Members of the
Visiting Team should understand that their selection as ISSE representatives
holds great responsibility. Good behavior is expected at school as
well as in their Host home. It might be useful to consider this behavior
in class discussion before leaving home. Visitors should not be shy
about showing their appreciation to their Host families. They should
be able to make their own bed, wash out clothing if necessary, and
help around the host's home. Adaptability, humility and willingness
to participate are very important.
The Adult and the Visiting child's parents
should stress the importance of the child's positive attitude while
Visiting. The impression a Visiting Team makes on the children in
the Host school will last a lifetime. There should be discussion with
Visitors before they leave home about: (1) how to deal with cliques,
petty jealousy, and misunderstandings between different cultures;
(2) the importance of discipline on buses and in the classroom; (3)
the possibility of homesickness and how to deal with it; (4) how much
thoughtfulness and "extra good" manners can contribute to
good feelings on everybody's part.
The weekly meetings, for several months before departure, are very
important for both Adult and Visiting children. The children learn
how to participate cohesively as a group. Parents become involved
and get to know the Adult.
Some delegations have school uniforms which
they wear as their travel uniform with an ISSE badge. Other delegations
have an ISSE blazer or vest which they wear while traveling (and sometimes
during programs), or have no uniform at all. The decision concerning
whether or not to have an uniform is left to the discretion of each
school. ISSE badges or patches are useful in that they allow others
to know who the delegates are and also help spread interest in ISSE.
When planning the assembly and classroom presentations
that will be given at the Host school, it is wise to keep the format
simple, fun and interesting. Try to anticipate what will be enjoyable.
The Visiting Team should be enthusiastic about the program and should
show this in their behavior. Practice programs can be given for parents
and in the Visitor's home school.
Most schools present their Host school a gift during the program.
Books, maps, flags are among the items usually given. Some schools
send gifts from various classes: letters, pictures, student stories
about themselves, reports about their community or country. Scrapbooks
are interesting projects to prepare, also small collections of coins
and stamps.
Visiting children must be prepared to accept
their celebrity status at the Host school comfortably. Upon return
home, this status will change and the child must return to the regular
routine of schooling. The Adult can help this transition move smoothly.
Parents should be advised to send a letter
to their child ten days to two weeks before the Team leaves so that
upon arrival a letter will be waiting. Notes such as this are reassuring
and allow the child to have word from home right at the beginning
of the new experience. An e-mail is a good alternative.
It is a tremendous boost to ISSE if Visitors
will take pen-pal letters from classes in their own school. While
at the partner school they should encourage students there to write
replies which they can bring back home with them.
When Host students are busy with homework,
the Visiting children should write in their journal, write letters
or postcards home, or learn more about the country they are visiting.
A good social studies book about the country which might seem boring
at home can be most interesting when read in that country! Sometimes
children bring assignments from home.
A Visiting Team should give an assembly report
to their own school after their return, and a report to the various
classes whom they represented abroad. Their program can include games,
songs and dances learned, also slides showing the partner school,
classrooms, Host homes, etc. learned. This homecoming assembly can
be very useful if done well.
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