How to be a competent exchange student

How to be a competent exchange student

TRYEX(multidistrict of D3480&D3500)

General Coordinator

Andrea Chen ( Rtn. Water )

Andrea CHEN(Rtn. Water)

1994 the charter member of Taipei YungFu Rotary Club

2000 serve Rotary Youth Exchange as host family

2001~02 District3480 Youth Exchange Officer

2003~04 District3480 YEC Vice-Chair

2004~05District3480 YEC Chair

Andrea CHEN(Rtn.Water) 2004 ~ 09 D3480 & D3500

Long Term Exchange Coordinator

2009 ~ Now TRYEX ( Taiwan Rotary Youth Exchange multidistrict of D3480&D3500)General Coordinator

RYE Conference: Rotterdam, Osaka, Brussels, San Diego, Berlin, Malmo, Istanbul, Salt Lake City, Madrid, Birmingham, Reykjavík, Zurich, New Orleans.


1. Goals and expectations of RYE

2. Responsibilities and obligation of exchange students.

3. The student’s role as Rotary Ambassador

4. Some other points I want to stress

5. Interactive O&A

6. In summery


1. Goals and expectations of RYE

1 、 Goals and expectations of RYE

promote international understanding and peace.

through your immersion into another culture – can widen knowledge & understanding of each others’ cultures.

So, you are actually Rotary Ambassadors and representatives of your nations

2. Responsibilities and obligation

of exchange students


2 、 Responsibilities & obligations of exchange students

A 、 All rules of the program must be followed at all times.

These rules are not just for us but for your benefit, they are part of your training and help you become competent ambassadors


B 、 Act as ambassador of Rotary and your country, it is your duty to :

blend into the local lifestyle learn our culture, language, and so on spread knowledge about your own

country and culture


C 、 Agrees to accept supervision of host District, host Club, and host families

This year in Taiwan is not a vacation for you ! Rotary is your sponsor and your host families are your guardians here.


D 、 Accepts speaking engagements at Rotary clubs and other community functions during and after period of exchange.

You will be expected to do speaking engagements during this period, sometimes in Mandarin Chinese; after you return to your country, your sponsor District will ask you to give a briefing.


E 、 Agrees to correspond with sending Club and District during exchange

You will have to send a monthly or quarterly briefing report to your sponsor District about your experiences here. One copy should also be sent to our District, so we can deal with any problems you have.


F 、 Returns home at a specified time and by a route agreed upon by host Club, District, and parents.

You are required to go back to your country directly, with no stopover in a 3rd country, at the end of your exchange period. We strongly urge students to leave around the end of June, no latter than mid-July: this give time to overcome reverse culture shock and give you time to prepare for your next school semester.


G 、 Remains involved in program after returning home.

After returning to your country, we expect you to join your local Rotex to discuss and share your experience with other returning students and next years outbound students

3 、 The student’s role as ambassador

A 、 Adapt ： become a part of your host family .

Remember you are not a “ guest” in the host family – you are a member. Behave as such.


B 、 Ask when you do not understand something.

Always ask first when you don’t understanding local customs. We must avoid misunderstandings to promote harmony


C 、 Be considerate of your hosts

There is no good or bad about culture, just deferent

Please enjoy the unique exchange experience of yours

Appreciate and treasure what your host have done for you


D 、 Be active in your host community

Always be active to participate in local activities, especially when invited to do so:the aim is to learn about local people and culture, customs.


E 、 Keep your room neat

Very important ：always keep your rooms clean and tidy – this is a sign of a good ambassador


F 、 Respect others

Always be respectful, well-mannered and polite to others. Promote an outstandingimage of yourself and your country !

4 、 Some other points I want to stress:

A 、 Please learn, and use, Mandarin Chinese as much as possible. Not just for communicating and establishing friendships here, but, Chinese is becoming a global language and could be a tool in your future careers.”

B 、 Keep contact with your Club Counselor in case you face problems, they can advise and help. They are your window to the club, host family and school.

5 、 Interactive Q&A

Q1 – I know I cannot operate any motorized vehicle including motorcycle or scooter. But, may I ride on a motorbike as a passenger?

You may ride as a passenger only as long as the driver is licensed and you have permission from your host family.


Q2 –Can I attend a cram school to study Mandarin Chinese instead of going to my host school, and during school hours?


Absolutely not; according to law of Taiwan, students must attend the school shown on their visa, during school hours. Otherwise, the police might check if they’re not at school, and you could be sent back to your home country.


Q3 – Rotary encourages students to learn more Mandarin. Some high school classes might be boring, and I prefer to study Chinese anyway!


First, you may join cram schools outside of school hours, but you have to pay the tuition yourselves. However, you should always treasure your high school Mandarin classes through 100% attendance and hard work. This also applies to Mandarin classes arranged by Rotary



Second, we stress that the Chinese-speaking environment of Taiwan is always the best way to quickly improve your speaking and listening ability. You should use Mandarin whenever possible with your host family, classmates, and other locals.


Q4 – I’m only here one year and when I return to my country, I will have no chance to use Mandarin. What’s the point learning it, I could study another subject instead, and just use English here!


Your main goal as a Rotary Ambassador is to bridge the gap and promote friendship between your country and ours. Learning the local language can help this process. Besides, language is a key to learning culture.


Also, Mandarin is one of the international languages, and might help you in your future career. Indeed, many exchange students continue learning Mandarin after the program finished.


Q5 – May I ask Rotary to refund any emergency fund that hasn’t been used, if I’m going home in a few weeks? I’d like to buy some souvenirs but I haven’t enough cash.


No. Why, because emergencies could happen up to the last day you’re here. Unused funds will only be refunded at the airport, after check-in, when you leave Taiwan.


Q6 – May I ask my host family for money to buy my own meals outside instead of accepting the meal they provide for me?


We want students to eat together with your host family. This is the best time for conversation and interacting. However, it’s the host family’s decision: If the host provides a meal for a student, we want you to accept it. If you refuse it, then you have to buy your own food outside with your own money.


Q7 – If I have questions or difficulties, including personal issues, or need help, whom should I ask first?


It depends on the nature of the problem. Host family should be your first choice. A school problem, you should ask your teacher. If you feel unable or uncomfortable to talk to them, or the problem is too serious, then you should contact your Club Counselor. They’re always ready to help.


Q8 – Sometimes a Rotary activity will clash with a school or students event, both arranged for the same time and day. In this case, which one has priority? Which one must I attend?


Rotary District activities always have top priority. Club activities and school events have second priority, and if they clash, then they will a consensus together. However, you cannot decide for yourself which one to attend. Third priority is host family activities, and finally students’ own activities.


Q9 – I’m already 18 and an adult, under the law. Should I still follow Rotary rules, even where they conflict with laws?


Rotary rules apply to the Youth Exchange Program as a whole. All long-term exchange students aged 15 to 19 must follow Rotary rules, no matter what the law might be on that issue. Besides, you have already signed the agreement to abide by Rotary Youth Exchange regulations.


Q10 – We know we must return directly to our home country at the end of the program. But why can’t we stop over in a third country on the way back home?


In fact, your exchange program does not end until you have returned safely home. However, if you’re in a third country, Rotary is not able to look after you or guarantee your safety.


Q11 – If my relatives or friends happen to be in Taiwan, say, on business or holiday, can they visit me by the way?

5 、 Interactive Q&A Such visits are strongly discouraged, but you

should first refer to the TRYEX rules and regulation, section D. This details the situations and requirements for relatives to visit you. Generally, we only accept such visits from your birth parents, and only during the last 3 months of your stay, after April, and then only with permission from the host district.


Q12 – As we know from TRYEX Rules, Section C, No. 4, we are supposed to ask YEC through a counselor if we travel outside our district. Taiwan is small, and with 7 districts it’s too easy to travel outside a district, even on a short trip: what should I do in this situation?

5 、 Interactive Q&A Generally, for any travel outside of the city or town

you’re living in, students must ask permission of the host family and club counselor first. If they’re unable to give you a direct answer, they will contact with the District YEC. The district will contact with the birth parents only in special situation.

＊ Note that in no case can the birth parents make any decision about travel, without the host family knowledge. We are responsible for students’ safety while they are in Taiwan.

6 、 In summary ：

Stay safe and healthy Be mature and well-behaved and responsible Be open-minded, learn as much as possible. Communicate Strong- willed and brave

Have a nice stay in Taiwan ！

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How to be a competent exchange student