- local transportation
- additional school costs
- lunch if taken at school
- personal expenses
- travel insurance
- passport & visa fee
- optional WEP add-ons.
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| “We are delighted with the host family, with the organization and with WEP. Our son is very happy and comfortable in his host country and we have timely and constant information. We know that he is in good hands and that he is taking advantage of the experience.” Parents of Beltran, WEP student from Spain
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“Ma très chère Belgique, Quel beau séjour! C’était vraiment un plaisir de faire ta connaissance, tu étais une ami de la sorte la plus merveilleuse. Tu m’as appris tes langues, m’as montré pleins des choses, m’as fait rencontrer des gens gentils et quand j’étais triste tu m’as nourri de gaufres et de chocolat. Je fais mes valises, mais t’inquiète, ce n’est certainement pas pour toujours ! Tu vas beaucoup me manquer, et je te remercie pour la meilleure expérience de ma vie!! Gros bisous.”
Caitlin, WEP student from Australia
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