On June 29, The YMCA Summer Work Student Exchange Program will send approximately five to 10 youth of ages 16 and 17 on a national six-week second language and work exchange program.
The program will send English speaking individuals to Quebec and French speaking individuals to major English speaking cities in Canada and match them with a job opportunities with a non-governmental organization (NGO) so they can practice their second language while getting work experience.
NGOs include summer camps, museums and farms to provide participants with a rewarding experience while also learning a language.
“It's super beneficial because they are youth particularly. They are at that age where they're looking for a job and often it's hard to find their first job,” says Horseshoe support coordinator at the YMCA Summer Work Student Exchange Program Maya Low.
“So the work aspect not only helps with their transferable skills when they go back home but also helps because it's improving their second language. It's forcing them to use it in a work context.”
In order to apply, the participating individual’s family has to be able to host in order for them to go live with a host family.
“So it is a direct exchange. If the youth's family cannot host, then we work with them to try to find an alternate host,” says Low.
Being a new city for the participants, the program sends them in a group to the same community in order for them to have connections in their new town while the program coordinator in the new town arranges weekend activities and overlooks different aspects of the partcipants’ experience.
Low says post-program evaluations provided by the youth have turned out exceptionally positive over the years.
“Often times it's a transformational experience. It's the first time they're away from home, travel to another place for a long time and they come back with a bunch of new friends.”
She says the program has definitely seen language improvements in the participating youth, especially those who travel from Ontario to Quebec because the program doesn't require them to be in French immersion.
“They just have to have a very minimal and basic understanding of French. Academically, I've heard that going back to French class in September is a lot easier as well as getting another job,” says Low.
“They're more motivated to get another job and are independent because 16 and 17 you're still relying on your parents pretty heavily.”
