Due to number of factors - including safeguarding regulations, paperwork, cost and logistics - the number of school-led language exchanges is declining. The result of these impediment and restrictions is that the number of teachers/schools willing or able to offer language exchanges for pupils has decreased, creating a situation where children could be missing out on opportunities to develop their language skills, thereby reducing their employability in an ever more global market. The development of the Lingoo platform facilitates the organisation of language exchanges directly between the parents and potential hosts.
This service provides an opportunity for parents to organise their own exchanges, giving them greater flexibility and choice in where they send their child, and who they welcome into their own home. There is even an opportunity for schools to facilitate an exchange without being involved in the organisation, by setting aside a week in the calendar for parents to use Lingoo to arrange an exchange. This is an ideal situation, giving the best of both worlds, as parents get choice, the child gets the learning benefits of an exchange, and the school would get the examination results: all the benefits without the organisational conundrum. Lingoo is happy to work with schools looking to facilitate this, and also offers discounts unavailable to parents using the service independently. If you are thinking of organising your child’s language exchange, here are three tips that can help you on your way:
Find an Exchange Family Using the Lingoo Platform
The Lingoo platform allows parents to search for and find families across the world, who are looking to share a language exchange. You will be able to find the perfect family based on a number of factors which include age, location, and the personality of your child.
Get To Know the Family Using the Lingoo Platform
Once you have found a family that you want to know more about, you can use the Lingoo secure messaging system to get to know them and arrange the details of the trip. As the trip is organised directly between the two families, you have flexibility on the dates, times and the activities which are involved in each leg of the exchange.
Plan Ahead
The earlier you start planning, the easier it will be to find an exchange family that is perfect for your child, and to arrange the logistics of the trip well in advance. If you book ahead you are also likely to save money on the transport to and from your exchange family.