Reciprocal Program

Double the BFF time with a two-way exchange
Your incroyable reciprocal French experience

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Want an immersive two-way exchange experience and double the BFF time?

Our reciprocal program means you get to experience life as a French teenager (like dipping your tartine de beurre and learning what “c’est dar ou posey” means).

Then, you get the opportunity to show your French correspondent what life is like in Australia (like teaching them about snags and galahs, and being there when they eat their first Golden Gaytime).

HOW IT WORKS

Every student who signs up for an exchange gets a French correspondent: a student of a similar age, who’ll attend the same school and hopefully be your BFF while you’re in France, while they’re in Australia and, fingers crossed, forever.

It’s our goal to find the perfect French correspondent for you. That’s why when you apply, we try to get to know a little bit about who you are, what you like and the kind of experience you’re hoping to have.

You’ll travel to France and stay with your host family for six or 12 weeks. It’s reciprocal because your French correspondent will come and stay with you and your family in Australia for six or 12 weeks.

If you choose our 12 week program, you may even have two correspondents who come and stay with you (don’t worry, not at the same time). They may come one after the other, or one could come before you go to France, the other when you’re home.

Depending on the dates of your program and your year level at school, you can host first and travel later, or travel to France first and host later.

This program allows you and your correspondent to truly share your lives with one another, helping to create lifelong meilleurs amis.

This program is for you if:

  • You’d like to go to France and host a French correspondent
  • You’re ready to meet your new French best friend
  • You’re able to host and welcome a French student in your family for six to 12 weeks
  • Your family is able to offer your French correspondent their own bedroom
  • Your school is able to host a French student (we’ll give you all the information they need)

See what students had to say about their reciprocal exchange experience.

BEFORE YOU GO

BEFORE YOU GO

How we choose your correspondent & host family

We know from experience that students who have good connections with their French correspondent will talk more, become more immersed in school and family life, will see greater improvements in their language skills and will sometimes even make friends for life.
That’s why we treat every student that applies to our programs as an individual with their own distinct personality and passions, and then carefully match them with the perfect French correspondent.
It’s also imperative to us that the family structure offered by French host family feels safe and supportive and that students have their own bedroom.
We also require all adult members of the host family to provide a police check, and complete a face-to-face interview. We also conduct a visit to the host family’s home. You can read more about our child safety policy here.
Are you a vegetarian who’s allergic to cats? Don’t worry, diet, allergy and other health related concerns will also be taken into consideration. Just let us know your specific requirements and we’ll find a way to make it work.
As part of the reciprocal program, we also guarantee your host family will take you to Paris (unless that’s where you’ll be living, of course) so you can experience the incredible museums, restaurants and beauty of the French capital.

Getting to France

Students can either travel independently or as part of a group.Those travelling as part of a group are escorted by an AFX Student Exchange staff member or representative. Upon arrival in Paris, students are greeted at the airport by a member of our French team and any host families located close to Paris.
For students hosted by families in regional France, we’ll help with transfers once you reach Paris. One of our representatives will also be present at the airport upon departure.
We can organise chaperones from other departure cities (Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide) but these are subject to group numbers
If needed, you can also choose to travel to France with the group and return on a different date.
If you’d like to travel in Europe or visit family at the end of your program, then individual travel is a great option for you.

WHILE YOU’RE THERE

WHILE YOU’RE THERE

What makes our program stand out

Exclusively French

Our depth of knowledge and experience, as well as being French, means that we offer exquisite immersive cultural and linguistic experiences to France.
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INDIVIDUALISED

We treat every student as an individual with their own distinct personality and passions, and then carefully match them with the perfect French correspondent.
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GET OUR PRICES

Our starting price for a six-week program in France is $3550 and offers many inclusions as a part of the program. Our prices vary depending on the program you want to participate in and the duration of your stay in France.
get our prices

SAFE

We’re the only Australian student exchange organisation sending students exclusively to France that meets the strict safety standards needed for government accreditations.
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Extras

Like us, Alliance Française are committed to providing experiences to Australian students to improve both their French language skills and appreciation of French culture. We have an exclusive partnership with the Alliance Française in most Australian capital cities. As part of our partnership, we run special deals and events for our participating students.
Visit our partnerships page to find out more.
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LET’S DO THIS

Prices

Our starting price for a six-week program in France is $3550 and offers many inclusions as a part of the program. Our prices vary depending on the program you want to participate in and the duration of your stay in France.
Learn More

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